New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-27
FOR MERCANTILE LICENSE
Alleged Ex.Convict Alone Favors
StiIWeII Bill at Hearing.
SAID TO HAVE SERVED TIME
Joseph Auerbach, William s.
Bennett and Edward Page Op.
pose Measure at Albany.
rBv Telegraph 20 III. Tribune.I

Albany April 2s-Charles L. Unversagr.
Of New York. who IS now in the mining
business and who apparently IN the past
has been IN the insurance and banking
business at different times. at hearing
this afternoon proved to he the man az
whose request Senator Stilvell introduced
the bill providing for the licensing OF mer-
camille agencies and prohibiting them from
making verbal reports about any hrin
business. such reports are 10 be In writing.
The bill is opposed by merchants and ousi-
ness men. while Mr.. Unyersagt is the only
one who appeared for II. lie said he repre-
sented himself, and he mad not gone tar
in his argument before II was evident that
his business standing in the eyes OF one
Of the largest mercantile agencies was
anything but enviable A mercantile report
which he read himself describes him as
being a good man to let alone.
MIR, Cnversagt several times vaguely re-
ferred TO a Judgment of conviction against
him Finally this led Senators McClelland
and Wainwright 20 call for details. The
mining operator said that he would submit
the data on the subject 10 the committee
but the Senators were persistent He then
admitted that twenty-eight years ago he was
convicted of using fraudulently the mails
in connection with the security, building
loan and insurance company OF which he
apparently was the head. He, however. pro-
duced a revocation order from the Attor'
ney General at Washington, by which, he
declared, that his judgment OF conviction
was revoked on the ground that there was
no evidence OF crininality against him.
Let me see that" asked Joseph Auer-
bach. attorney for the l.. @. Dun Com
pany. VINO had come TO oppose the bill.
Mr. Auerbach carefully compared 1t with
what proved 10 be q record Of the Tn
versagt case. lie later declared that Mr..
Unversagt served his sentence and paid a
tine of 500. following the conviction. and
that the revocation order was In connec-
ton with a postoffice fraud order issued
against Mr.. Unversagt many years later,
and was an entirely separate case. The
advocate Of the ILL did not make any de-
NAL Of this statement.
Were YOU ever indicted for anything
after that?" asked Senator McClelland.
Yes" replied the mimi, operator weak
~. - was indicted about thirteen years
ago by representative Of tine state Bank
ing Department. but the indictment was
never prosecuted. I was then in the bank
inz business
Mr. CnyersaSt was abusive Of the mer-
camille agencies, calling them "covardly
ours, who damn your character. ana from
whom you now have no redress
Mr. Auerbach thought that even though
the mercantile agencies In the light Of his
past record did refuse to report favorably
on Cnverssgt's business standing. they
should not be condemned IL, generally
speaking, they stood for good. He quoted
from Court OF Appeals opinions after
which he said
"On the one hand. We have the high
est court OF the state, and without excep-
ton reputable business OF the country.
against who comes this one man. I'll not
repeat with an unsavory record. but ! as
sumo one who has reformed
Others who spoke against the bill were
ex-Congressman William s. Bennett aud
Edward Page. representing the Merchants
Association Of New York.