The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-14
MISE SUGGESTIONS
there is Need of Education
About Insurance.
WHAT IS EXPECTED
HALF 4 MILLION PAID ANNUAL
LY IN PREMIUMS.
INSURERS NEED PRO ECn0N AND LlGHl
10 False Tconomy Ought 10 Prevent Fifteen
Con.rll and inspection Of the lnsur
ance Business of he
State.

To the Editor: North Carolina has
been redeemed. BY noble fight great
victory has been won by the white man
hood of the State under the leadership
of the Democratic party. The Democrats
have achieved the victory because the
white men, the property holders ana
business men of the State, decided to
trust them. Now it is Il well known
and accepted fact that the white men
are looking to the present Legislature to
preserve the fruits of this struggle. TIE
Legislature is expected by wise and
conservative but decided course to shape
such legislation as will forever preserve
TO the white men of the State, the CON
troll and government of its affairs en-
tirely. 10 half-heart2d or weak meas
ures must be relied upon; for the peo-
pie of the State demand of the Demo-
cratic party and its leaders that they
come up to the full measure of their
responsibility. This, they can and am
sure will do, for when have we even
had in North Carolina or for
that matter in any other State,
such an able and honorable body
| of lawmakers? We will not have such
Il body again in many years, If ever
again, for have we even n faint idea
Of the sacrifices made by the men, who
have left their homes and business ana
are now in Raleigh giving their services
to the State?
How is this great work to be accom-
plished and this victory made safe and
permanent!
1. BY wise elections laws-such as
will make certain the continued controi
of the State by the best people of tie
State. That this be done the people of
the State demand, but they are willing
to leave to the wisdom OF their repre-.
sentatives whether it is accomplished by
the Louisiana, the South Carolina, the
Mississippi, or some other, or combina-
ton of, election laws.
,. BY some wise laws in regard to orr
public schools and the revenue raised
therefor
3. BY the enactment of such laws ar
fecting our business interests as win
satisfy the business men of the State
that their interests are now and al
ways viii be safe in the hands of the
Democratic party of North Carolina
Every law or proposed law affecting any
legitimate business in our State ought
to be SO handled as to lead every bust
ness man in or out of the State to
feel that no matter what the national
parties may do or attempt TO do, all
business interests in North Carolina WIZ
be SAFE and solid so long as the Demo
Gratis hold rule.
In this connection / may be par
| doned for calling attention 10 the bust
| ness in which | am engaged-certainly
one in which are involved some of orr
| largest and most necessary interests.
refer 70 the insurance business. Few of
| even our best business men realize TO
| what tremendous proportions the inSur-
ance business has grown and how it ur.
| derlies and is intimately connected with
! every ether business, from that of the
| largest corporation to the smallest bust
| ness man in our community. The bus
| ness has grown until now the Insur-
| ance Companies doing business legimate-
| ly in this State assume annually risks Of
over S100000,000. taking therefor in pre-
miums over 81 100000 and paying to
the State in taxes (besides fees to off
ers o. the State over $4,000, while
there are annually paid OUT for fire losses
mere than SG50,000 and more than 500,
| 900 for death and endowment claims.
| That the State should look after ana
| exercise a control over this business is
admitted by all thinking men and is
| shown by the course of every live and
progressive business State in the Union.
| All in fact exercise some contrOl-Somc
more-some less. Many exercise tn S
| supervision wisely and reap the benefit
| for themselves and their citizens, while
| others act indiscreetly and do more
| harm than good.
4 Now in the supervision attempted to
be exercised by tie State over the insur-
ance business. at least two things must
be well considered and looked after, viz:
| /. The collection of a proper revenue
from the companies doing business in
| the State.
,. The protection of the people and
| business interests of the State from in
solvent and fraudulent companies, and
| evasions of the payment of taxes.
| /. The collection of Il proper amount of
| revenue from insurance companies of
| all kinds, doing bushes in the State is
n serious and important problem. The
amount collected should be just and
/ legitimate one and should be collected
| from all In IL correct proportion. AS
the benefits of the government fall equal
| ly upon all. so should the burdens 1t
is only necessary to notice how the taxes
4 from this source are increasing each year
and realize how much revenue is al
ready paid in each year now over $50
600, and it is readily seen that it is
no easy task to distribute this equally
and see that all pay their just proper
| tons Some strive to evade and do es-
cape the payment of these taxes.
:. Again the people must be pro-
tected. The business interests of the
State demand it. Insolvent companies
must be weeded out, as well as fraudu-
lent companies and the fraudulent prac-
tees of solvent companies, wherever
found. The protection asked for by the
people demands that all evasions of thu
| payment of taxes by companies be stop
ped. The people are entitled to know
that the insurance companies bear their
just proportion of the burdens of the
| government. The best interests of the
State demand that only safe companies