Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-19
Governor Hughes Subjects Him
to Searching Examination.
Baked BY QUESTIONS
Insurance Superintendent Never Read
Report of Armstrong Committee.
THE CHARGE OF INCOMPETENCE
New York's Executive Calls Kelsey
Before Him and Shows That He
Knows Little of His Department.

ALBANY, February 19-From the lips OF
State Superintendent of Insurance Otto KEEL
sey Gov. Hughes yesterday afternoon drew
the fact that he was wholly unacquainted
with the work of the department over which
he has charge.
Never before in the history of the state
has there been such a scene as was wit
messed in the executive chambers. Facing
the governor from one side of the big desk
in the audience room of the executive cham
Der suite sat Mr.. Kelsey. 1t was pitiful to
many, while to others 1t was spectacle
that they realized was brought on by him.
self AS Unexpectedly as was the gov
errors request for Mr.. Kelsey's resignation
two weeks ago came the move of the gov
ernor yesterday. Yesterday morning he
notified Mr.. Kelsey that he would give him
a hearing in the executive chamber at 2:3O
O'clock and promptly at that hour the gov
ernor began the cleverest cross-examlna-
ton that was ever heard In the state capl-
toll.
The summons to appear before the gov
ernor came as complete surprise to MI
Kelsey. He had to appear without counsel
and offhand. answer the questions put 10
him by the governor. And the news tnat
the governor was going to examine the offi-
Ger he will seek to remove on account OF IN
competency spread throughout the capltoi.
While the large audience room was hheu IL
was quite noticeable that some state ONCE
holders were conspicuous by their absence.
The few members of the senate VINO
were in town f1ocked to the chamber:
Senators Franchot, and Hooker. personal
friends of Mr.. Kelsey, were the first to go
to the chamber and they listened lntently
to the examination. Senator John Raines
came In little later and took seat at the
Kelsey closely Senators Page and ON"
were also present, as were Assemblym.
Prentice, Moreland and Burnett ne
examination consumed an hour and hall
only but 1t was one in which not second
was lost. The rapid fire Of questions never
ceased, except when explanations were
given, and not once did Mr.. Kelsey make
an explanation that satisfied his questioner.
Kelsey's Incompetency Charged.
The examination revealed two things.
One was that Mr.. Kelsey has read neither
the testimony taken by the Armstrong in
vestigating committee nor the report of
the committee. The other was that. aside
from knowing where his office is Mr.. KEEL
sey has no idea of the workings of the
state insurance department.
At the outset it was plain to be seen
| that the governor was going to show in
his questions that no superintendent or
insurance could successfully administer his
office with the old employees who had per-
mitted such irregularities still retained.
! The governor made it plain that he didn't
think that Bob Hunter. the first deputy,
| was proper man to be in the state lnsur-
ance department. And although Isaac
Vanderpoel had resigned month ago.
the governor thought Mr.. Kelsey lax IN
that connection also.
Mr. Kelsey has until today to make an
additional statement If ne sees fit. The
governor told him he didn't want long
argumentative answer trying to justify
what he hasn't done. After that answer is
received the governor will prepare his mes
| sage to the senate asking for the removal
of Mr.. Kelsey. The request will be based
upon the examination given Mr.. Kelsey.
Mr.. Kelsey's loyalty to the old machine
was pathetic. He said he intended to
get rid of Bob Hunter, but he wasn't going
to humiliate him.
Warned to Clean House, But Didn't
On the desk in front of the governor
were six volumes of the testimony taken
by the investigating committee, and be-
tween leaves were slips Of paper. which
the governor used as markers, and when
he wanted to ask Mr.. Kelsey question he
would merely turn to the insurance testi-
mony This was supplemented with nu-
merous letters and reports of the insurance
depa rtment, and that Mr.. Kelsey had been
warned to clean house" long ago was
brought out by the governors questioning.
1t was shown that the governor. Senator
Armstrong and Mr.. Kelsey discussed in
surance matters last June at the meeting
of the New YORK city Bar Association
At that time the governor. then plain At
torney Charles E. Hughes, advised Mr..
Kelsey to dismiss Hunter and Vanderpoel.
and Senator Armstrong did likewise. Mr..
Kelsey said he remembered that Senator
Armstrong had advised hi in that matter
but had forgotten whether the governor
did. At that time Mr. Kelsey informed
them that he was going to make changes
in his department. and he admitted to the
governor that not a single change had
been made by him since he assumed office
nine months ago.