Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-08-31
FANCHER'S RECORDS.
Plaindealer Attempts to Asperse Record
Of Governor Fancher as Insur-
ance Commissioner.
Untruthful Allegations of Examination:
for Fees Under His Four Years
of Office.
Published Report of the Office Prove:
Falsity of the Charges-Fan-
cher's Record.

In commenting upon the criticisms
passed upon COMMISSIONER Harrison
for the alleged examination of eastern
insurance companies, the fusion Grand
Forks Plaindealer takes occasion to lie
a little regarding the administration
of the insurance department by Gov
ernor Fancher when commissioner.
The Plaindealer says that it was the
custom during Fancher's administra-
ton to examine companies and charge
large fees, and that this was held to be
legitimate rake off for the officials
of the department.. The Plaindealer
is such rabid and persistent liar that
it would be difficult to contradict all
the campaign canards it springs, for
simple lack of time. But in this in
stance the Plaindealer ought to be
brought to admit that it went even be-
yond campaign license.
The reports of Fancher, while in
surance commissioner, show that only
few companies were examined by
him, all Of them being located in St.
Paul and Minneapolis, and they were
new companies that had applied for
admission to do business in the state
and it was only the part of wisdom to
examine into their affairs before per-
mitting them to do business in the
state. The total fees collected for the
examination of companies in the four
years of Mr.. Fancher's administration
were SID. The only company of re-
cognized standing ever examined by
Mr.. Fancher was the St. Paul Fire &
Marine Insurance company, and this
examination was for the purpose of as
certaining whether the company re-
ported its hail premiums in this state
separately from its fire insurance COM
pany. The fee charged for this exam
nation was $40.
During the four years of Mr.. Fan
cher's administration there never was
bill presented to any company out
side of ST. Paul or Minneapolis for ex-
animation. The list of companies do
ing business in the state is to be found
in the reports for the four years OF
MI. Fanchers term, and if the Plain
dealer wants to know the truth let it
address letter to any company doing
business in the state then and ask
whether it was ever called upon to pay
cent for an examination. Private
Secretary Poole, who was deputy COM
missioner under Mr.. Fancher, said this
morning: 'The Plaindealer or the
fusion state committee is challenged
to show that one cent was ever COL
lected from a company outside of St.
Paul or Minneapolis, or that there was
ever in a single instance an abuse of
the authority of the commissioner dur
ing Mr.. Fancher's term
When it comes to comparison of
records, it may be stated that it cost
the state 5000 to publish one biennial
report of the insurance commission
er during the fusion administra-
tion. The total expense of Mr. Fan
"her's Office during four years, includ-
ing printing. postage, and all other
expenses, was $2,7S2.
The Plaindealer is a gifted liar by
natural inclination and genius and
here is an opportunity for it to make
it good Let it investigate Mr.. Fan
cher's record as insurance commits
sloner and publish what it discovers
regarding it.