The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-04
EXTRAVAGANCE CHARGED
INSURANCE CORRESPONDENTS AD-
 MINISTRATION ATTACKED.

OANA Suyb MTs betJb' Lx-
 penditures Are Too Great-Senator Mari-
 gold Leads the Fight for the Latter and
 Wins by a Vote of 14to7.
 The senate yesterday morning, after debate which occupied more than an hour, allowed the amount of money asked by Insurance Commissioner Betts for the purpose of running his department during the years of 1897 and 1928. The matter came before the senat, along with the appropriations for other civic departments as report from the committee on appropriations.
 Senator Converse explained the re- port, and said that the only substantial reduction that the committee on appro- priations had made was in the insur- ance department. This had been cut down about $17,50O His committee had been actuated solely by the desire to economize. There was a relief in the board of control if the commissioner found that he had been crippled by the reduced appropriation. A
 Senator Marigold said that the de- partment was a source of revenue and would pay the state over $40,000 next year. The department needed expert clerks, especially in the valuation of policies. This work produced a reve- nue above expenses, and 1t was unwise to cripple the department by cutting down the appropriation. In conclusion Snnaf0r Morfprn1A offoro6 a oy1 Q d-. ment which aggregated $17, 200.
 Senator Converse said that he hoped the amendment would not pass. The committee had before it expert testi- mony The commissioner had been be- fore the committee two or three times, and after all the consideration that had been given the subject it was the unan- imous opinion that this department should be cut, in round numbers, $17,- 800. He said there was an impression abroad that the committee was actuat- ed by spirit of antagonism to the present commissioner. This was not true. It had only had in mind the fact that the expenditures were far out of proportion to the receipts, and having this in mind, the reduction reported seemed to the committee to be just and wise.
 Continuing, Senator Converse said that if there was any doubt in the | mind of any senator as to the justice | of the report he wished that it would be given to the state, for the commis- sioner had the privilege of going to the | board of control. The senator did not l think the affairs of the department I nIx x t1kn fx<1f1 Senator Marigold said: "The insur- ance department has had in the last l few years additional duties, and it seems to me that it would be bad pol- icy to cut down the appropriation for ai l department that is turning into the state treasury as much more money as | it takes to run it. I wish we had more | such departments"
 Senator Marigold read a personal let. | ter from Commissioner Betts explain- | ing the amount asked and also setting | forth the work done in his department. He believed every word the commis- sioner had said. There was no doubt in his mind as to the justice of tha | amendment.
 | Senator Converse replied that there was great difference in the capabili- | ties of men. Whether 1t was from a greater degree of executive ability or from whatever cause no one would deny | that some men could do with one dol- | lar what it would take two dollars for | others to do.
 The senator read long list of figures from table, showing the cost of run- ming the department since 1889. During | ', ,fc a,.lrc tn 6o al lated statements that the commissioner | had large number of young women | employed at $500 per annum, to whom he granted two months vacation every | year, and also that the doors of tha office were closed from 12 noon until 2 p. m. every day. From this and other | things he was sure the present com- | missioner was not as economical as he should be. The speaker compared the 1 present administration with that of
 Messrs. Fyler and Mansfield.
 He also objected to the employment of agents to examine companies whose
 surplus assured every one that they
 were safe.
 Senator Marigold said that danger lies in the belief that insurance companies were sound.
 Senator Wright did not believe in
 making comparisons, but he was sure
 that there was not more conscien-
 tious, capable or painstaking commis-
 sioner in the long list looking out for
 the different departments of the state
 than the insurance commissioner. As
 to expert testimony, he did not know how much the appropriation commit-
 tee had before 1t nor its character. but he had never heard that single mem
 Der of that committee had visited the
 insurance commissioners office though
 he had been informed an invitation had | been extended to them. Had this com-
 mittee gone there and examined the
 work there would have been no need of
 expert testimony and the committee
 would have learned more in the time
 spent in making these inquiries than it
 could learn from all the expert testi-
 mony that could be brought before 1t. Senator Woodruq deprecated the ten-
 dency to extravaganza in the adminis-
 tration of public affairs. He favored
 the report of the committee.
 Senator Beecher said that he knew
 little about the insurance business, but
 he did know the commissioner of the
 department and that he had the utmost
 confidence In his ability to run the de-