The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-03-22
GOUGE In INSURANCE.
Some State Buildings are Plas-
tered with Policies.

State Is Mulcted greatly every Year
Not One Twentieth Of the Premiums
have come back in Payments-SOme
Buildings are Insured for far more
than they Cost Rings Favor Insur-
nnce Agents --Inyestigati0n now be-
ing Iade-SeDator Fast Proposes
Remedy.
1t is proposed that the state put an
end to a practice that has been a ia.
vorite one with insurance agents and
the various rings at the different
points ia the state where there are
state buildings. This is that of in
surfing the buildings for far more than
their value. 1t has cost the state inn
mense sums of money and has not re-
suited in any good except to the ras-
calls who have engineered the deals.
AS an instance of this the fact that
the state house has more than two
hundred thousand dollars insurance
on it when the whole thing did not
cost any more than when it was built
at first. Should it burn down there
is no one who thinks that the state
would get the money by long odds.
However it has been paying the pre-
miums all right and the companies
will continue to take them until the
end of the chapter.
So serious has this become that the
board of public works is now in session
at Charleston to take up the matter
and to see what can be done to reduce
the insurance. They will take up the
capital especially for there is the great
est swindle.
Other places in the state are in the
same fix. The condition is one that
cries for a remedy. The state has
been mulced of thousands of dollars
and has not received one twentieth of
the money invested. With all this
going OF every where there is not one
word said against the University. No
one claims that there has any thing of
the kind been done here. 1t is only
where there is ring as there is at
Charleston and lot of hungry insur-
ance agents to be taken care of that
this is done.
The remedy proposed to fix this was
proposed by Senator Fast at the last
session of the legislature. He thinks
that he has plan that will make it
all right and that will be cheaper to
the state in the long run.
1t is to stop all insurance premiums
on every building owned by the state.
Have fund set aside for the payment |
of fire losses. Then in case build
ing is destroyed by fire replace it from
this fund. He thinks that all the ex-
pense that has been incurred by Excess
sive insurance will then be avoided. |
The past shows that it is eminently !
safe and that it will be vastly cheaper.
Some oppose it as there is no GER
tainty as to what fire will do and how |
soon an immense loss may be incurred.
However if some thing is not done to |
stop the robbery of the state that has
been going on this or some similar |
plan will be adopted by the legislature.
A deserved tribute to Senator Faulkner.
The complimentary notice OF West |
Virginia's just retired Senator, Hon,
Q. j. Faulkner, appended, is from last |
Sundays Washington Post. West |
generally will regret to
known that it is rumored in the east
that Senator Faulkner is to go to New
York to reside. The Post says:
The District of Columbia lost
good friend when Charles ]. Faulkner
)f West Virginia, went out of the
senate yesterday. In the Senate he
mas been prominent figure, not
through physical statue, because he is
not commanding in his personal ap-
oearance, but by reason of his faculty
% debate and his thorough acquain-
,ance with national questions, and
because his excellent Judgment has
made him a safe leader to follow. 1t
s pleasant to know Senator Faulkner's
utilities as lawyer-and he ranks
lmong the foremost in West Virginia
ARE SO universally known that as
ne goes out OF the senate he steps in
o very lucrative practice, having al
eady been retained for large interests
It sum which makes his senatorial
alary seem small. In private life he
will, therefore, like Conkling, begin to
make money, thing impossible while
lie was In the senate. He likes to
i've well, is delighted to entertain his
riends, and is especially happy when
he can gather those whose company is
at his fine old home at Mar
insburg, w. Va. 1t is a noble place,
bis colonial residence, with walls 4
hree feet thick and an old-fashioned
arden surrounded by high brick walls.
he country. around is threaded by I
eautiful roads over which Mr.. Faux
or 1ovac ", driva II