Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-14
WILD CArINSURANCE COMPAN
TES

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette.
Ga reading oyer, last night The
Sesqui- Centennial Busine SO Directory
snd Official Programme, found 1 was
persuiDg publication admirable as re-
spec typography and general matter.
and which far as my vision went gave
credit where credit was due, except in
one notable and singular instance, viz:
On page 6. whereon is exploited the
Business Mems League, the following
paragraph appes.s:
The L ague then took up the SUBJ
ject of bogus insurance companies, which
purported to have location al Alexan-
dria, and secured their extinction"
Now there is not single thread of
accuracy in either the wrap or the wool
of that paragraph, and in the inter6 sts
of truth cannot permit its statements
to go uuchallenged. The Business Mems
League had no more 10 do with stamp.
ing out these wild Cat insurance COM
paoies than il had with the destruction
of Cervera's fleet off Santiago. The fact
is hat 1, alone, conceived, formulated
and carried - successful conclusion
the plan whereby these fraudulent CoD-
Germs were driven out of Alex sndlia,
aud all the league did was 10 throw
touquet to me after l had practically
accomplished It; though it would now
appear that the bouquet had a string
TO it, as in this directory they have
inned its flowers onto themselv(1.
The his ory of the matter is briefr
this: On the SSh day of Janrary 1896
I introduced in the Senate eleven bills
TO repeal the charters respectively of
ne National City, Potomac Fire,
Potomac Fire & Marine, Farmers &
Mechanics, Farmers & Mechanics
Fire, National Home, United, Pnoe-
nix, Old Dominion, p MT rs, and
Monarch insurance companies and
not map, woman or child In,
Alexandria knew of my intention SO to
do, or that it had been done until the
newspapers announced the fact. l
| neither consulted with the Busines
Mems League nor any one else, and
| advised with no one and received no
| suggestions from any source whatever
on the subject Indeed | was partio-
aIarly careful not to admit anybody
into my confidence, because | wanted
10 take the rasca!s by surprise and
lore 1tall annoyance and possible
| lobby. put the bills through the Senate
as rapidly as pos 'ible, and then went
over to the House Delegates and push
I'd them all except one, to pas rage there,
unaided, bec .use no aid was needed.
They were shortly followed by swarm
of bills from all over the State, copied in
totdem verbs Except as to names and
places) from mine, wipiug out all the
bogus insurance compabies in Virginia,
with one exception, and that exception
Vas company located in Alexandria
| which succeeded in holding up in the
House of Delegates the Sensta bill re-.
peeliDg its charter, until it was tco late
TO get it through; and that one after
wards put in the hands OF receiver,
whereit now lies.
! believe it was Talleyrand who gave
the advice "never write letter and
never burn one," and have followed
the latter clause OF his irjnnclion all
through my career. Before me lies let
ter dated January 10, 1896, addressed
20 me and signed by the gentleman who
was then aud still is the president the
Business Mems Lsague, in which this
language occurS: 1--WE read with pleas
ure the bill introduced by you iu the
Senate for the repeal of the charters OF
all wildcat insurance companies. and do
not hesitate to say that you are entitled
to the thanks of the community for your
efforts in that line."
also see in front OF me letter from
the same gentleman dated January %
1896. transmitting several resolutions OF
the sad League, the germane one
whereof reads as follows:
"Rasolved that the thanks of this
League be rendered to Senator Mush.
zach for his action iu securing the re-
peal of the charters OF certain insurance
corporations purpo-ting to be located
in Alexandria, and that our delegate be
requested 10 have the House CONCUR in
the repeal of the above charters.
These bills had already, on January
II, 1896, passed the Senate. and had
been Oh January Is, 1896, referred tc
the appropriate committee in the
House. They passed the House or
January 81 and were signed by the
Governor on January 80, 1896, never
having been in any danger OF defea
from the moment OF their inception ant
whilst had charge of them.
So much for the claim that 1.-THE
League took up the subject OF bogu!
insurance companies at Alexandra ant
secured their extinction"
GEORGE A. MUsHBACE.