New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-09
TINE ,vsURLYCE SUPERINTENDENT.

THE INSURANCE SUPERINTENDENCT
The rumors which have been flying about at
Albany during the last few days touching the
Insurance Superintendency are well calculated
IN nroduce uneasinesS in insurance circles and
among the holders of insurance policies. For
IL these rllmors are correct an outrageous deal
is being concocted, having for its object the an
nexation of the Insurance Department. for
revenue only'-to Governor Hills political
boom. The proposition to turn out Supern
tendent Maxwell and to hand over his great
office to ex-senator jim" Pierce is to be in
terpretcd as meaning just that In other words
it means that the Department Us to be run
primarily for politics and the promotion OF the
selfish ends of an Inscriptions boss. Under
Mr.. Maxwell its affairs have been managed
solely in the interests of the general welfare
managed 50 as to protect those who invest IN
insurance by an intelligent and faithful
supervision of the companies. The result OF
the constant enforcement of this sound policy
by Superintendent Maxwell has been what
might be expected. The Department has en-
loved in a marked degree the public confidence.
1t has been kept free from the fiagIant scandals
which brought disgrace upon It's admlnlStra-
ton in the comparatively near past The COM
NAMES have realized that while the Sperin-
tendent really superintendent them there was
no disposition anywhere in the Department
to terrorize them-to make examination and
blacE,mail convertible terms. What would
the change from Maxwell to Pierce ac-
complish? Pierce is good-natured, suave,
a veteran politician OF the antl-reform
school, an adept in making himself all
things to all men, an ardent Hill Democrat
Nobody who knows him will have the assurance
to pretend that his career at Albany has been
of a nature TO justify any Senator IN voting to
place him at the head of the Insurance Depart
ment. On the contrary, if his name reaches
the Senate it ought to be promptly thrown out.
Why does the Governor desire to get rid OF
Maxwell? On high public grounds? No. BE-
cause he believes that change Of Superin-
tendents would promote the efficiency OF the
Insurance Department? No. Have any charges
great or small been made 'anywhere rejecting In
the slightest degree upon. Mr. MaxwelFs char
acter, capacity or his performance of his official
duties? No. The Governor who never did
care a straw for the peoples veal il 1t hap
pened to come in conflict with one of his own
little schemes, is intolerant of Maxwell because
Maxwell is not a serviceable Hill man. Ii the
present Superintendent would only agree to use
the direct and incidental patronage Of his office
and its vast general powers for I" Hill and 49,"
the Governor would never for an instant think
of supplanting him. But Maxwell will not thus
agree, holding as an honest man that his duty
is to be the Superintendent OF Insurance and
not one Of the superintendent of the Hill
boom. Accordingly the Governor has looked
about for man to succeed Maxwell on whom
the Hill boom, if not the people who insure,
could depend. He finds him in Pierce.
Three or four Republican Senators are said
to be parties to this deal for the demoraliza-
ton of one of the most important branches OF
the public service. We are loath to believe
the report. Every member of our patty in The
Senate must be perfectly well aware that the
Governor ia eager to capture the Insurance De-
partment in order to turn it into Democratic
recruiting station. 1t follows that vote for
Pierce will be vote to strengthen Hill and the
Democratic party in this State, and that too in
a year when 4 Governor is TO be elected. so,
alike on public and party grounds, Republican
vote for Pierce would be absolutely indefensibe.
The man who cast it could make up his mind
that he was committing political suicide.