Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-01-11
THE ROCK RIVER INSURANCE
sWENDLE.

P.
ceived since his appointment in October
over two hundred summonses to be serv~
ed on the people Of Iowa and La tayette
counties TO appear before the L. ). Dis
trict court and pay their premium notes
given to the Rock River Insurance COM
pany years ago, together with costs and
damages, which in most cases far exceed
the amounts of the original notes.
That'this is one Of the grandest swim
dies ever attempted to BIO perpetrated in
the name of law there cannot be the
least doubt We do not believe the pay
Inent Of these demands will ever be en-
forced, if the people make a stubborn
legal resistance, and therefore our ad-
vice is, don't pay cent until you are
actually compelled to do SO.
We copied an article on this subject
from the Portage Register last fall, and
nov extract the following from the same
paper
Ii will be remembered that the Rock
River was Mutual Company that did
business throughout the State on this
plan-takng thousands Of dollars III
notes from the insured, and then failing,
and being declared bankrupt These
notes, with what other effects the Com
pany had, (Which by tho way amounted
to but littlc) were handed over to an as
signee Tho policy holders had made
part cash payments and for the balance
had given premium notes--that is, notes
which were to be good, if the company
sustained such losses that the cash pay
ments received were not sufficient to pay
them of. It was generally understood,
iG not specifically stated, that the note
was to expire with the cancellation Of
the policy. These notes amount to all
tia way from 5000 to $1,000 each, and
in some exceptional cases running up as
high as $lO0OO-and perhaps more.
They have all been placed in the hands
Of an assignee who is suing them all in
the United States Court. The attorney
for Ira G. Goodall, assignee in hank,
ruptoy," gets $500 fees the clerk 50 90,
the marshal 500 and & cents per mile
for travelling fees, both ways, from Madi>
son, in each case, making the cost quite
rs mach as the amount OF the notes which
amount to many thousands in the State.
That the machinery Of the United States
court should be used to promote this
Wholesale swindling very naturally, and
very Justly, oxcites great indignation 1t
is piracy in it's worst form, because it is
done in the name Of law,
We are glad to see that the iniquitv of
tho proceedings has arrested the attention
of our lawmakers Mt Washington, and
that our immediate representative, Hon.
q. w. llozeton has introduced bill
which viii protect the people from Cur-
Their imposition, If be be successful in
securing It's passage, which we cannot
doubt, for Congress can hardly have tie
tcmGrity 10 continue in force section Of
law which ia so grossly perverted and
abused. The bill in effect provides that
no costs shall be taxed in egses where
the parties haYo sued Ia "the United
States courts, when the amount brought
the ease uader the jurisdiction of justices
OF the peace Let the passage OF the bill
lc hurried up for the danger is that
everybody will be sued before the ben.
cf,s al il be Of any avail The old de-
iuact "Milwaukeo Insurance Co, "A. l..
Cary, assignee, is now following in Jhe
wake OF the Rock River Insurance CO
and suing its notes which were supposed
t. have expired years ago, ana many Of
our citizens have already received no,
,ices to appear in the United States
Courts aud answer Indeed some OF
our citizens, who never had given any
notes at all, or been connected in any
way with the Milwaukee Insurance Co ,
have received notices to pay no s. 90 or
they would be sued Rather than to en-
pillow a lawyer and 20 to the lnited Smtes
rour,s 70 defend they have arhaAy ucii
the demand Incredible rs il may seem
1t was wrong for them to DO So, but they
sav they cannot afford 90 be at the cx>
pensr Oft law suit
Now that the matter has been brought
homo 20 tho attention Of Congress, let
that body with all promptness, o3ord
such relief as is reasonable, or admit
that there was too much truth in Ju3Et
Dooli,cs warnings, in the canvass las
fall, against the tendency to centralila,
tion. Sac the people among the people
iliJ he necessary to sue them, ana no
drag them oil Mt u great distance whoI
tarre tnn he no necessity for it,
MIR Nareltou, push your hill, ana &c.