The Washington times., 1922-06-26
HARDING
IS HIT IN .
AFFIDAVIT
Insurance Official Will Ask
Court Writ for Reinstate-
ment to Position.

DR.. Lewis A. Griffith, dis
charged superintendent of insur-
ance, today signed an affidavit
charging he was dismissed from
his post by the District Commits
sioners because of "White House
pressure"
At the. same time w. Gwynn
Gardiner. former District Com
missioner and Griffith's attorney,
announced he would seek a writ
of mandamus ordering the Com
missioners to replace the dis
charged superintendent.
Gardiner Incensed.
The, keys to the desks and office
In the, insurance department will not
be given up, Mr.. Gardiner said today.
mot until the highest court in the
land orders DR.. Griffith to do so will
he hand those keys over" said Mr..
Gardiner, "and want to say further
that If the court decides in his favor
intend to make 1t hot for the man
who tampers with that desk"
Griffith Gives Details.
Attorney Gardiner had previously
planned to seek an injunction, but
changed his mind. He expects 10
take the case into the courts to-
morrow.
In Griffith's affidavit he deposed
TO the following, in part:
mo charges Of any character
have been preferred against me as
far as know as far as ! have
been able to understand. Upon the
contrary, during March Of the pres
ent year Commissioner Rudolph.
who has direct charge and super
vision of my office under the pres
ent Commissioner assignments of
departments, sent for me and while
In his office, he stated to me thus:
1.-The work of your office Is en-
tirely satisfactory. There has never
been to my knowledge a complaint
filed against you or-the office during
your administration. You give your
whole time to the job. I had hoped
that you could be retained during
my entire term Of office, but these
damned fellows on the hill have been
after me-
IT asked If the President was TAX.
ing any part in this matter and he
said:
mot exactly, but Secretary
Christian has written me from the
White House for the appointment"
Commissioner Rudolph has denied
that DR.. Griffith was removed from
office because of white House pres
sure" He said the White House had
atk I'D tix,
thing to do with the change.
The affidavit furthep states that
after the alleged conversation with
commissioner Rudolph DR.. Griffith
went to Senator France Of Maryland.
Senator France in turn saw Commits
sioner Rudolph. Later Senator
France, DR.. Griffith says, told him
that Rudolph said 1t was too late to
fix the matter, that 1t had gone too
far.
DIR. Griffith said this morning
that there was no ground for the
statement that his removal was
necessary in order for the Commits
sioners to obtain a more experienced
man in view of the fact that the
marine insurance bill had been
passed.
Il had this talk with Rudolph be-
fore the bill was passed." DIR. Griffith
said.
DR.. Griffith also stated that both
Senator Jones and Congressman Ed.
monds, who fostered the marine bill
in both houses of Congress, had in.
dorsed him in a letter to President
Harding, a copy OF which was sent
to Commissioner Rudolph. He saI1
that he had been lauded for his work
in the insurance department recently
by Congressman Edmonds during the
course of an address before the Cham
ber of Commerce. He also stated
that several other prominent persons
had praised his work in public ad-
dresses.
Attorey Gardiner in seeking his
writ, will attempt to establish that
DIR. Griffith is under cviil service and
cannot be discharged by the Com
missioners until charges are first pre-.
ferred against him.
Burt A. Miller, newly appointed
superintendent of insurance, is in
complete control of his office. A
SET of duplicate keys have been
found and Mr.. Miller now has ac-
cess to the desk and office.