Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-11-10

1
court in its actions, or govern
cour IS ideas of the action of a publi
officer, who has had no chance to pre-
sent his side of the question?
Mr.. Edward Scott, another insur
ance man, comes in as the representa-
tive of the Provident Savings Life In
surance Society, of New York. He
! too, had his books conveniently in til.
hands Of somebody when the examiner:
called. And when they told him il
would only take about two days, his
honest desire to be much more rigidly
examined than that rose to such a
point of enthusiasm that he absolutely
refused to let them examine, as he
himself admits, and then squeals be.
cause they had a little bill on him.
And then he has the Comptroller, Mr..
Horan, swear that it would take more
than two weeks, even, to make sat
isfactory examination. Oh, how
thorough and searching these COM
Panies desire that the public examina-
tion shall be.
AS 20 the other affidavits of the var
ious persons, respecting the alleged
soundness of the Travellers Insurance
company, the various examinations
which have been made of it, and the
examination which is to be made soon,
and the claim that a proper examina-
ton cannot be made short of two
months time, and that, therefore, they
kindly advise us that it would be inn
possible to permit that, and the further
claim that such examine ations are pre-
functory and should not be permitted,
L say, as to all these things: If these
foreign insurance Companies are to be
allowed to dictate, not only whether
they shall be examined at all or not,
but the character and kind of exami-
nation which shall be made, then the
Kansas statute isA farce. No better
evidence can be afforded of the neces-
sity for the indulgence of the freest
and most uninterrupted examination
than the insolent, arrogant and dicta-
torial demeanor and attitude of these
companies. They say in effect: No
body in Kansas has sense enough to
examine them. They insult every
citizen of Kansas. They dare to pre-
sumo to point out the proper method
of examination to the public officials
of the state, nnder whose laws they
are kindly permitted to do business.
They deserve a profound drubbing,
and know it we'll themselves, and,
therefore, fly to the courts and seek to
humiliate, degrade and overthrow pub
lie authority. Can court say in what
manner an examination shall be con-
Quoted? Is that the province of a
court? Can a court fix the number of
days, the number of subjects, and the
manner in which such examination
shall be conducted? Can any one be-
lieve that these companies are really
offended because an examination is
prefunctory, or because it may not be
over-efficient? Do not all men know
that this is just the kind of an exami-
nation they would prefer to have, and
that they care nothing for the small
sums of money which have been paid,
and which might be paid to these ex-
aminers, but that their real object is to
defeat public authority and create a
precedent against the exercise of the
visitorial powers of government over
corporations, and of the consequent
immunity of corporations from survei1-
lance, and the consequent liberty of
corporations to trample upon the peo-
pie and pillage and plunder them,
without that wholesome and corrective
restraint which it is the highest duty
of government to exercise. Such au-
dacity and inso1ence could never emf
nate from any corporation having re-
spect for public authority. 1t is a
species of presumption born of long
indulgence of the will of the corpora
ton in defiance of public rights and
arrogance which is only found in those
who have trampled on all opposition,
until the right to trample down and
run over every obstacle, legal or other
wise, is considered to exist. No bet
ter justification of the purpose of the
insurance department of Kansas
whether wisely or unwisely carried
out) could possibly be afforded than
the attitude of these companies, swol
len with conceit and drunk with pow
er, presenting their brazen front al
every opportunity against the state
and jeering and insulting the state a.
though it were an object of contempt
Again, l say they deserve, and if hat
the execution of the law, would re
ceive, a profound drubbing. Just how
it might be administered, do not nov
say. 1 would find way to teach then
their proper place. They utterly ig
more all ideas of reciprocity. The,
hail from states, in the atmosphere o
which, Kansas corporation could no
live an hour. And yet, they presum,
to enter Kansas, law or no law, ant
prefer to enter it over and agains
law, treating it as sort of outlying
pasture. or game preserve-their pecu
liar and lord1y property. They utter
1y scout the idea that they are subjec
to any control by the people who pat
rOnizse them and under whose l;hora