The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-05
Give Us Light.
WATERBURY, March 3, 1884


Mr.. Editor The mourners cry light, light,
but they receive no light. piped unto you
and you danced not, will now tune my pipes
for cotillon number two. In my communca-
ton OF the 18th ult., called on the managers
of the Vermont Accident Association to give
the old policy-holders and the community in
general a truthful reason for winding up that
institution, since but a short time previous to
its final collapse they informed us that it was
never in better condition, everything was
lovely and they had come to stay. | also asked
information in regard to our insurance COM
missioners negotiating with another fool-trap
to re-insure their deluded and wronged policy
holders, also II they propose to return the I'M
earned portion of dues and assessments. ST.
lence regns. Why this reticence 1t must be
for reasons of their own that the managers pre-
ferred to maintain prudential silence regard
ing the business to which the questions re-
ferred, and such silence can hardly have any
other meaning than that full showing would
bring some one into discredit. Silence is an
acknowledgment that the withheld evidence
is unfavorabe. 1t is virtually confession
Perhaps the honorable managers consider
themselves so strongly intrenched behind the
bulwark of their good name and previous hon.
orable dealing, that the community, and es-
pecially their old policy holders, will not con-
slider an explanation necessary. II So, they
reckon without their host, for it is evident to
the most consummate blockhead that some
thing Is rotten in Denmark The absurd and
foolish reason given in their circular to the GER
t6cate-hoders is too flimsy to be swallowed,
If sugar.coated. Allow me to quote few
lines from that mastery production emsnating
from the fertile brain of that noble body of
managers:
"RurLAHD. VT, February S. 1884,
Dear Sir M. ]. Francisco, who has held the posi-
ton Of secretary and treasurer of this association since
1t was organized declines reelection ana refuses to
has been seriously impaired by the excessive and
slant overwork he has been compelled perform In
a Va MI
able person beng found 10 take MS place has been
decided TO stop writing certificates and close up the
business"
II that don't throw the Declaration Of indie
pendence and common decency into the shade,
set me down as a thick-pated gnoramus.
mo suitable person being found to take his
place!' Shades of Caesar Isn't that rich!
Who looked for suitable person, and where
! did they look? Does it require more brain
| power and physical endurance to manage that
| pgmy than to perform the duties of governor
OF a state the superintendency of railroad,
of state treasurer, OF secretary OF state or in
| surance commissioner? Plenty of men can be
| found among the managers to fill any or all of
| the aforementioned offices, and they require
very little urging to assume the responsibility
But "a suitable person to act as secretary for
| that fool-trap cannot be found, and we will
notify the poor deluded certificate-holders that
we want Just one dollar more for duties we do
| not intend to perform, to put in our own pock-
| cts for the mighty things we have done. This
last attempt at robbery was the most bare
faced and contemplate OF ALL Gentlemen,
you remind me OF parcel of small school,
| boys, who, becoming fatigued at play, say, "we
don't want to play this game any more"
gather up their little playthings and run home.
| They go on In this wonderful document and say
4" Arangements have been made with the United
States Mutual Accident Association of New York to
insure all certificates force We enclose applica-
ton which you will please I'LL and sign and forward to
the United states Mutual Accident Association enclos
Ing ~ TO hrSt In that tlOn
they assess at the beginning of the month instead OF
at the close we did, and You will receive by
mail certificate which will place you in full standing
| in that association. Your certificate In the Vermont
Accident Association will be terminated the llh day
| of February 1884"
| Well, now, II that is not about as fine dis
| play of cheek and assurance as you generally
| find among honest men, stand corrected To
| pitch their old certficate-holders out with rs
| little ceremony as they would pile of gar
| bage, without az much as saying by your
| leave, and close the doors, saying: There is
another fool-trap in New York you can get
| into II you are fortunate enough to possess a
couple OF dollars that you are willing TO float
on duplicate to that treacheIous sea on which
| you have been sailing, and we will bid you
adieu Two of the directors OF this collapsed
| bubble are the insurance commissioners OF this
state and, az stated in my previous commune
| cation this United States Mutual Association
of New York is not licensed to transact bust
ness In this state, and under our state law
| could not obtain license for the reason that
they have no reserve guaranteeing payment of
claims. They merely agree to pass the hat
round when member receives a bump, and
pay over to the claimant according to the dona-
| ton received. As | before stated, it Is an
offense punishable by a fine of 500, for any
person to solicit an application for that COM
| pany Ia Vermont, and 1t ought to be $500 in
| stead of one, And | would like to know by
what authority our insurance commissioners,
acting as directors of the collapsed Vermont
accident company, make arrangements with
that prescribed, hat-passing concern to rein
sure by the wholesale, when an agent is liable