The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-27
HERE TO INVESTIGATE IT
THINKS PROSPECTS BRIGHT FOR
DEMOCRACY.
GO)D CHANCE TO ELECT A PRESIDENT
The Ex-Governor of the Keystone State
Thinks The Fight Should be Made on
the Conduct Of the War and The
Evils i. Has Brought.
Ev Is i. Has Brought.

Ex-Governor Robert E. Pattison, of
Pennsylvania. arrived here on Sunday
morning and left yesterday morning. He
was accompanied by Mr.. George b. Lu-
per, ex-Commissioners of Insurance
for Pennsylvania Governor Patti
son is president of the Security Trust
and Life Insurance Company of Phila-
delphia, and Mr.. Luper is its manager.
81 came to North Carolina" Mr.. Pat
tison said. ION business connected with
my company. | came here from Wilson.
where | paid claim. From here
go to Henderson. thence to Durham,
Salisbury and on to Atlanta. | hoped
while here to see the Commissioner of
Insurance in regard to the Craig Law
but | find he is ut his home in Hen
,lerson, SO | shall so by there to see
him. What | desire to ascertain from
him is our exact status i'll North Caro-
lima We have taken out license under
the Willard Act. but it seems that later
the Craig Law was passed. making it
necessary for us to become Il North Car
DINA corporation before our license is
worth anything"
Asked what he thought of the Craig
Law. Governor Pattison said he had
not examined it closely. but that there
was considerable doubt in his mind as
to it's constitutionality.
AS ] understand it, he continued.
1.-THE Lag was passed for the ayowed
purpose of keeping outside corporations
out of the Federal court. But that
is right guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton of the United States-that the
judicial power shall extend to controver-
sizes between citizens of different States.
Now the Craig Law. it seems to me,
seeks by suhterfuge to abrogate this
povision of the Constitution angI make
it OF no avail. / have considerable
doubt as to the constitutionality Of
such a law. Why suppose every State
and Territory in the United States
should pass similar law? Why then
each corporation would become forty
four corporations ard the States would
thereby have practically legislated the
United States Supreme court ont of ex
istence That is contrary to the genius
tjf orr laws and institutions.
''Then again, once the company comes
into the State. there is no getting out
again. and each succeeding Legislature
the burden of taxation. We want to
discuss all these points personally with
the Insurance Commissioner. / have
been assured that there is no danger
behind the taxation objection. but the
matter is one of such gravity and inn
portance that the Legislature made Il
mistake to leave any ambiguity in the
law"
Mr. Iurer suggested that if the object
aimed at was simply to prevent insur-
ance companies going irto the Federal
courts the better method would have
been to compel them to sign such an
agreement before granting them license,
as is now Zone in Illinois. The arrange
ment. he says. works admirably: that
insurance companies as rule have lit
tie litigation and do not object to fight
ing that out in the State courts.
The objection to this in North Caro-
lima he acknowledged, was that insur-
ance companies are not the only corpo-
rations at which the provisions of the
Craig Bill are aimed. There are others
that have much litigation and are as
afraid of the State courts as the Devil
is OF holy water.
Mr.. Pattison is .he only Democratic
Chief Magistrate that Pennsylvania has
had since the war He is now only As
years of age, hut his political career has
been so successful that his name was in
1896 considered in connection with the
Democratic Presidential nomination.
He is a native of Virginia. having
been born in Alexandria, but removed
i'm early life to Pennsylvania. where his
great ability caused him TO come TO the
front rapidly. When 26 years OF age
Mr. Pattison was Comptroller Of the
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