Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-11
HUGHES STILL AFTER KELSEY.
New York Governor Again Asks
Senate to Remove Official.

ALBANY, N. Y, February 11-Gov
Hughes today renewed to the senate his
recommendation OF last year that Otto
Kelsey be removed from the office Of
state superintendent Of insurance on the
ground Of fncompetency. Last year tho
senate refused by a vote Of q to "a to
remove Supt. Kelsey.
Gov. Hughes bases his renewal of the
accommodation upon the report OF Mat
thew C. Fleming. the governors special
commissioner, who recently investigated
the insurance department. and transmit
ted with his message copy Of Mr.. Fiem-
ing's report.
While admitting the magnitude Of the
that its task has recently Increased, the
governor says that side by side with
these departmental activities there grew
up wasteful and corrupt methods which
scandalized the country and brought the
supervision OF the department with re-
gard to the important interests Of the
holders Of life insurance policies into con-
tempt"
From the Insurance investigation of
1905. sayS the governor, cit appeared that
the department had been efficient in the
true sense most Of the scandals which
were revealed could not have existed"
On motion Of Senator Raines the mes
Sd8S, WltHOut oppOSItlOH, was OrQcre0
printed land for the present to lie on the
table,
The governor says further that he ap-
preciates the unusual conditions which
confronted Supt. Kelsey upon his taking
office, but adds:
But he had conspicuous advantages. He
took ONCE with abuses ascertained. with
the derelictions Of the department known
and with clearly defined obligations which
were not left for him to discover, but
which were writ large in the minds Of all
the people Of the state. He was also
equipped with additional powers Mr. KEEL
sey took office on May &c. 1906, and has
now served more than one-half his term.
AT the time Mr.. Fleming began the TAX
Ing Of testimony he had served for a year
and Ave months. He had had full oppor-
tunity to show whether he was equal to
his important duties. But the facts sub
mitted establish beyond cavil that the
present superintendent has not measured
up to the standard which the state must
maintain and upon which, in difference to
the vast interests involved, 1t Is my duty
SO Tar as my power goes, to insist. 1t
must have been clear to any one competent
to be its chief and to establish 1t upon a
proper basis that thorough overhauling
of the department was necessary. The
superintendent has had q free hand: he
has had abundant time. but the house has
not been cleaned
The concluding paragraph of the gov.
ernors message Is as follows:
THE matter now presented to you in
wolves the credit OF the state. The con-
duct OF the department should exhibit
that care. thoroughness and vigilance
which will guarantee adequate protection
to the interests Of the poiicyhoiders and
at the same time justly insure the stand
Ing and promote the success Of the COM
panies bearing the seal of the depart
ments approval. This object I am con-
WINGED can be obtained in only one way,
and that IL by having the department
placed In other hands. The interests OF
the state require that change should be
made.
II therefore recommend that Otto KEEL
sey, superintendent of insurance, be re-
moved from his ofYlce"