Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1901-03-09

at each election precinct, for the pur-
pose Of preserving order and making
arrests, to be paid as other fees.
The bill abolishing the Office of Live
Stock Inspector has passed both
houses, and is now in the hands OF the
Governor. By the terms OF this
measure the duties of the Inspector
will cease Immediately on its approval.
Lem Allen has introduced bill
providing for the reduction of the sal
ares and mileage Of members Of the
Legislature.
A bill fixing the rate Of poll tax st
$2.5O, instead Of $3, has been intro
duced In the Assembly by Mr.. Raj
tice.
The SENTNEL's special report of
Legislative happenings arrived too late
last week for insertion, but from it we
take the following extracts:
Special Corresp ondence TO the SENTINEL.
just at present the main topic OF
conversation in the lobbies and along
the streets is the Hardesty Insurance
Law, known among the insurance
men as the Valued Policy Law"
which was passed at the Twentieth
Session, and vetoed by the Governor,
and recently passed, almost unani-
mously, over the veto by the present
Legislature. Rumor has it that the
insurance companies will shortly have
a lobby here to fight for the repeal Of
the law. Already the members are
being inundated with letters from
their constituents to accede to the de-
mands Of the insurance gang. Numer-
ously signed petitions accompany
these letters, bearing the signatures
OF some Of the heavy taxpayers of the
State. To my certain knowledge
some of the signatures were obtained
under pressure. That is to say, the
insurance companies, in collusion with
the San Francisco Board Of Trade
have threatened withdrawal of credit
to uninsured firms, and thus forced
unwilling men to become parties to
gigantic fraud. Few people in Nevada
have hitherto realized the tremendous
power attained by the insurance COM
panies, but unless appearances de-
ceive they are TO have a practical DEM
onstration Of what aggregated capital
can do to enforce its demands. 1t
appears We are cup against" power
in comparison to which the Southern
Pacific Company is a mere bagatelle.
That company exerted its influence
only upon Boards of Commissioners
and the Legislature, but the insur-
ance companies have shown their in
tention to reach down to the individ-
ual. 1t has hitherto been a velvet
hand, but will now crush out all pro-
test with an arrogance which can
come only from unlimited power. The
bill in question simply provides that
in case OF total loss the company
must pay the face value Of the policy.
1t would seem to an unprejudiced
mind that when company enters in
to an agreement to pay certain sum
in case OF a total loss in return for
certain stipulated premiums, every
consideration Of law and equity would
demand that they either fulfill their
contract or decline to accept the pre-
miums. Between private individuals
such a breach OF contract would result
in SUIT for obtaining money under
false pretenses.
A bill has been introduced in each
house to repeal the Act, but / do not
think they can pass under present
conditions. Raftice and Stinson are
both opposed to repeal, and, for that
matter, 80 are practically all the men,
bers Of both houses, personally, but
the pressure is becoming unbearable
in some instances.
The amendment providing for the
taxing Of patented mines went through
without a hitch, and will be sub
mitted to the people at the next cleo
tion.
From present indications the two
houses are at loggerheads over the
proposition to make the present min
ing law uniform as to recording claims
and number Of days in which to COM
plete location work. The Senate
stands for 12O days, and the House for
80 days. As result, the law may
remain as incongruous and inconsis-
tent as at present.
X. X. X.
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