Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-22
BY TELEGRAPH.
MAINg DISPATCHES.
MAINE INSURANCE.
A Little Con1ict-The Company Hold
the Books.
BosToS, Nov. 81.

boston, NOV Il.
The examination Of the Union Mutual In
surapce Company of Maine, which has been
foreshadowed for some time past came to an
unexpectedly full stop Tuesday as has just
accidentally transpired at the State House.
II seems that Insurance Commissioner Tar
box, some days ago, despatched Mr.. Plymp-
ton and Mr. Milton, formerly actuarg OF the
company, to Portland with the instruction.
to invite the insurance commissioner of Maine
to Join with them in thorough examlna-
ton of the affairs of the company, but the
company refused to surrender their books
and the gentlemen returned to Boston. On
the other hand, it is alleged he was chosen to
act for the reason that his perfect familiarity
of the company's business would prove an
efectual bar to any misrepresentation of Its
present financial standing Be this as it
may, the company after somewhat protracted
negotiations, fatty refused. Tuesday, to give
Messrs Plympton and Milton access to its
books and the examiners accordingly retired
to Boston, Wednesday morning and reported
to Commissioner Tarbox. The commits
sioner declines to say anything about the
matter today, further than that he has taken
the subject under advsement. Mr.. w. c.
Hutchins, one of the three Massachusetts d.
rectors, said the cause of the refusal, as he
understand it, is that the Maine and Massa-
chusetts departments have been unable to
agree upon a common method of examina-
ton ami as the company could not without
serious inconvenience allow two independent
examinations to go on at the same time.
The president very properly notified Com
missioner Tarbox that he must wait until the
Maine department finished its investigation.
Mr.. Hutchins scouts the idea Of any I'M
soundness in the company's methods or finan-
cial status.
PORTLAND, Nov. 81.
President John f. Dewitt, of the Union
Mutual Life Insurance Company of Maine,
publishes tie following card to the public:
UNION MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Co.
PORTLAND, Me-, Nov. q.
To THE PUBLIc:-
The investigation now in progress, by the
honorable insurance commissioner of Maine,
will demonstrate beyond question that the
Union Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Maine,
is sound to the core and able to pay all obi
CATIONS, as it has never failed to do during
the 30 years of its existance; that it sue
cessfullv and honestly managed and all state
ments derogatory to its character untrue and
baseless. The directors of the Union Mutual
Insurance Co. have not refused to allow it to
be examined by any insurance department,
Al :. al
cation of our license by the insurance com
missioner of Massachusett to do business in
that State will. when the whole truth appears,
do us no injury.
JOHN f. DEWITT. President.
The officers of the Union Mutual Life In
surance Co. of Maine make public the fol-
lowing statement Of facts regarding the &C
ton of the Massachusetts insurance commits
sloner. Hon. o. Smith was seen, and this
that as far as it referred to his action in the
premises, was correct in every particular.
Some two weeks ago, Insurance Commits
sioner Smith of this State received letter
from Commissioner Tarbox of Massachu
sets, in which the latter stated that he in
tended to examine two of the largest fire in
surance companies in Massachusetts, early
in January, and invited Commissioner Smith
to join the examination so that the effect of
the results arrived at would be strengthened
by the concurrence of the two departments
He also stated that he desired to examine the
Union Mutual of Maine, and that on the next
Tuesday, Nov. Is, Mr.. N. A. Plympton, his
representative, as other official duties would
prevent his leaving the State, would call on
Commissioner Smith in relation to the mat
ter. Accordingly Mr.. Plympton called on
Commissioner Smith, and learning from Mr.
Smith that he had already commenced an ex-
animation of the Union Mutual, as required
by the law of the State, he proposed to join
IN it. Mr.. Smith informed him that he had
suspended the examination on account of
President Dewitt, but that he should resume
it at once on his return. which would be in a
few days, and he would in two or three days
give Mr.. Tarbox an answer. Mr.. Plympton
went to Portland that night and returned to
Boston, re aching there about three O'Clock
Mr.. Smiths answer, he started for Portland
with his assistant. and on Friday afternoon
appeared in the Union Mutual office and read
the following communication to the president
CoNMoNwEALrH OF MASSACHUSETTS, !
Insurance DEP'T, 33 Pemberton So,
BosroN, Nov. 18th, 1888.
To Mr.. Noah A. Plympton.
Dear Sir Il have considered your COM
municaton of yesterday, informing me of
your interview with Commissioner Smith of
Maine, touching the examination of the
Union Mutual Life Insurance Co. in that
State. My inference is that the examination
on the plan proposed by Smith would not be
satisfactory to me. and therefore I request
you to proceed without delay to examine the
comfy and its affairs financial and otherwise.
and that the examination be thorough
Should IT be advisable to appraise the com
pany's real estate in fee or mortgage. | wish
the valuation made by appraisers selected by
this department and not by persons selected
by the compsny's officers without conference
or approval.
am very truly yours.
(Signedl JOHN X. TARBox,
Insurance Commissioner.
The above is a correct copy of the letter
of instruction presented to President Dewitt