The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-15

courtesy TO the insurance commission
er, at whose suggestion he had offered
IL.
Mr. Baldwin's Objections.
Mr.. Baldwin, of Delawafe, made a
bitter attack upon the bill. He con-
tended that under its provisions no one
could take out a policy. It would in
vite endless litigation and was solely
in the interest of the insurance COM
panies. For this reason the member
from Delaware thought the bill ought
to be killed
A lively dispute then arose between
Mr.. Baldwin and Chairman Kunkel.
The former asserted he had inquired of
Insurance Commissioner Lambert If he
wanted the bill and that the commits
sioner replied that he knew nothing
about it and did not want to be quoted
as being in favor of 1t. Mr.. Baldwin
declared the insurance companies were
the father of the bill. Chairman Kun
kel reasserted that the insurance COM
missioner had approved the measure.
Mr.. Baldwin said the opponents of
the bill had prepared forty-two
amendments which they considered
would make 1t fair and just and had
submitted them to its friends, who had
rejected them and declared 1t would
be put through as it stood. The bill
was then killed by a vote of 21 yeas to
liz nays. Soon after Mr.. Harrison
moved to reconsider the vote. This was
a scheme to kill the bill effectually by
preventing it from ever being called
up and passed.
This brought Chairman Kunkel to his
feet with an appeal to the house to give
the bill a fair show. He charged Mr..
Harrison with attempting to kill it. To
this the Philadelphian replied: my
purpose in making the motion is to lick
this bill effectually. 1t Is the most in
idIituous measure ever attempted to
be put upon the statute books and
ought to be put down."
Mr. Fow Defends the Bill.
Mr.. Fow, of Philadelphia, then took
the floor in defense of the bill. He as
serted with much earnestness that the
insurance companies were against 1t,
and that he had been informed by Cap
tain Nesbitt, superintendent of the state
arsenal, who was chairman Of the in
surance committee in the session of
1873, had told him that the bill was a
good one, and that II 1t was not passed
It would upset all the insurance policies
In the state. Mr.. Fow also claimed to
have knowledge that the insurance de-
partment had approved the bill.
Tn reply, Mr.. Baldwin, Of Delaware,
said Insurance Commissioner Lambert
II. tt.k If
nothing to do with the measure, ysls
would not allow himself to be mixed
I'D with 1t. Mr.. Kunkel then took
whack at Mr.. Harrison for his attempts
to kill the bill. He characterized them
as bushwhacking tactics, and renewed
his appeal to the house not to adopt
Harrison's motion. After Mr.. Peltz, of
Philadelphia, had spoken In favor of
giving the bill another show the house
voted down Harrison's motionl and
adopted motion to postpone for the
present, thus bringing to the close one
of the most exciting Incidents Of the
season.
The bills to protect policy holders
from fraudulent estimates, and In the
rightful disposition Of surplus of ton
tine DoiicieS VI Ire insurance COM
panies, and to prevent the issue of
policies Of fire, life, accident, liability
or marine insurance by natural persons,
partnerships or other associations not
incorporated were killed.
Senator Films street bills went
through on special orders by comfort
able majorities. One amends the act
of 1891 so as to enable municipal cor
porations to lay out. open, widen, ex-
tend and vacate streets or alleys upon
petition or without petition of property
owners. The other empowers cities
to grade, pave, curb, macadamize and
otherwise improve streets and alleys
within their corporate limits without
petition of property holders and pro.
viding for the payment Of the costs,
damages and expenses. The bills have
passed the senate.
The bill increasing the salary of the
adjutant general from $4,000 to $4,000 a