The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-20
One OF the New Measures Provides
for Sending Them to the Grant
Tomb I'm New York.
A WEEKS LEGISLATIVE WORK
RESUME OF THE BUSINESS DONE By
BOTH THE HOUSES.
New Bills That Will BE Presented
Thi. week-Interesting Legis-
Iative Gossip.

Among the important measures TO be
introduced in the House this week will be
a bill to amend an act passed in 1891, pro-
viding for the care of battle flags in the
custody of the State The bill will be in
troduced by Representative Whitcomb.
1t gives the Governor the authority to
transmit to the Grant Monument Associa-
ton two flags from the Indiana regiments
that served under General Grant during
the civil war. Similar requests have been
made 10 other States by the association
and Mr.. Whitcomb says that most of the
States have complied with the request
Mr.. whitcomb's bill provides chat the
flags shall remain the property of the
State, subject TO recall at any time by the
Governor of the State. The bill also pro-
vides that the flags are TO be taken from
regiments which have more than one stand
o. colors. Mr.. NVhitcomb said yesterday
that he had written TO several G.. A. r.
posts in the State and to a number of
prominent G. A. r. men and in response
TO his letters he has received an almost
unanimous Endorsement of his BILL The
association has prepared alright glass
receptacles for the flags and they are to be
constantly guarded. During the winter
months the Grant tomb in New York,
where these flags are to be deposited. is
visited by about $4,000 people each month
and in the summer about $4,000 people go
there each month. The bill provides that
where a flag is taken from the Statehouse
where these banners are now kept, no.
tice shall be posted in the place now oc-
cupied by the flag. announcing the regi-
ment to which it belonged and the place
where the flag has been sent. 1t is under
stood that General McGinnis, of this city,
has said that If the bill does not become a
law, the Eleventh Regiment, when was
under Grant, will send one or Its nags 10
fill the place which the association has
asked the State to fill.
Colonel I. N. Walker says there is a
diversity of opinion among veteran soldiers
about sending away flags that are de-
posted in the Capitol building. He is OF
opinion that two flags can be secured from
regiments that have not deposited them In
the Statehouse and that it will be UNI
necessary to enact legislation along this
line.
LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES.
Another measure to be introduced by
Representative Whitcomb this week is
bill to allow husband to negotiate loans
on his life insurance of which his wife
bill Mr.. Whitcomb said: Under the pres
ent law a married woman cannot become
security for debts contracted by her hus-
band This has been held to prohibit her
from assigning the interest she may have
in life insurance policy issued on the
life of her husband, in cases where the
husband wishes to negotiate a loan from
the company which issued his life insurance
policy. AS a result many insurance COM
panies refuse to loan money TO husband
on his policy which is made payable to
his wife This often works hardship and
necessitates the husband surrendering his
policy and releasing ell rights which ne
might have acquired hereunder. This bill
amends the present law so that in cases
where the policy is issued the life of
husband with the wife as the beneficiary,
she can sign waiver releasing her inter-
est in such policy to the insurance COM
pany, so that the husband can obtain
loan from the company, giving his policy
as collateral. Very often a husband has
paid several premiums policy and he
has been compelled to either forfeit the
policy entirely or surrender 1t for its cash
surrender value. because he has not the
funds with which to meet maturing
premium. II he was able to get
temporary loan on his policy he would
be able to meet the premium and
continue the insurance for the benefit
of his wife. AS the law is at present a
husband cannot obtain a loan on his policy
where his wife is the beneficiary, for the
courts have held that the signing of a
waiver by her OF her rights amounts to a
suretyship, which is void. In order to avoid
this many of the companies have required
the husband 10 release his interest in the
policy and have required the wife TO make
her affidavit that the loan is for her sep
arate and exclusive use. In most every
case of this kind the affidavit amounts to
perjury. If the insurance company any
OF its agents through whom such loan
u-Q knew reasonable
gence could have known that the affidavit
was a pretext for avoiding the law the
company would not be protected, but upon
the death of the husband the insurance
company would be liable to the wife for
the full amount of the policy. On this &C.
count many insurance companies absolutely
refuse to loan money on policies issued on
a husbands life wherein the wife is the
beneficiary.
a third bill to be introduced by Mr.. Whit
comb is bill to regulate the manufacture
and sale of flaxseed and linseed oils with
a view to preventing adulteration.