The Washington times., 1912-12-17
JOHNSON PREPARES
INVESTIGATION Of
INSURANCE MEN
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Uncle Joe Cannon suggested that II
remedies were needed In local insur.
ance conditions they could be obtained
by other than Congressional investiga-
lions, but the objection Of Uncle Joo
was short-livcd, and he said he would
not stand in the way Of the adoption
Of the resolution.
During the shor. debate on the rcso-
luton, Congressman Mann. the minority
leader, called upon Justice Ashley N.
Gould, of the District Supreme Court.
and Justice George W. Atkinson. OF the
United states Court OF Claims. to resign
from the directorate OF the Commercial
Fire Insurance Company. now that the
company is q party In the investigation.
II IL improbable that either Of the
jurists will resign, both taking the posi-
ton that the company's business Ii be-
ing conducted in a perfectly straight
forward manner. and that the investi.
cation will 50 show. When informed
Of Mr.. Mann's attitude. Justice Gould
said he would not think Of resigning
from the company. now that II ~
CATION has been completed and the
whole matter cleared up" There ts
nothing In law or precedent, commcnteA
Justice Gould, to prevent members or
the judiciary from engaging In lesiti-
mate SusnssS H.Kinsam sad Mr.
sitiOn was rather unusual" The Com.
mercial Company. he added. Ia conduct.
ing business In an honest manner.
does not seem that the mere fact that
ciary should exclude him from investing
mis- money In legitimate enterprises.
said Justice Atkinson.
Continuing Judge Atkinson said:
Everything connected with the compa-
nies, am sure. Is in conformity with
the laws regulating such concerns.
am a new director OF the company. hav-
ing been elected to the board within
the past two months. have invested
money In the concern. and a large num-
my recommendation. There is no doubt
that this Congressional invest tgation.
which the company officials unanimous
" welcome. will prove that the corpor-
1.-The milk in the cocoanut is simply
the valuation set upon the Southern
building. Tho investigation has grown
out Of this valuation alone. which Is
considered by ,,. mel ighboring property
thing is all right and the investigation
will prove so.''
Regarding the stand taken by Repre-
sentative Mann. that Judge Atkinson
and Judge Gould. also director In the
Atkinson refused to talk. He merely
stated that he. did not think It i'm
proper for 4 judge OH the bench to In
vest money In and be an officer Of such
vestments were very good. and he was
very much pleased with the workings
Of the company since he had been con-
nected with It.
Congressman Mann was Thoroughly
In sympathy with the purport Of the
johnson resolution. which IL intended
to clear up by an investigat ton certain
charges. implied and otherwise. made
against the office of the superintendent
panies.
Congressman Henry informed the
House that the inquiry was desired by
every one. including the District Gov
ernment and the insurance companies
parties. continued Mr.. Henry. that an
Inquiry should be made in view Of the
present status OF the controversy The
inquiry. Mr.. Henry suggested. would
not begin until after Christmas:
adopted by the House. following modi-
ttcations by the Rules Committee. Is as
follows:
Resolved. That the Committee on the
District Of Columbia OF the House OF
thereof which the chairman OF said
committee may appoint. is hereby
authorized and directed to investigate
the conduct. management. history. rec.
ords. and affairs OF the Commercial Fire
District Of Columbia, and of the Fiist
National Fire Insurance Company III
the United States, Washington. Dis.
trict OF Columbia, both doing business
in the District OF Columbia, and OF the
office OF the Superintendent Of Insur.
ance Of the District OF Columbia. and
OF Tuttle. wightman and Dudley lin.
corporated). doing business In the Dis
trict Of Columbia. together with those
agents and to examine the books. pa
pers. accounts. and affairs Of ~
aforesaid companies and OF the
Superintendent OF Insurance of thu
District OF Columbia: to apprais'
the property., real and personal be.
| Of them. Said committee. or sucl
| subcommittee thereof as may be Sc
Iected. Is authorized to sit during thu
sessions Of the House and during an, an,
he open to the public. and 1t Is au
thorized and empowered to empiO!
counsel, expert accountants. apprats
crs. and such other clerical. steno
may deem necessary; also to compr
witnesses to attend and testify. ant
to send for such persons and paper
and to administer oaths to witnesse
as the committee may tfeH DeSt. II
expense incident to the investigation
herein authorized shall not excee
$4,000. and shall be paid out of tn
contingent fund of the House. upo
vouchers signed by the chairman q
the committee and approved by tn
Committee on Accounts"
Justice Gould issued the following for
NAL statement with reference to Con
gressman Mann's suggestion that ht
together with Justice Atkinson. shoul
resign from the directorate Of the Com
mercial Fire Insurance Company. name
In the resolution:
II shall not think OF resigning fror
the company, now that II Is under In
vestigation. until this Investigation ha
been completed and the whole matte
has been cleared up. There Is no la'
prohibiting, Federal judge. from bein
interested In and connected with bus
ness eNterprises. and ! do not thin
Congress could pass a'law which wOul
to regulate the private business affair
OF member of the judiciary.
"It has been customary for member
OF the judiciary to be associated wit
business corporations. I recall man
cases where members OF our highe,
courts have been connected with.
owned stock In, companies of one kin
or another. and when they became II
yolved In litigation Of any kind. the
would declle to sit in the cases. On OF
own bench II has been customary II
the members to take active part In bus
ness think that, with probably OF
exception, the present members OF Il
| ,ourt ire Interested in priyate buslne