Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-14


the superintendent of insurance OF me
District Of Columbia; to appraaSe ue
propertY. real and personal, belonging %
said corporations or either Of them
said committee, or such subcomm1t-
tee thereof as may be selected. Is
authorized to sit during the sessions
Of the House and during any recess
IF Congress. Its hearings shall be open
to the public. and IT Is autnoIizeo ana
empowered to employ counsel, expert
accountants. appraisers. and such other
clerical. stenographic and expert as
,istance as it may deem necessary; also
testify. and to send for such persons
and papers and to administer oaths to
witnesses as the committee may deem
best
Penalty Imposed.
ANY false statement made under any
such oath shall subject the offender to
all the penalties provided for by law
In the District of Columbia for the
punishment of the crime of perjury.
mo person shall be excused from giving
Testimony or from answering any Ques-
ton, or from otherwise disclosing any
facts within his knowledge as an indi-
corporation or private partnership or as
, public official. or from producing any
book. paper, or document on the ground
that the giving Of such testimony or the
ment would tend to incriminate him; or
FOR any other reason.
Such expense as will be incident to
the investigation herein authorized shall
not exceed $4,000. and shall be paid out
Of the contingent fund Of the House:
npon vouchers signed by the chairman or
The committee and approved by the COM
mittee on accounts.
superintendent Dismissal Proposed.
George w. Ingham. superintendent of
insurance Of the District Of Columbia,
nay be removed from office following the
completion of the re-examination ordered
oy the District Commissioners Of the
Books and accounts of the Commercial
Fire Insurance Company and the First
National Fire Insurance Company OF the
United Safes
It was learned today. through an au-
thoritative source, that a motion for Mr..
Ingham's dismissal already has been
made by Engineer Commissioner William
v. Judson. What charges, if any. &C
company the recommendation are not
known.
It is understood that the paper con-
tanning the motion was placed In the
hands Of Commissioner Johnston, but, so
far as could be learned, no action had
been taken by this official up to a late
hour this afternoon.
Commissioner Rudolph, who was the
only member of the board of Commits
sioners to be at his office in the District
building during the early part of the
day, would not discuss the report that a
motion has been made to have Mr.. Ing
lam removed from office. 1t is not be-
leved that the engineer officials recon-
mendation will be considered by Commits
sioner Rudolph before he has had an
opportunity to examine the report of the
reinvestigation now being conducted of
the affairs of the two insurance COM
panes>
Since the adoption of the order for the
denomination and revaluation by the
the Commercial Fire Insurance Company
the view Of Commissioner Rudolph has
been, 1t is understood, that drastic steps
Of any kind should not be considered by
the Commissioners until the work re-
quired to be done under the order has
been completed.
Will Aid Investigation.
Concerning the prospect Of a congress
sional investigation of the Office Of the
superintendent of insurance, Commission
er Rudolph this morning stated that he
would not oppose an investigation, and
that every facility would be afforded any
committee of Congress that might be
designated to make the inquiry.
A similar statement was made by
Supt 1ngham. who was at the Office of
the Commercial Fire Insurance Com
pany. in the Southern building, engaged
In making the denomination of the
company's books ordered by the Com
missioners- Mr.. Ingham, assisted by
Daniel Curry. examiner OF the tnsur-
ance department. commenced the inves-
tigation last Friday, and may be able
to conclude the work today.
Superintendent Ingham today stated
that he had appraised the Southern build
ing at 5000 900, because this was the
~ a ma a
appointed to make valuation Of the
property reported the building to be
worth.
He declared that If any question has
arisen as to the honesty with which he
ID carrying out his duties as a District
official he would welcome an investiga-
tion of his office. Mr.. Ingham has been
In the District service about ten years.
IN 1910. his candidacy for the office being
Endorsed by large number Of insurance
men.
Business Men Protest.
The s2O0O COO appraisement on the South
ern building led to a protest being made
to Commissioner Judson. 1t is understood.
by business men who own property in the
vicinity of the building and who. 1t Is
stated. felt that their taxes would be in
creased IL the appraisement was not
changed.
1t is understood the original motion Of
Commissioners Judson for an investiga~
ton OF the matter was more drastic in
Its terms than the one finally adopted.
which requires only that the books and
accounts OF the companies shall be re-
examined and a new valuation placed
upon the real estate Of the Commercial
Fire Insurance Company by the board Of
assessors of the District
The original appraisal OF the Southern
building was made by H. H. Darneille.
former assessor of the District: Alexan-
der 7. Hensey and William p Apscomb
When complaint was made to the Engi-
neer Commissioner that the appraisement
was too high that official took the mat
ter up with Supt Ingham. The latter, it
IL understood. maintained that the ap-
praisa1 was made by a board OF experts
whom he considered competent
Letter Placed on File.
Ths following u q copy Of q letter said
to have been received by the Commission
ers from Robert R Tuttle. president Of
the Commercial Fire Insurane Company: