New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-14
WARRING INSURANCE MEN.
ANTHONY coMsToCK MAKES GRAVE
CHARGES
ALMOST RIOT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF


Association of America, held in the Stewart
BH1hing yesterday, came near ending in riot
There was to be board OF directors elected and
Anthony. Comstocl1. with several other members
who did not approve the cut-and-dried ticket that
was in the field, was present, with the intention
Of asking several unpleasant questions about the
management and to protest against the forcing Of
General Clintou B. Fisk and Henry Z. Simmons
from the board The rising Of Anthony Comstock
to address the meeting and the outburst Of storm
Of opposition were simultane ous ,,
q l have papers here" shodted Mr.. Comstock,
dourishing q large bundle OF documents, which
show that there has been defalcaton Of over
forty thousand dollars from the funds of the asso-
cation."
His voice was Immediately drowned by yells and
cat-cals. and after awhile there was demand
for the police TO suppress the disorder Trouble
had evidently been anticipated, as several
policemen were on hand but as nobody came to
blows, the officers Of the law had nothing to do.
The president of the association, L. H. Kent, was
in the chair, and ruled Mr.. Comstock out Of order
as often as he attempted to take the floor. Gen.
eral Horatio G. King and other prominent men,
bers OF the society denounced Mr.. Comstock In
terms more plain than pleasant. For fun hour
members TO look after their interests were with
difficulty enabled to escape from the room, and
when they were gone the quarrel broke forth with
renewed vigor.
DETERMINED TO SPEAK OUT!
Mr. Comstock was determined to have his
say and finally obtained consent TO speak five
minutes; but the hooting and yelling, together
with the wordy abuse that was hurled at him,
effectively mu1Iled him, and nobody could catch
word. Finally loud-voiccd member from Staten
Bland made HIS why to whercSIr. Comstock stood
char. shook his fist at him and yelled:
You are liar and cownrdl"
And you are brave man." replied Mr.. Com
stock. With your crowd Of heelers in the rear,
you are very brave.'
Owing 10 the confusion, contemplated changes
in the bylaws and other business had to be
passed, but after much delay and noise. the elcc-
tion OF the new Board Of Directors was completed
and the following were declared elected: Edward
v. Loew, in place Of John IT. Reed Moses Mehr
bach. IN place OF George T. Patterson. ir. James
T. BurdiclI, in place of General Clinton B. Fisk;
T. Leroy Setterlee. in place Of John Hardy, and
William B. Ellison, in place OF Henry h. Sim
mons The meeting finally broke up in great
disorder, and so heated were the members of the
opposing factions that IL was some time before
reporters could procure any statement from either
side. Clerks Of the society in the offices on the
ground floor Of the Stewart Building said that
neither Mr.. Kent nor any other officer Of the As
sociation could be seen.
When found at his Office, No. $50 Nassau-st,
Mr. Comstocl1 was ready TO talk about the matter.
The package of documents he had aourished ut
the meeting was brought out, and he made the
following statement; .ass,.3,s-ss. g
In order 70 provide Tor my Isuily took
two policies IN this association. and have worked
Tor Il, because / have believed that It was o
wellfnanaged institution. Several months ago 1
heard some gentlemen criticisng the organization
was a well-lxnown insurance man, and belonged
70 one Of the accident companies. About the
same time heard q rumOr that S25, 600 had been
the expense account; also that q sum of s13,5Oo
had been taken out Of the society's funds and
used by President Kent and bis family for q trip
TO Europe.
UNUSUAL ASSESSMENTS!
aon January 70 last received two notices Of
assessment on my policies for the mortuary fund
The assessment rates Of the association are hxed-
and it Is so stnted in the policies. That on one
Of mine was "a A; on the other, 80 IL. Instead
Of these rates, was informed that was to pay
So &C and "a 6s on them thus increasing the rate
1n ray policies so per cent circular sent Dy |
With Tie Hoard of Irustees after a given date, to
advance the rates to conform to the requlrements
y the noTtIsy raeS s Ci ,hs s sxtra cs wns Il
egal, and that IL wns mado for the purpose OF |
making good the deficiency Of $4,000 and
Al 300 In the mortusry fund. wrote 10 Presi:
lent Kent for an explanation, and made several |
,ttempts 20 have my doubts cleared up, but tho |
,nly satisfaction rot was letter from the score
Ion iS not satisfactory, the usual rates may be |
;endered and special call required ior the pai-
lnoc.' ,.... ., A.
Kent repeating my former requests for evidence |
,s 10 the leaallty Of the demand made on me, and |
nclosing two certified checks for the legal assess
To this SRvs 1SS ys S ts
bough they were delivered In person by q mes
enger from this office. Some OF the questions |
ave put verbally to-day at that meeting If had |
Sens SSS seen frena are the following How was it
Aas Owen as paid in full, while in your sworn
statement TO the Insurance Department you snow
hat only so 900 was paid on said policyp Ilave
he amounts nm SS Or 0 Why was It
he report 10 members on January IL, 1888, |
howed the amount OF mortuary funds paid out
. be s302,624 az, while your sworn statement
O the Insurance Department gave s3aaS74 AZ
IS the amount q difference Of s42,75O? Is 10
rue that President kents family have policies
II $40, 900, the premiums on which are paid out
II Ine JunuS Oh oONaOVy ohu ~ "a
,ense accountP'"
ALL THE CHARGES DENIED!
Mr.. Kent was found at ex-Controller Loew's
,fice, No. l52 Broadway, when he came there
Is one Of o committee of four to announce TO
dr. Loew his election as member Of the board
4 directors. Both he and II. L. Gardner, a former
secretary, denied that there was any truth IN
ir. Comstooks charges, and declared that he
vas animated by desire 70 help another insur-
nee company, in which both ne ana Mr. simmons
ave interests. They denied each charge cate
,oricsIly. and said that as soon as the new
,oari Is orcauized an investigation eill be made
o clear the reputation Of the association from
very charge kr Comstock has made Mr.
,oew declined 20 accept the office TO which he
ad been elected until the causes OF the present
ifiiculty had been examined ana al uscrep-
neies explained and made good
rAs HB BRoKEy THE CONTRACT LADoR LAwr
rfrtsaA at,,n. rdetrt,t Az ornoy walker haI begun