The Washington times., 1922-06-24
GR|FFITHLOCKs
DOOR; REFUSES
TO GIVE KEY
District Board Meets New
Problem In oustsr Of In
surancs Chief.

| <Tk@st<*<&@@4K*T~fS Z
reaussted pr. Lewis A. arlfflth,
depossd supsrtntepdeRt Of insurance.
to turn ever the Office and Aesk keys
Of the insutauce department. by 81
o'clock Monday afternoon.
Failing In this attempt to obtain
the ksys, ths comwisalopsvs plan
e s.ssk ,.!,, !ns ,ssse A g shs &c. @ csa sHc
on the effics deefs may Also ~
Suss a, miller, sppsint,1 De-.
thia morning. assumiHG he duties
immediately. H, h9Wever, wtu
have 70 walt until Monday bsfcrs hs
VIII coms into full poeeeeeicH q htv
office. Tcday he 70 minpa the keys.
a suit for Injunction to prevent
the Cemnisaioneys from Aring pr:1
drifflth viii b. filed IN the District
Gupvems Court Monday hy W.
dwynn Gardiner. 6riffith's attorney,
Gardiner three years asO, while
District Commissioner, eppptnted
Griffith 70 the Pest
Gala u rlegk.
Attovnsy Gardner believes that
through this acticp ne will establish
whether politics shall interfere with
Diatrict ppsitisns. Ne further con
tends the Commissioners had no
risht 70 fire Griffith, that the man
is technicaliy under the civil service
ana cannot BE- fired without uves
charaes being made against him.
The Commissioners, " u unQer.
stood, feel sure that they can at
isfy the court that the diemtessl
| 81 Dr, Griffith was not only leqei
but "for the Geed Of the service"
n In possibls that Griffith's experi>
ence in insurance work win be
cited.
II was said teday that outside
Of conducting examinations at an
plicants for Insurance DR.. Griffin
has had little experience IN TINS
liHs.
life shows he has. held the follow,
Judge OF orphans' court. Prince
Georges county; president OF board
Of supervisors Of election OF .ne
msmSer DuSns state beard Of heaithi
member State board Of medical en-
! aminers; member Of draft boawi.
and inspector Of explosives for the
Mr.. Miller aritnttss successor.
has been engaged In Insurance
work for twenty-five years. and the
Commissioners feel hts experience
| will proye valuable to the District.
| II was unofficially stated at the
Civil Service Conayaission today
that DR.. Griffith was not reecg.
mixed an under The civil service a.
claimed by his attorney. Mr.. Gard
iner. Gardiner says the civil seyv.
Ice retirement act automatically
placed him under civil service. but
Il was said at the conmisaion that
this act was entirely separate and
distinct from the civil service. BE-
cause II took In Government en-
piayes not under the service.
Deny Harding AAe6,
Commissioner Rudolph today de,
MED emphatically that either Presf.
dent Harding or Secretary Christian
had anything to do with the appeint-
msnt, He said neither OF the men
| had directly or indirectly mentioned
the matter to the Commissioners.
Mr.. Miller, after taking office, Dc.
clared today that he looked forward
to making Washington one OF the
greatest Insurance. centers IN the
world. lie pointed out that the
marine insurance act would bring ~
creased business into the District.
and stated that he had othsf legts-
lation In mind which would help the
District.
Increased appropriations are
needed for this department. Mr.
Miller said. He pointed out that .
more strict superyision Of insurance
was needed In Washington, and he
said he plans to do everything pos.
sible to make supervision here equal
to the best supervision found In any
other city.
It was said today that DIR. Griffith
was appointed to his post at the re.
guest Of en- Senator John Walter
/ Smith Of Maryland. ss