The Washington times., 1912-12-30
UNFAVORABlE VIEW
Of INSURANCE Firm
GIVEN TO PROBERs
President Bell Tells Of Re-
port Nearing False
Pretense" Mark.
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between Mr.. West and Mr.. steilwsgey,
and this wound up by Mr.. West dc.
claring that he wanted to disabuss
the minds OF all that there was any
feeling between Mr.. steliwssen and
"Our relations are perfectly friend.
ly," asserted Mr.. West.
Mr.. West declared there was no feel
ing on his part against MI. 6tellwa-
gen, or anybody, that led him to make
2 prejudicsd statement concerning the
Asserting further that Mr.. Darneiile
was valued official and not dis
missed for insobriety." Mr.. West an
Il think Il very unjust to drag tn.
relations between Mr.: Steiiwagen and
myself into this matter. They have
nothing to do with this investigatton."
Colonel Judson piled Nj. West with
II as perfectly proper that one who
was guilty Of insobriety should be as
:.He was a good assessor. but he was {:
said MT. West. when in office ne was
perfectly sober and q good official"
West Finally Admits.
Mr.. West finally admitted Darneills
WaB OCCoBlOu8uy UUBtuI OItIC0
on account OF intemperance." but he
still insisted that intemperance had not
prevented Mr.. Darneille from being an
excellent official.
You say he was intemperate, yet YOU
Judson.
II don't know whether you run your
office on the high plano you lay down
70! po yuv know on rsiOrtsa H Seo
~ don't know how you run your of.
The question Of what business Dar-
taken UP. and the witness said mining
business in Mexico. It was In this con.
nection, when pressed by Colonel Jud-
son; MI. West admitted he had a small
In the same mining venture AZ Darneille
was In.
II never put penny into IT," said the
former Commissioner.
Resigned Al Director.
He added that he was q director at
the time but resigned. He also said he
had gone with Darneille to look into the
property.
You knew the letters would be use
ful to him In his new employment T'
querted Colonel Judson.
That letter was not written with any
such purpose" replied the witness
~ ..iI didn't , say Il vas" said Judson.
Mr.: West then said he had not writ
ten the letter commendins Darneille as
sincerity, because he considered Oar
nellie q good OFFICIAL.
Questioned further by Judson, the
witness declared he had no recollec-
coons JsS:cn Of bSu s.ynf 1sfS With
said he had come before the commmit-
tee because Mr.. Darneille called him
up ana asked him to make Q statement.
Just a. Mr.. West left the stand. Mr..
and angrily asked Colonel Judson:
my name into this discussion? II
was tntemperate six years ago. I am not
:m a"n not %as Sn tho .Sid Jud
Aside from the personalities. involved
In the testimony about Darneille. the
time Of the committee was pretty large
ance question. which have been more or
less sldetracked in much Of the previous
Foiiowlns Mr.: West. Charlie. J. Bell.
and Trust Company. took the. stand.
and devoted his attention chiefly to
the affairs Of the Commercial Fire In
surance Company.
The, witness admitted he had con-
versed with Mr.. Stellwagen about the
affairs of the Commercial, and had
conversed with various people about
1t; also that he had written . memo
randum to Mr.. Stellwagen about IL.
He put q note on this. which ne said
was jocular. which read:
Here's an opportunity to get rich
Mr.. stellwasen handed this letter or
memorandum. he said. TO Colonel Jud-
son. It contained the opinion Of Mr..
Bell on the Commercial.
Touching the extent of the business
Of his company Mr.. Bell said II carried
$l4.O0O .00O insurance In about $50 differ
cnt companies. The property insured
was mainly In the District and chiehy
houses and other buildings.
"Mr. Bell said Chairman johnson.
"the committee II anxious to arrive at
n Just conclusion whether either or both
OF these companies are carrying as
assets that which IL not legttimstcly
An asset. VIII you diasnose the state.
ments Of these companies?"
'I would rather not do So"
But he finally undertook to do It..
He took up the Commercial and dwelt
at first as q reason why he Ques.
toned the affairs Of the Commercial