Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-10
FUhATHUGHEs INQUEsT
Lighter Side of Insurance In- vestigation In New York.
WITNESSES WHO ORAOKED JOKES

II : [ : < 5 | Everybody who attended the recen
 insurance investigation in New Yorl
 city which was conducted by Lawye
 Charles E. Hughes of the investigating
 committee was so busy marveling a
 scandals unearthed, regulations blast
 ed and fortunes appropriated that tn,
 lighter vein of the proceedings attract
 ed little attention, says the New Yorl Post. But there were laughs, plent, of them, sandwiched between the seri
 ous excavations of the 'inquisitors.'
 One corporation president in particu lar enjoyed himself during the days or
 which he testified. While he was tell ing about making a few hundred thou sands for his own pocket a young man l seated near the witness stand whisper
 ed to his neighbor:
 ''The old fellow has feathered his l nest well, hasn't he:''
 | After the session was over the wit. {. ness, who had overheard the remark, turned to the irreverent youth.
 MT. Hughes is giving me enough trouble,'' he said, with a wink. Don't
 you butt in s. The same .'magnate,'' as the, sensa- tional headlines described him, saw an artist drawing d cartoon. During an
 interval in the proceedings he ap- preached the draftsman and asked
 to see the picture. Well, I'm a villain,
 to be sure,''' was his comment after looking at his distorted features. Then he added: Will you give me a copy of that? I'd like to take it home to my grandchildren,
 There was moment of levity in the midst of more than one hearing during the inquiry. For instance. George W, Perkins brought down the house" by a carefully prepared jest at the ex- pense of Mir, Hughes. The lawyer had been questioning the banker sharply, with the view of showing that money of the New York Life had been invest ed improperly. Mir. Perkins started to make speech. In the course of this he announced that another man. had been interested in the transactions un- der discussion. Every auditor leaned forward expectantly. There was mo- ment of silence s.
 He was as much interested as |" exclaimed MT. Perkins, 'and he was greatly benefited" ...5-.s5 i4.
 And who was he:" inquired Mir. Hughes unsuspectingly. * ..sst s.a.
 He was''- MT. Perkins paused and turned toward the spectators. He was Charles E. Hughes" fl.
 A grin appeared on the lawyers face, but the onlookers even then continued to expect something sensational until the witness added. .-..t. 4..,
 Yes. Mr. Hughes as a policy holder shared in the profts.,'
 The questioner seemed to enjoy as much as any one the merriment that followed -...-
 A regular contributor to the fun" of the hearings was the investigating com mittee's jovial chairman. Senator Will liam ". Armstrong. who is now busy with his associates in the preparation of the report for the legislature. Dur ing many hearings the senator was the only committeeman present. ..-.r
 ''Is the committee ready to begin" Mir. Hughes would inquire. -....I
 T. the committee. am in order" was the response.
 While the other members took holi- day when they felt like it, MT. Arm- strong never was absent for half an hour in all the four months. He even remained in the city hall throughout the luncheon recess each day.
 But do that because I don't eat midday meal.'' he explained.
 Wont they pay you enough to buy lunch:' joker asked.
 That's not exactly the trouble" said the chairman. ''The truth is that get too fat if l eat I used to weigh 240. Since cut out lunches my weight has dropped below 1S0."
 A picturesque figure at the hearings, who hardly missed day. was a dig nified. gray bearded man in the sec ,nd row. He occupied the same seat 'egularly. Leaning forward. he seem sd to listen to every word of the testi- nony. Especially did he give attention o Mir. Hughes. on whom he appeared O gaze with much admiration. At first nobody knew who he was. { Gradually. however. it was evident hat he had q personal acquaintance with the different committeemen-in | act. that be knew every one of import l nee at the investigation. Each norn- l ng he exchanged greetings with the l. enators and assemblymen and late in 1 he began occasionally to oc- ' upy seat on the platform with them.
 if Mir HEghes made a telling point i. he man with the gray beard rubbed is hands together. apparently exhibit ag great satisfaction. Whenever MT. I Hughes drove the witness to the wall ! he old man again eyinced pleasure. ,uce. when the audience broke into ap- . lause. he seemed to bubble over with 1 eIight. -wb9 is b.. anyway inquired a I eweomeT.
 Don't you know himt replied q abitue Of the aldermanic chamber. Why. ne is Mr. Hughes father. the tev. D. (. Hughes
 While the committee attended to it's i Tork in the chamber st0ry telling was ! order out ir the snteroom- There