The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-23
AN INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
1t Can be Established Without Cost to
Taxpayers.
(News and Observer

To the Editor: There is no business
in North Carolina which touches
more closely every man in the State
than that of insurance. 1t is the basis
on which the superstructure of COM
mercial credit is largely built. All
of our merchants have to certify that
they carry insurance in good. re-
liable companies before they can get
credit The reason Of this is OBJ
vious, because a man may be worth
800, 900 to-day in good property and
it all may be destroyed by fire
| tonight; but if he has it well insured
in good companies he can soon re-
build, buy new stock and start
business again with renewed vigor.
Every one recognizes the beneficent
results of life insurance. There is
not community in North Carolina
| which has not been blessed by its
| far-reaching benefactions. There is
no institution in the land to-day
(save possibly the public schools,
and life insurance helps to make that
| blessing possible) that does more for
society and good government than
insurance. 1t encouraga thrift by
teaching economy; it decreases
selfshness by providing protection
to dependents; it promotes good Gov
eminent by inspiring independence;
| it lessons crimes because it fosters
institutions of learning; it elevates
the race by making good citizens out
of orphans who might otherwise
| drift into the morbid streams of vice
and become victims of pernicious
| habits. Our people are not only
interested in the moral side of insur-
ance, but it appeals to them from a
financial stand point. They pay out
annually for the protection which
| insurance offers the sum Of about
| $2,5O0,O0O. An institution which
affords such protection and which
costs our people so much money
| should not be passed over lightly and
| brushed aside without the proper
| consideration as if it was of little
| importance.
| | believe it would be a great mis-
take to put the insurance business of
this State in the hands of the Rail-
road Commission. A man who
understands railroading could not
be supposed to understand the
principles of insurance and could
easily be imposed upon: and man
who understands insurance could not
be very skillful in the principles
| which govern railroading. Both of
these great branches of trade require
thought and time to master them. 1t
would be unwise to combine them if
you want to give the people perfect
| service. think now is the time to
create an Insurance Department and
make the companies pay for it, so
that we can give better protection to
the people without costing them any
thing. If we have a department
whose special duty it is to look after
insurance the State will naturally get
more revenue from this source. If
| it is deemed best not to create
separate department think it would
| be best to let the insurance business
stay where it is now in the hands of
the Secretary of State and cover the
fees into the State Treasury.
C. M'DONALD.
"Give me a liver regulator and l can
I regulate the world" said genius. The
| druggist handed him bottle of De Wits
Little Early Risers, the famous little pills.
| Phil II. Thomas.
THE LATE HON. JOHN MANNING.
DR.. Kingsbury, of the Wilmington
Messenger, says this of Hon. John
Manning, whose death at his home in
Chapel Hill on the 18th inst, was
noted in last weeks papers:
He was a man of learning in his
profession, gentleman of sterling
qualities, and of real distinction.
We have known him we'll since the
| forties when we first met him at the
! University. He had the principles
and characteristics as boy that he
developed as man-clear headed,
resolute, decided, open in character,
sincere, true and upright always and
| everywhere, man to hold in esteem
and to trust under exigencies. We
knew him in after life and have
broken bread at his table. A manly,
sincere man, and devoted member
of the Episcopal church, he has
served his day and generation we'll
and gone to his reward. He was
efficient in his noble office as teachsr
in law of aspiring young men, and
set them good example. He was
probably as able and successful
teacher of law as any in all the South
since the death of the venerable Pro-
lessor Minor, of the University of
Virginia. - North Carolina can i'll
afford the departure of such strong,
earnest, pure, thoroughly furnished
and useful citizen as John Manning.
He was worthy of all confidence and
now that he has gone out from among
us his memory should be treasured
and the bar of the State should honor
him.