The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-04-29

lapse of the third future premium'
and IL further provides that upon any
anniversary OF a policy, or within 30
DAYS thereafter, the holders shall have
the right to demand and receive the
amount of the reserve In cash. rms
measure. had 1t become law, would
| have confined insurance companies TO
the payment Of certain sums at the
end of each year in the event OF
lapse Of any policy. and prevented IN
surance agents from misleading policy
holders In their estimate Of the cash
value OF policies each year In the
event of a lapse. The house OF repre-
sentatives has certainly committed a
great error In defeating the passage Of
this bill.
| There are insurance bills that have
been introduced that are deserving OF
defeat, however, and the one to enable
| trust companies to transact insurance
is one of them. There should be an
end put to the attempt to clothe cor
porations with power to do an omnibus
business, and which are intended to
confer enormous powers and wholesale
franchises upon large concerns in this
state. Although there have been
amendments made to this bill to meet
/
ically the same as originally intended.
1t would require the most powerful
x-ray to discover any essential diff
ference in the measure as amended
from that first introduced. The ver-
biage has been very artfully changed.
and on the whole there Is a distinction
without a difference.
The passage Of the libel law in the
| ,,,it ct gia In 70
Is an evidence that 1t has been carefully
and judiciously framed, and it's pro
visions are such as to commend them
to all fair minded men. This act on the
| part of the senate shows that at least
a portion Of our lawmakers are mani
Testing disposition to be fair and
rational. The bill in its present shape,
and as passed by the senate, while
fortifying the security Of the public,
when it is needed gives protection
to journalism at such points as cannot
fail to be recognized as altogether fair
and reasonable. 1t is to be hoped the
house will be disposed to extend fair
ness and justice and accept the bill as
passed by the senate, and also pass
IL finally.
An Investigating Legislature.
The present legislature will be noted
for its many investigations. The ap-
pointment of Senators Goblin, Durham
and Hardenberg by the senate to in
vestigate the charges that $4,000 had
been raised TO defeat the bill to abolish
child insurance in the state Is an evil
dence that there is disposition in
this body to clear them OF the charges
made against them. Speaker Boyer
has not appointed a house committee
to investigate this scandal. This body
Is becoming tired Of investigation, and
not likely to take any notice of 1t.
Those who have been on the floor Of
the house or senate know very well
that there Is no truth in these charges.
Lobbyists Of any kind are conspic-
uously absent from the city. The in
dependent spirit that prevails on the
various questions submitted leaves
them without any influence to effect
special legislation at this session. The
legislature. however. has compiled with
the request of the inspectors Of the
Eastern penitentiary for an investlga-
tion of their institution, and the exam
ination into the affairs Of this institu-
tion will be acted upon promptly. in
order to have the report ready by May
8. This is quick work. but II is thought
1t can be accomplished properly In that
time.
Hon. A. Louden Snowden, ex-minis-
ter to Greece, Servia and Roumania,
lectured in the house of representatives
recently. His subject was the war be-
tween Greece and Turkey. The eio-
quent diplomat described the causes
which have led UP to the present con-
fiict. His description of the patriot
ism Of the inhabitants Of Greece, and
their eagerness to take up arms against
a power that was instrumental In the
massacre of 100000 persons. was so i'm
pressive that 1t put blush Of shame
on his hearers to think that at the
same time the Christian nations stood
as sentinels around the infamous
Turk. Mr.. Snowden said all these dia-
bolical acts were allowed in order to
satisfy spirit of selfishness, fear
jealousy and the greed Of power for q
few Of the surrounding nations The
subject was handled in a most able
manner.
Able Women Advocates.
The superior arguments put forth
by delegation representing the Won.
ans Suffrage association Of Pennsyl.
vania. who held a meeting recently ir
the hall Of the house of representatives
and the excellent impression they made
; will no doubt be greatly in their favor
respecting the legislation they desire
The bill they are specially interested
In relates to the descent and distribu
ton OF estates of irtestates. The bill
is now In the hands of the judiciar,
general committee, which saw fit Il
negative the measure. 1t has not beer
acted upon by the senate. The pres
ence OF these ladies. armed with sucl
able argument in favor of their bill
/ made very strong impression on tn,
minds of the members. Their effort,
will be repaid, as there is a very stron,
: sentiment developing that their de
mands should be needed. Their lee
turer on the subject Of woman's suff
rage undoubtedly greatly impresse,
l the members present with the justic,
, OF what they are striving for. ant
which, once extended to them. as the,