Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-21

1t looks as though Insurance Com
missioner Campbell was the right man
In the right place and the people OF
this state will heartily applaud his
action in probing the companies in re-
lation to lower rates. In his commun-
ication to them he said in part: dur
ing the last fifteen or twenty years,
our cities and villages have greatly
improved their fire departments.
Scores of them have bonded themselves
almost to the limit to provide expen-
sive water systems, in the belief that
among other advantages would come
cheaper insurance. Every insurance
man admits this should be the result;
but investigation shows that the rates
have not thereby decreased, but in
many cases have been arbitrarily
raised. In some sections of the state it
may be that rates are just, while in
others they are exhorbant and seem
ingly fixed with little reference to
hazard. The average rate for the
state has. been increased from | 3-lOO
cents on the dollar in 1870 to l 50-l00
cents in 1896. At this time PROFOUND
po inquiries, but rather apply to you
n the confidence that you will at once
consider this matter with view to
correcting existing evils and the ad
ustment of fire rates in Michigan
long lines that are mutually fair and
Individually equitable.
~.
The recall of General Weyler from
uba opens new and, it is TO be hoped,
more cheerful chapter in the history
that unfortunate island. Weyler
pes not go back to Spain in disgrace;
bt 1T is nevertheless true that he
buld not be recalled were his admin
ration a success. General Blanco,
DO succeeds him, is said to be the
Ftest-heartCd soldier in Spain, and
appointment may presage much
RE conciliatory policy by the new
mister of Spain, SagGsta. 1t is GER
My time. According to Sun COR
pondent, General Weyler asserts
t 200 200 of the Spanish soldiers
re been killed or disabled, by war
disease, since the insurrection be-
and that the effective army now
hbers but $4,000 In addition to
pc zoo, 900 soldiers (if the figures are
rect which is doubtful), the war has
Spain, according TO estimates,
pt 1916, O00, 600. This added to the
OF Cuba at the beginning of the
$l6S, 500, 000) makes debt now OF
500 00O-all of it the outgrowth of
last thirty years or so. Spanish
and Spanish tyranny are mighty
y luxury.
bat were some OF those remarks
were heralded around from free
stump to stump last year, to the
that our currency was so limited
contracted that we could not do
ess, and that the only hope for
I'm to prosperity was through the
oinage Of silver at Is to l? 1t is
evident to observant men that
pf these free silvertes were labor
der a mistake, because by refer
b the election returns OF 1896 ii
seen that the free coinage prop
was not adopted, and yet here
in the country today nearly a
bd million dollars more In circu-
than there was year ago, and
dollar Of it free silver. Gold
pas increased in circulation in
year over fifty million dollars.
~.
year the Democracy had to
its old and time-honored prin-
free trade for the new and at
one OF free silver, and now, all
discs broken, and all its prog
ions of a year ago unfultilled
Pwn false, it Is compelled to
that new idol for other "prin-
The outlook for the Demo
annot be a pleasing one. Such
les" as the single tax, the
ment-by-injunction" idea, So
and anarchism are substituted
emi-fiat-money scheme which
eading and almost only issue
-
is no longer any doubt that
hey power" OF Europe domi-
country. The power" has
ding gold into the United
rough New York, San Fran
W Orleans, and other ports,
pow have gold circulation
900 in excess of that of year
a total circulation nearly
10 larger than year ago.
gn "power'' is evidently de.
to ruin us, if possible, by
lot OF gold In on us in ex-
our wheat corn, meat and
ucts.
bers who have wheat, corn,