New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-19
KELSEY BEFORE HUGHES
n LONG EXAMINATION.
Superintendent Felt 1t Necessary to-
Retain SubOrdinates.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune.

TBy Telegraph to The TribuneI
Albany. Feb. 1S-Taking up again his part
of insurance Investigator. Governor Hughes to-
day. at a public hearing. put Superintendent
Kelsey the stand to show how he had
conducted his office. Under the Governors
clear cut. piercing questions. merciless and
searching as ever his examination before ths
Armstrong committee was. Mr. Kelsey admitted
that he never read the entire Armstrong repOrCs
that he kept Robert II. Hunter and Isaac VAN
derpoeI in office because he had not arranged a
satisfactory scheme of reorganization which
would not put public odium' on them. al
though they had been merciIessly handled by
Mr.. Hughes i'm the insurance report and al
though he had not entire confidence in them.
Further Interrogation compelled the Superin-
tendent of Insurance TO say that he did rot
remember that Senator Armstrong and NJ.
Hughes had specifically advised him to dis
charge those officials last June. although he did
remember a four-hOUr interview with them re-
viewing the entire insurance situation: he had
not in his administration OF the department.
dismissed the examiner appointed at the request
OF Andrew C Fields; he had not dismissed d H
Keefer. the states first assistant actuary. who
the same time acting as actuary for
the Security Mutual of Binghamton. IN fact.
when Mr.. VanderpOeI finally resigned. Keefar
had been promoted TO practically the supervision
of the New York Office and the chief examiners
ship.
Mr. Kelsey had not had time. he pleaded. to
make careful study locaIze ineficiency in
his department. He believed that 1t would be
essential 10 clean house" but mot in the sense
OF disnissing the that were necessary for
the conduct of the daily business in a bunch"
QUESTION AFTER QUESTION HURLED.
The scene in the executive chamber In Its en-
tire spirit a revival OF the sessions in the
aldermanic chamber at the New York City Hall
which through some OF their disclosures startled
the entire country. Its stage Cting different;
but in the same keen fashion Governor Hughes
handled Superintendent Kelsey he had han
died the numerous witnesses at those inquiries.
Question after question hurled at him.
piercing 10 the very heart Of conditions IN his
department.
When after several questions the Governor
had brought the Superintendent to say that hs
considered the retention of Hunter and Van
derpoeI and the resulting conditions Tax" thu
Governor retOrted:
is lax the strongest term you feel called en-
10 apply?'
Il don't feel called on to denouncs thsnn-'s
said Mr.. Kelsey.
And then the Governor. In his most earnest
tones said he leaned far over his desk:
"One OF the things I wanted TO get at. Mr..
Superintendent. is whether you appreciated tbs
real situation Jhere?"
had not had experience enough to throw out
Hunter VanderpoeI and the others nor TINA
enough to reorganze the department with good
men as their successors. He did not trusr than
thoroughly. but felt IL necessary TO rely on
their reports. believing that through hiS watch
ing and the changed conditions in the insur-
snce companies after the investigation these
men would do their duty we'll enough Although
in question after question the Governor asked
Ill.
the disclosures of the Armstrong Investigation
Of conditions which those officials shoulc hsvs
shown up he did not express that view
KELSEY's FRIENDS AT HEARING.
Many o. Mr.. Kelsey's personal frlsnds sas
through the hearing.
"Ottos the salt of the EARTH said one afrsr
it had ended.
lotto handled himself beautifully said an
other. When told that the opinion expressed
by many other people that Mr.. Kelsey's
answers had proved the Governors case. ne
chuckled softly and retorted. What an absurd
ityr
The Governor permitted Mr.. Kelsey to take a
stenographic report of his answers and gave
him permission 70 file brief tomorrow morn
ing. setting forth any further facts in the case.
But facts. facts emphasized the Governor.
I'VE don't want arguments
After consideration OF this brief. the Governor
will send his request for Mr.. Kelsey's head to
the Senate. unless something in II causes
him To change his mind. That body will refer
the request TO the judiciary Committee. prob
ably; but nobody expects it to stay in COMMITTEES
long. Little doubt exists here. save among M
Kelsey's closest friends. that the Governor win
be sustained by the Senate. The attitude of tbs
Democrats is somewhat in doubt The latest
development is a report that all have agreed not
To vote the question. on the ground that It