Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-11


the law acts detrimcntally to the m
terests Of the common men. I have nc
Coubt the Senator From Penobsco
would have no trouble in case of loss
by fire, in view of his distinguished
standing in his community and hi:
great financial ability No insura nee
company would undertake to max,
trouble with him. He is not in the
class Of men, Mr.. President that the
inequity Of this bill affects. II is tho
poor farmer, the man without his bust
ness ability is the one the Insurance
| Company take advantage OF.
| lie says that insurance companies
if they cannot have this clause retain
Ell, and the law stand upon the statute
| books, will go out CT the State. When
| any CORPORATION, whether it be inSur-
ance, or whatever it may be, makes a
contract with me; and says to me: Il
you claim the right of trial by jury to
| settle any matters, that may come up
| i'll that contract, | Will go out of the
State; | will say.-let him go. [ don't
want 20 make any contract with an in
surance company that takes away that
right. 1t is q fraud upon me when they
undertake it, and they know when they
undertake it, they propose to take ad-
vantage of the poor man. I don't know
what the Senate may do about this
matter but, as a Senator has quoted
| judge Foster, l wish to be pardoned
also for quoting him. l know he said
| to me, and | have his letter, writing to
me as he did some two months ago.
strongly in favor of the repeal of this
law; declaring it to be an iniquity.
The people are long suffering-but I
| tell you when the old farmer of the
State of Maine, the mechanic or any of
| the common men of the State of Maine
| find that the Maine Senate-the Maine
Legislature has taken away the only
safeguard the constitution has given
US, you will hear a rumble going on
from one end of this State to the other;
and the places that know those men
who may vote for it, will know them no
more.
Mr.. STETSON of Penobscot: Mr..
President if 1 may be pardoned for
| moment, I would like to say that
| claim that this committee represented
the common people, as well as the
Democratic Senator from Knox.
Thirty-fve or forty grange insurance
mittee. No class is more attached to
the common people of our State than
they. They asked us to leave the law
as 1t was. Why did they ask it? They
said they We're carrying the other COM
panies very close to the wind-that
they We're insuring the poor farmer and
mechanic, class the other companies
would not take-that they We're
No
officers We're receiving small salaries;
that if this law We're changed, litiga-
ton would come to the front-they
would have to hire attorneys, and their
rates would go up, and therefore they
could not protect the common people.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent, in regard to the rates, the Senator
intimates that the rates are lower I'M
der the Maine standard policy. The
rates are almost double what they
We're prior to 1895. l deny that the
grange is not in favor OF the abolish
ment of this policy. l do know that in
every county in this State, almost
every Pomona grange has resolved
time and time again that they are in
favor of the repeal of the Maine
Standard policy. l deny that those
two insurance companies represent the
sentiment of the grange. They repro
sent the sentiment of the insurance
commissioner who owns them body and
soul, politics and religion.
Mr.. GOODWIN of Somerset: Mr..
President, | did not intend to say any,
thing on this subject; and | hardly feel
able on account>of physical exhaustion,
to say anything now; but l do want to
add my voice to the voice of the gentle
man who has spoken before me, in be-
half of the repeal of this law. l feel
that 1t is the greatest and most
iniquitous-the most crying shame.
that ever has existed in this State, to
deprive the people of the State of the
right of trial by jury. l do not know
how it is that this committee came to
the unanimous decision to report
against this proposition. They say
they stand here as representatives OF
the peoples plan. The Senator from
Penobscot, the Senator from Franklin.
the Senator from Cumberland. The
Senator from Cumberland is the gen
eral agent Of the New York Life IN
surance Company, the Senator from
Penobscot is president and director of
the Marine Insurance Company.
That. Mr.. President, may explain some
of the reasons why this committee is |
unanimous against this bill The peo-
pie of this State are crying out for
redress. They are all honorable gem
tlemen-they may be upright and |
honorable gentlemen-but their inter- |
ests are identified with those of the
insurance companies; and for that
reason. Mr. President, / believe, their
report is unanimous against this bill:
and the Senators should take this into
consideration.
When you strike out this arbitration |
clause, it does not do away with ar |
bitration, anybody can arbitrate at |
any time. If you have a loss, you can
select your representative, lust the |
same as you could under this clause |
The only thing that this Maine stand |
ara policy requires is that YOU must
arbitratc, and must be deprived Of |
right of trial by jury. You cannot act '
voluntarily. but you are REQUIRED TO |
arbitrate. The Maine Standard nolicv |
mas saving clause for itself. a method
by which the companies can protect
their own interests. in which tbo1,