Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-16

the average.
He explained that this is apt 10 De
new companies. New companies were
compelled to take business not desired
by established companies. In order 10
build up their business
Mr. Wolf was asked by Mr. Carusi
whether the "cut rate business done
by the companies here showed an un-
usually large percentage OF loss. He
replied that this "cut rate business
has only been done for the last two
months. and no estimate could be made.
Prouty Raises Question.
Representative Prouty asked: DO you
believe. Mr.. Wolf that ii is fair dealing
with the stockholders to pay out part OF
the t oney paid in for stock. in dividends
when there are no earnings. to make the
stockholder believe it was part of the
earnings?
Mr. Wolf replied that in many in
stances insurance companies had paia
dividends when there We're no earnings.
the object being to keep the stockholders
satisfied He said also that the fire In
surance business must be considered AZ
extending over a period of years and not
over one year part or year ne
said In reference to the companies unoer
investigation that no one had been de-
ceved. ~.
Mr. Carusi cited the fact that the divi-
dends raid by the companies last year,
and which have been criticised. were or
dered. i'm part before big fire losses oc-
CURED Mr. Wolf said that II the APP
praised profit on the purchase OF the
Southern building was Justified, the COM
panies would have been justified in or
dering dividends and paying them last
December
Mr.. Wolf said that he considered the
literature issued by the companies no
more misleading than that issued by
other companies. 49,
He said he did not consider the litera-
ture misleading. All literature issued by
fire insurance companies ana ralioaoS
for promotion purposes was Always op
tmiStic
He said that the literature sent out by
these companies was far better and less
optimistic than that issued by other fire
insurance companies he had seen.
One Bit of Excitement.
Representative Johnson and Col Judson
were responsible for one bit of excitement
In the hearing yesterday afternoon. and
II all came about over the old question OF
Municipal Architect Ashford. Represent
ative Johnson produced bill asking for
an appropriation to pay for architects
fees for plans and drawings on TWO new
high schools. The buildings involved are
the new Central High School and the
new colored high school. 49,.
BY whom was this bill prepared ask
ed Mr.. Johnson.
by the chief clerk Of the engineer de-
pa-tment or possibly by Capt. Markham.
Then ii could he readily and accu-
rately called bill from the Commits
sioners?"
ooh. yes.
You are asking there for a large sum
~ whom iG this money
asked?"
For Mr. Ittner of ST. Louis and Mr..
Cass Gilbert. Mr.. Ittner is perhaps the
foremost school architect in the world,
and Cass Gilbert is in his class
Asks for Statement.
Representative Johnson asked Col. Jud-
son to furnish him a statement showing
the amounts of money that had been paid
out in architects fees during his admin
istration and to show what buildings had
been planned by architects outside of the
architects office and to name
them. Col. Judson said the Commission
ers give out plans on about half the
scho i buildings. and that the munich
pal architects force plans the other half.
DO you remember corning to me to
urge the passage OF this biil? asked
Johnson.
Yes
And do you remember the reasons you
gave me at that time why this money
should be appropriately?
II can't say that / do.
one of the reasons was that you want
ed to get the building under way
Probably
Did you not say at that tine that
Snowden Ashford. municipal architect,
was not competent and that you had to
hire outside men to do his work!
Views as to Ashford
II do not recall saying that" said Col.
Judson. but what / very probably said
was that Mr.. Ashford is not competent
on the artistic side of such work. II
wanted these schools to be the keystone OF
architecture of our school construction.
and wanted to get Mr.. Ittner, who Is the
foremost school architect in America.
As a supervisor OF work Mr.. Ashford ID
about as good man as ! ever saw. but
Cass Gilbert and Ittner are artists In an
other line.
Did YOU not tell me you could not get
competent architect for the sum al
lowed Mr.. AShford?
Il probably said that for $1,000 year
YOU could not get an architect in the
class with Ittner or Cass Gilbert"
II am willing to go on the stand and
state under oath. II necessary respond
ed Mr.. Johnson. that you did make those
statements 10 me-
Defends Commissioner.
Mr.. Redfeld, who has allied himself
closely to Col. Judson throughout the
hearing. took up arms in defense of the
Commit ssioner.
And l will go on the stand and swear
that the statement was made to me by
Col Judson that the whole idea in get
ting this appropriation was to be able to
employ the leading specialist in the world
10 do this job. and nothing was said
about Ashford being incompetent. 1t
would be absurd to expect Mr.. Ashford
TO undertake this work in the state of his
office"
1T was so absurd that I did not ask
rim anything about it was Representa-
tive Johnsons reply. and he told me ex
actly what I stated"
Frank II. Thyson. manager of the
Southern building, was asked myriad Of
que stions yesterday afternoon about the
cost Of running the establishment He
which rendered the Southern building
His figures on lighting interested Col.
hudson and Representative Redfield i'm
mensely. and they asked him to verify
his statements by further study.
MINISTER FINDS "a PEARLS.
Almost Swallows Them While Eat