The Portland daily press., 1879-03-15
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE

might not be sufficient, for insurance COM
panies have before now ingeniously evaded
charter regulations. 1t might be well for the
state to enact general law on the subject
and attach severe penalties TO its violation.
Inc cnoice OF examiners too should be rigdly
looked after. Doctors are but ialIible, and
their general tendency is to look upon man
as sick thing, to regard him as "patient.n
1t is quite possible that the less conscientious
OF them would report healthy men as invalids
and so fit to be insured. We may be COM
PEELED to do away with the doctors altogether
as examiners, and to substitute for them
those cheerful people who always exclaim on
meeting an acquaintance "why, how well
you are lookingp The mortal hate cher
lshed for these cheerful ones by the invalids
might give rise to some discomfort on the
part of the insurable class, but the interest of
the company would be protected, and that.
as Milton remarked of the State, is the high
est ethics.
The disposal of the vast sums which will
flow into the Golfers of the new COMPANY is n
source of considerable perplexity. 1t is
mighty power to put in the hands of a few
men and Its exercise liable to great abuses.
Yorlck's idea is that after the accumulation
OF reasonable sum, say two hundred mil
lions, by each stockholder, the surplus shall
be used for the public benefit. Its dstribu-
ton may be left to the stockholders them
selves, for it is fair to presume that men who
know how to earn so much money will know
how to expend it judiciousIy. A law might
be passed that each man whose revenues
from the company lit would be manifestly
unfair to include receipts from other sources)
exceed the sum mentioned shall devote the
excess to public uses. Whether this law be
passed or not 1t is Yorick's intention to so
use bis surplus. To begin with, he is going
to make beautiful park OF Deering's Oaks.
Then he will, carrying out Mayor Buffers
plans, turn his attention to the two Prone
nades, and no city in the country shall rival
Portland In that respect. This done, the
next step will be to embasin Back Cove and
construct driveway round it that shall sur
pass anything of the kind in the land. So
much ne has determined upon. Beyond that
nothing is settled. Perhaps a great free
library building may be put up on the vacant
lot opposite City Hall,
After the city has been we'll cared for the
Yorick University, free to ala University
for "Dull Ones"-will be founded. The
University may be objected to as a scheme
for individual aggrandizement. Perhaps 1t
is; but Yorick is not strong enough to put
away fame, and he looks forward with proud
anticipation to the far-away days when at
long Intervals some inquisitive person will
say GLOW in thunder did that college get
that name" and will have for answer,
THAT'S more'n 1 know; ask me an easier
one." Such is the grateful remembrance in
which the founders of universities are held.
The name of destroyer is not likely to be
forgotten; but TO universities and other In
'titutons of peaceful purpose may be applied,
after years have passed, the saying of Fuller
the pyramids, that "doting With
age they have forgotten the names of their
founders"