The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-10
M'NALL HURLS A BOMB
Requires Insurance Companies to
Name the Amount Appropriated
to Influence Legislation.

What amount has been appropriat-
ed during the past year to influence
legislation in this state?"
This is the question which Insurance
Commissioner Webb McNaII will re-
quire every insurance company doing
business in Kansas to answer on oath
in their reports of the year 1898
1t is the latest move decided on by the
head of the Kansas insurance depart
ment, and one of the most sensational
that he has yet made. 1t will be like
the exploding of bomb to many of the
big eastern insurance companies that in
the past have been known to have ap-
propriated money for such purposes
There is no doubt at all that the
companies can be required to answer
this question: said Mr.. McNau today.
1t lies within the discretionary powers
OF the commissioner of insurance to re-
quire any statement as to the uses of
the receipts of the insurance companies,
and 1 propose to see how much money
is spent by the eastern insurance COM
panies in this state during the coming
campaign.
There is no doubt in the world that
large sums of money have been spent
in this state every campaign year by
eastern insurance companies, and I pro-
pose to see how much is spent in Kan
sas this year.
'"The statements will have to be
made on oath, and I don't think the Of
hcialS of the company will perjure
themselves to avoid making a truthful
statement. imagine that some sensa-
tional information will be secured in
this way
Commissioner McNaII has for some
time been considering the adyisa biIity
of incorporating this question in a list
of questions to be answered in the an
nual reports made to the departments
by the companies doing business in this
state.
He made up his mind today after
reading a letter addressed to him by a
man in Baltimore of whom he had new
er heard before. After cOmplimenting
the insurance commissioner on the
stand he had taken in his fight against
the big insurance companies the writer
went on to suggest that companies be
required to answer this question in
their annual reports.
IF truthful statements are given,''
sadi the author of the letter, who is
apparently fully acquainted with the
insurance business, you will find in
teresting material for further inquir-
les.
Say, for instance the letter goes on.
Sin the matter of loading sworn state
ments as to business, actual assets and
liabilities, real cash receipts, real pay
ment, and to whom and for what;
amounts taken out of your state in
premiums; amount loaned there and the
rate of interest.
Again, who controls the vast sums
of money loaned out each year and
what commissions accrue to certain
parties who grant the loans. Ten per
cent on S. 900, 900 loaned would make a
handsome fund to few individuals who
may not draw salaries but whose names
figure high in the big companies.
Take the grants among the SO-called
mutual companies. Ask them to re-
port how many old men past insurance
age have been frozen out in the past
year through largely Increased premi-
ums, putting it quite out of their pow
er to keep up payments after long years
of outlay while the salary list and ex-
travagant management of the officials
continue to increase and grow more
and more gross and wasteful-
You need not advertise for evidences
of this and assure protection and help
to those who will enlighten you, to get
pointers and satisfactory testimony
covering these points.
Some who shout economy the loud
est will be found among the most
wastefuI and extravagant managers.
I hope you will keep up the fight until
YOU win so as to face down these mag
nifcent swells who are fattening off the
poor mans money.
In preparing the questions to be an
swered in the reports for the year 1898,
besides Incorporating the question of
money used to influence legislation,
Commissioner McNalI will also act on
several of the other suggestions made
in the letter, and practically require the
insurance companies to give a COM
plete history of the inside workings
A1,kax