The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-15
PUSH INSURANCE
PROBE TOMORROW
Johnson and Redfeld to Make Fight
Before Rules Committee
on Resolution.
NEW YORK INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER TO. TESTIFY
No Move to Be Made Looking to
Temporary Suspension of
Supt. Ingham.

Representative johnson OF Kentucky
calling for a sweeping investigation Of
the affairs of the Commercial Fire In.
surance Company, the First National
Fire Insurance Company of the United
States, both with home offices in the
Southern Building; the Office of the
Superintendent of Insurance of the Dis.
trict, and the affairs of the firm OF
futile. Wightman & Dudley, Inc, I'M
derwriters for the two companies, will
be fought out before the Rules Commit
tee of the House tomorrow.
An effort to procure consideration OF
the resolution by the Rules Committee
yesterday failed because of the fight
over the immigration bill. which con-
sumed all afternoon and kept members
CT the committee on the floor.
Representatives johnson and Redfeld,
Of New York. who worked up the case
against the two insurance companies.
are anxious to have the resolution re-
ported out and passed by the House at
the earliest possible day. II is under
stood they have assurances that the
committee will be ready to act upon
the resolution tomorrow.
Expect Spicy Disclosures.
The announcement that the insurance
prominent part in the investigation
added spice to the situation yesterday
Representative RedfieId has written the
commissioner asking him to appear be-
fore the investigating committee when
it gets into action and tell what he
knows of the previous record Of several
of the active heads of the companies.
A report made by the New York COM
missioner in 1911. following an extended
into the affairs of the Pro-
tective Holdings Corporation OF SYRIA
cuse, ". Y. is expected to play a prom
inent part in the probe.
Stirred to action by the unexpected de-
Of Friday, officers of the COM
panies under fire yesterday appeared at
the Capitol. demanding an immediate in
vestigatiOn. Charles h. Carusi, general
for the Commercial. presented the
letter to the Rules Commit
tee:
hon. Robert L. Henry. chairman OF the House
Committee on Rules:
Dear Sir: As an attorney for the
Fire Insurance Company and
the First National Fire Insurance Com
pany, / respectfully insist that the in
vestigation called for by Mr.. Johnson's
resolution be ordered with a view to an
early and exhaustive investigation.
Presents Letter.
Il append herewith copy Of letter
under date Of December ). from which
it will be seen that the earliest sugges-
ton as to the necessity of a Congress
sional investigation came from my eli
ents''
The letter referred to was addressed
10 the Commissioners. and read as fol-
lows:
"Gentlemen-Gen. Wynne, president of
the First National Fire Insurance Com
nGny, informs me that there is dissatis-
action expressed at the District Building
It the appraised value placed upon the
Building by Messrs. HopewelI
<. Darneille, former assessor OF taxes of
he District of Columbia: Alexander T.
icnsey. of the firm of Swartzell, Rheem
( Hcnsey, and William p. Lipscomb the
we'll known builder. of this city. It is
urther suggested that A reappraisement
should be had apparently with the view
# reducing the previous appraisal
AS general counsel of the company,
lave advised the company TO decline to
appoint any appraisers for such purpose.
can well understand that adjoining
owners, who have not the same
easOn for carrying their real estate as
sets at their actual values, may have
allied attention to what they claim to be
IN appraisement in excess Of that OF the
AK Office.
I'VE shall resist any attack upon this
lpprG sal made for any such purpose. and
I this appraisal Is to be disturged we
shall insist that it shall not be done so
~ new appraisal by persons interested
'nly in Leeping their tax rates reduced,
)ut such new appraisal shall be made
Inder the direction of either the House
IT Senate committee of Congress.
Yours very respectfully.
(Signed) CHARLES F. CARCSI,