The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-01
| SENATE .,',@g l =
| Bill introduced to set aside $780,
900 for bridge across Minnehaha
| creek. -&g1
Battle over Horton retaliatory in
surance bill ~
7 Senate visits state university.
I Adjourned to 10 a. m. Thursday.

Senator Horizons retaliatOry insurance
measure was the cause of a long and
heated debate in the senate this morn
ing and was finally passed by the novel
majority of 33 to 20. This was accom-
plished, however, only after three success
sive calls for absentees and by forcing
several members: who were ayerse to gyot-
ing into line in favor of the bill. This
Horton measure provides that whenever
by the laws OF any other state any insur-
ance company organized under the laws
of this state under the o-caled "old line"
plan, is disqualified or prohibited from
doing business in such other state then
| no life insurance company organized un-
der the laws Of that state shall be per-.
mitted to engage or continue in business
in Minnesota. 1t is a, wellknown fact
that this measure was drawn in the in
| terests Of the Minnesota Mutual Life In
surance company of st. Paul, formerly the
Bankers Life company, which has been
| disqualified from doing business in Massa-
| chusetts. u . ~
| Senator Horton cited a vast array of
figures prepared by the officers of the
company to show that it was absolutely
sound, but had been denied the privilege
of doing business in Massachusetts, for
simply technical reasons. He denied en-
phatically that the object Of this bill was
to drive other insurance companies from
the state and declared it would have no
such effect. The result would simply be
! that the Minnesota Mutual company would
be permitted to engage in business in
Massachusetts,, and he declared that this
has always been the effect of retaliatory
legislation. He objected to legisating for
Massachusetts companies or for any other
! foreign institutions, and urged the sena-
tors to do something for the home insti-
tutions. He also paid his respects to, a
number of well-knoWn insurance men who
were present to watch the BILL + i
Wilson Heads Opposition.
In reply Senator Wilson defended his
| friends who were there to oppose the bill
and insisted that they had a right to come
before the senate and had a right to be
heard on any measure in which they were
interested. 1t was a, cheap argument tc
call attention to the sums \paid BY the
people Of Minnesota for life x insurance
; premiums. The companies named were
/ the best iri the business and among the
: best in the world and for whatever the,
took out they gave value received in thu
fullest measure. Massachusetts was no
arbitrary in it's insurance legislation, nei
ther did it: discriminate against any Min
: nesota institution. The laws related to al
5 insurance companies doing business in tn
state and were drawn in the interests o
the policy holders. If the Minnesota Mu
tual company could not comply with tn
| requirements regarding assets it shoul'
| hasten to do so at once
Calhoun On Foreign Companies.
: Senator Calhoun strongly opposed tn
, Horton bill. He said that the fact tha
other insurance companies were doing
+ large business in Minnesota showed tina
I a great number Of citizens were intereste
in this class of legislation and there wa
an absolute necessity for the passage o
fair laws in this state. The foreign insur
| ance companies were Of great benefit t
the state as was plainly shown by tn
figures presented by Senator Horton
Should these companies be driven fror
the state the Minnesota Mutual compan
could not begin to give protection to tn
people in the matter of life insurance.
Senators Laybourn and .Schaller in
dorsed the bill as perfectly fair To tes
the sincerity of Senator Horton, Senate
| Wilson offered an amendment prOvidin,
that the present bill should not affec
companies which did not comply with TIL
requirements regarding assets imposed b,
other states. Senator Horton prompt,
| refused the unanimous consent necessar,
for the Introduction of the amendment.
The roll was called under some excite
ment as over a dozen members who Wer
present refused to vote or disappeared ii
| the cloak rooms. There were three call
| for absentees after the regular roll cal
and finally the friends Of the bill called 70
the non-voting senators by name. Sen
ators Mausten and Johnson finally vote,
for the bill with apparent reluctance an,
it was carried by 33 votes, 32 being re
quired. The vote is as follows:
| AYES.