The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-14
FOR SUPT. HENDRICKS'S PLACE
LAWYER FLEMING CANDIDATE or
INSURANCE REFORMERS.
He Helped Hughes Greatly In the ARM
strong Investigation, Especially In
Incovering yellow Dog" Payments
Urged as Man TO Enforce New Laws.

Matthew c. Fleming of the law firm of
Dexter, Osborn d Fleming, II Broadway,
is the insurance reformers' candidate Tor
State Superintendent to succeed Francis
Hendricks. Mr.. Fleming is Endorsed by
Charles Il. Hughes, Senator Armstrong,
Senator Tully and other members OF the
State investigating committee.
Gov. Higgins, it is understood, Is dis
posed to consider most seriously any name
which Mr.. Hughes, Senator Armstrong
and others actively concerned in bringing
about the insurance reforms may suggest,
and it is practically certain that Mr.. Flem-
ing can have the place II he will take it.
Up to this time Mr.. Fleming has not
encouraged his friends in the belief that
he would accept. He feels, it is said, that
acceptance Of the position at this time
in the event of its being offered, would
involve too great a financial sacrifice on
his part. The salary is 81 800 a year. Gov
Higgins has himself said that he wanted
a mar for the place who would practically
be independent of the salary.
Mr.. Fleming is about AZ years old He
served as Mr.. Hughes's assistant both in
the Armstrong committee Investigation
and in the gas inquiry. MIR. Fleming was
one Of the men who worked behind the
scenes in the Armstrong investigation.
His efforts didn't come before the public
eye, but every member Of the committed
and the other lawyers engaged in the in
quiry at the end expressed their keen APP
probation of what he had done.
1t was Mr.. Fleming who spotted" the
most of the yellow dog payments in the
Mutual and the New York Life and who
dug out the great mass of evidence which
was used so skilfully by Mr.. Hughes in his
examination of the witnesses on that sub
ject,
Mr.. Fleming is engaged now as advisory
counsel to District Attorney Jerome in the
criminal end Of the insurance scandal
Mr.. Fleming will, it is understood, be re-
tanned by the District Attorney only in
special cases. He will not be sworn in as a
regular Assistant District Attorney.
1t was said yesterday hat both Mr..
Hughes and Senator Armstrong are urging
Mr.. Fleming to consent to become a can
Ol0atP. Inc mcTlbtTs Ol lHH ohB
committee are particularly" DESTROYS OF
having a man in the Office h will carry out
the new insurance laws to the letter.
They appreciate that the test Of the
next year or two is going to be crucial
They fear that the companies may not
be overzealous to make a success of the
reforms and, with a superintendent who
wasn't disposed to drive them, the chances
of failure would he great. Failure would
of course afford an opportunity for amend
ments and a return to the good old days"
Mr.. Fleming, besides possessing all the
ordinary qualifications. has a personal in
terest in the reforms which, in the opinion
of Armstrong committee members, would
make him a most desirable candidate. Mr.
Hughes had a conference with Gov. Higgins
in this city about a week ago, and it is
understood that the question of Mr.. Flem-
ing's possible candidacy was discussed
Supt. Hendricks's term expired in Feb
ruary, but he has held over, pending the
passage Of the new insurance bills.
Mr.. Fleming is a graduate Of Princeton
Before entering the firm of Dexter, Os.
| born Il Fleming he was in the Corporation
Counsel's Office.