Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-30
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS
FROM COMPANY SURPLUS
Charles ]. Bell and Former Commits.
sioner West on Witness Stand. /,
QUESTION OF MEMORY RAISED
Mr.. West Cannot Recall Converse
tion Alleged by Col. Judson.
Bankers View Of Mar
gin Of Safety.

Charles j. Bell. president OF the Amer
lean Security and Trust Company, and
former Commissioners Henry l.. West
were witnesses today before the subcom-
mittee of the District House commits.
winch Is engaged I'm the insurance in
vestgation. Mr.. Vests testimony was
in fiat contradiction OF statements BY
Col. Judson regarding III. III. Darneille
Charles j. Bells testimony. drawn out
by Col Judson. was that he considered
that there had not been enough OF A
margin OF safety i'm the affairs of the
Commercial Fire Insurance Company
His testimony was attacked by Charles
F. Carusi and Charles A. Douglas. at
torneys for the fire insurance company.
Mr.. Carusi gave an inkling OF what the
insurance companies will have to say for
themselves when he asked Mr.. Bell If he
knew that the insurance companies could
pay dividends out of surplus. Col. Jud-
son. acting as prosecutor. gave Mr.. Bell
set of figures with which to calculate. and
MIR. Bell, after having used these figures.
stated that in his opinion the Commercial
Fire Insurance Company had been oper-
ating at a loss and WAS not justified in
paying a dividend on any earnings. The
correct meaning of the word earnings
caused much discussion.
Representative Redfeld of New York.
an active member of the subcommittee.
was not able TO be present today. as he
is with Gov. Woodrow Wilson in confer
ence. Mr.. Wilson has been urged to
place Mr.. Redfield in the cabinet as Sec
retary Of Commerce and Labor.
After the hearing adjourns this after.
noon, no further testimony viii be heard
until 10 o'clock Thursday.
Ex-Commissioner West a Witness.
se-STIenry l.. West. former Commissioner
81 the District of Columbia. was the fret
witness today. Representative Johnson.
Chairman. interrogated him TO III. ii.
lDarneille. formerly assessor of the Dis
,trict of Columbia. Ii was stated that Col.
Judson& had testified he did not think
well Of Mr.. Darneille. Col. Judson had
also said that Mr. West had expressed
himself as glad that Mr.. Darneille had
retired from the assessorshtp.
Il dislike" Mr.. West said, ito have
any question of veracityg arise between
Col. JudsOn and myself. but i have no
recollection Of having said anything To
Of the District OF Columbia service be-
cause OF anything he had done. Dar-
nellie surprised me very much when lie
resigned l wouldn't say. even now. that
am glad. He received from Commits
sioner Morrow. Commissioner B:ddle.
Commissioner Maccarland and myself let
ters OF commendation.
Mr.. Darneille said to me that he had
engaged in business operations which re-
quired his entire time
Mr. West read letters of cornmen6ation
to Mr.. Darneilie, including one of his
own
Were you sincere in that letter."
asked Representative johnson.
Yes"
You state you have no recollection
Will YOU state without equivocation that
you did not state to Col. Judson that
you were glad to see Darneille retire.
because Of personal habits which he had
contracted?"
II say that / could not have said it
Then understand you to say YOU
didn't say it,
Yes. I will se- did not say so"
Interrogated by Col. Judson.
Col. Judson began to question Nj West.
bringing into the record the matter of the
relations between Mr.. West. Scott g.
Bone. L. J. Stellwagen and the Washing
ton Herald.
There was a controversy as TO who
was to be editor of the Herald?" asked
Col Judson.
lis that under Investigations" the wit
ness inquired.
II wish to show that Mr. West and Mr..
Stellwagen, who were once true friends,
are not now friends at ALL
THAT is not true" remarked Mr.. West.
Representative johnson asked Col JUDI
son to keep inside the bounds of the in
which, he said, have already
been extended greatly.
Mr.. West went on further to say he had
the highest regard for Mr.. Stellwasen.
He also said:
Mr.. Darneille was not dismissed for
and | think it unjust to drag
the matter into this record
Ind ok nj, Da,-, Ia'c in
terest in Mexican mining busne SIS. after
he left the District building Mr.. West
said he. West. had a small interest i'm
the Mexican venture.
so a letter from you would be valua-
bic to Darneille, and it would De TO your
interest to write such a letter.
II never wrote such a letter as a mat
ter of business policy"
Reiterates His Denial.
Representative Johnson asked Mr..
West il he still was OF the opinion he had
not said to Col. Judson that he was glad
when Mr.. Darneille retired, because his
stay was rendered unfortunate because OF
personal matters Mr.. West was firm in
his denial He said he had not recollec-
ton of any conversation with Col. Jud-
son about Mr.. Darneille.
Col. Judson pressed the point
But you have no recollection of having
not discussed Mr.. Darneille, who asked
you to testify?'
"Mr. Darneille telephor ed me that YOU
had used his name and asked me to deny
your testimony" Mr.. West replied.
Mr.. Darnelle arose and asked
why -Sould 1 be discussed by Col.
Judson, who came into office six years
after / retired?"
There was no answer.
Testimony of Charles ]. Bell.
Charles ]. Bell. president OF the
american Security and Trust Com
,any, the next witness was asked
bout his conversations with f.. j.
;tellwagen on the subject Of the insur-
nee companies under investigation. He
aid many people were writing him
g to the standing Of the First National
md the Commercial.
..rrhP letter I sent to Mr.. SfelIMaEen