Evening star., 1922-06-24
MILLER ASSUMES
GR|FF|TH'S PLACE
Oath Administered Despite
Controversy, and Keys
Asked by Monday.

Whether there was any intent or
not on the part of the District Com
missioners to steal a march, on
w. Gwynn Gardiner. counsel for
DIR. Lewis A. Griffith. dismissed sup
erintendent of insurance. the oath of
Office was administered to his sue
cessor. Burt A. Miller. today, although
it had been originally planned to
swear him in Office Monday morning.
Attorney Gardiner had made plans
to file in the District Supreme Court
Monday morning. shortly before Mr..
Milfer was to be inducted into Office.
an injunction to restrain the Com
missioners from ousting DR.. Griffith.
The Commissioners. however, hustled
Mr. Miller into Commissioner Ru-
dolph's Office this morning, he faced
Daniel Garges, secretary to the board
of Commissioners, swore his oath and
became District commi ssioner of in
Surance.
The next move of Attorney Gardiner
is not known. He is reported to be
out of the city today.
Escorted to Omce.
After taking the oath of office. Mr..
Miller was escorted to his Office by Sec
retary Garges The keys to the desk of
his predecessor. DR. Lewis A. Griffith.
had not been turned in. however. and
the Commissioners have notified DR..
Griffith that they expect the keys to
the desk Monday afternoon before 3 80
o'clock
There's bright future for the District
of Columbia in the insurance line. ac-
cording TO Mr.. Miller In short in
formal chat, after being sworn in, he
stated that the marine insurance act.
which is a model law in force in the
District of Columbia. opens possibilities
for the District of Columbia becoming
an insurance center for national and
possibly international operations of in
Surance companies.
The marine act gives the privilege
to companies chartered in the Dis
trict under its provisions, to writing
marine. fire and other types. but eN-
elusive of life and surety bonds.
A big change noted under the new
act, also, Mr.. Miller pointed out. is
the fact that companies OF the DIS
tr:ct chartered under the new act
will be taxed upon their net under
writing profits instead of upon their
gross premium receipts. This is cN-
pected to prove an immense Stfmu-
liant to the establishment of insur-
ance companies in the District OF
Columbia.
Information Needed.
Regarding the details of admin
istration of the Office of commissioner
of insurance. Mr.. Miller intimated
that it was his firm belief that the
insurance commissioner should have
i at his finger tips every available de-
| tail of data relative to the type class
i ification, operation and financial de-
tails of every insurance company do
] ing business under the District law
He said that especial attention
should be given to policy valuation
| and statistics on this subject. so that
| inquiries along this line could be
| handled with the maximum speed and
efficiency.
The commissioners today empha,
sized that Mr.. Miller's appointment,
was in no way due to presidential in
| fluence He was selected practically
upon merit. it was stated. it is true
| however, that Senator Pomerene
democrat. of Ohio, is ascribed to hav-
| ing been active in bringing the merit:
Of Mr.. Miller to the attention of the
Assurance that the removal of DR.
! Griffith was entirely regular was
given by the District officials today.