The Washington herald., 1916-06-11
eandN
Charles Hughes Helen and

conferred upon him the degree of Doctor
of Laws in June. 1906.
While Mr.. Hughes has long been recog-
nized by his fellow members OF the bar
as a man OF extraordinary ability. the
public heard little of him until the year
1906. when he accepted the appointment
of chief counselor to the Stephens gas
Investigating committee. This commit
tee was appointed by the legislature to in
vestigate the gas and electric lighting
business of the city of New York. In
which covered a period
of three weeks. Mr.. Hughes proved that
the Consolidated Gas Company had a
monopoly Of the gas and electric busi-
ness of the Metropolis. After he made
his report to the legislative committee. he
went to Albany and assisted in framing
a number OF bills calculated to bring re-
lief to the gas consumers Of Manhattan.
In Life Insurance Probe.
Mr.. Hughes next conspicuous public
service was in connection with the life
insurance investigation, which began in
the late summer OF 1905 This investiga-
ton grew out of the internal dissensions
of the Equitable Life Assurance Com
pany.
Mr.. Hughes was called from abroad by
the legislative committee which had been
appointed to investigate life insurance
conditions in New York. And it is. per-
haps, his work as chief counselor to this
committee. on which his fame chiefly
rests.
While conducting his probe into life in
surance conditions, Mr.. Hughes was o.
fered the nomination by the Republicans
OF the Office OF mayor of New York. He
declined to entertain the offer.
The insurance investigation lasted four
months. and the chief counselor to the
committee proved himself to be a man of
indefatigable industry. There is no gain
saying the fact that Mr.. Hughes succeed
ed in unearthins gross Irregularities By
the insurance companies of New York in
the conduct of their business, and that,
on the whole, much good came from the
investigation and from his individual
work, but the charge has frequently been
made from high and authoritat tive sources
that his investigation failed in accom-.
plishing the most vital ends
Nevertheless he emerged from the Arm
strong investigation with the reputation
OF being one OF the shrewdest and most
penetrating cross-examiners al the Amer
lean bar
Named for Governor.
While the luster and fame of this in
surance investigation were still on him,
Mr.. Hughes was selected by the Repub-
licans of New York as their candidate
for governor and was elected in the au-
tumn of 1906. defeating William Randolph
Hearst
AS governor Of the great State Of New
York Mr.. Hughes almost at once expand
ed into national proportions, exhibiting
an aptitude for craftsmanship that sur
prised his most ardent admirers. His
career as governor was such as to keep
the people undecided as to whether he
was a progressive or a reactionary, and
even now, there is much controversy
over the subject. While it might be said
that his training and mental habits give
him a natural tendency toward conser-
vatism, he nevertheless seems to act
without favoritism and to urge legisla-
ton along lines that were considered ex-
tremely radical by machine politicians.
Many of the laws Of the State of New
York were written by him while he was
governor. And in urging their passage,
IL he encountered hostile legislature, It
was his habit to go out among the people
and talk to them direct In this way he
usually got what he wanted.
He was reelected governor in 1908, and
before his second term was concluded
President Taft appointed him to the
bench of the United States Supreme
Court.
Helped Pass Utilities Bill.
Among the many things accomplished
by Mr.. Hughes as governor, may be men,
toned the passage of the utilities bill
and the later extension OF the authority
Of the Public Service Commission to in
clude telephones and telegraph; a new
code of insurance law: reorganization of
the banking system; the practical sup
preston Of secret lobbying by compelling
the registration of lobbyists: the passa ge
Of an employers liability law, with COM
pensation to workmen injured in acci-
dents: the suppression of gambling on
New York race tracks: the passage of
the s0-cent gas bill, and the successful
maintenance Of that measure In the
United States Supreme Court; the adop-
tion of graduated inheritance tax; the
veto of the 2-cent railroad fare, and the
blocking OF the income tax amendment to
the United States Constitution.
In 1903 Gov. Hughes name was fire.
quently mentioned in connection with the
Republican nomination for President
but his name was not presented at the
convention Of that year. 1t had been
said by his friends that the goal of his
ambition was the Supreme Court of the
United states. II that was the case, his
highest ambition was realized in 1ala