Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-14

ton of the auditor that an effort be
made to define what a contract for life
insurance is. In these days, he said, life
insurance takes on SO many phases,
and the ingenuity of managers is so
great, that every kind of indemnity
and investment, fair and unfair, honest
and fraudulent, was offered to the peo-
Pile as life insurance. He believed that
a statutory definition could be devised
broad enough to embrace every legit-
innate contract. and facilitate the work
of the auditor in excluding the con-
tracts which are either fraudulent or
which belong to some other field of en-
terprise.
He also concurred in the recommen-
dalton of the auditor relating to re-
insurance or consolidation. 1t is high
ly necessary for the protection of the
policy holders. he said, that the state
should determine the conditions under
which one company should be absorb
ed by another.
Insurance Examinations.
He urged an amendment to the law
which should provide that all fees
paid by insurance companies for ex-
animation. or for any other service
rendered under the direction of the
state, should be paid into the state
treasury and that whatever compensa-
ton was allowed to those who per
formed the work should be paid by
the state. AS the law now is, the in
surance companies pay the examiners
whatever sums may be charged for
services and expenses, and the exam
iners make no account Of it whatev-
er. This practice affords apportuni-
ty for wrong doing that is intolerable
in a state which cherishes reputa-
ton for integrity and fair dealing.
Educational Institutions.
Referring to the state educational
| institutions. the governor said that as
| to their support, equipment and build
/! ings. Iowa is behind the times. He did
not recommend that an immediate ap.
| preparation be made, but urged the ne
cessity of making such provision as
will insure the additions and improve
ments as speedily as possible.
The Parole System.
| The parole system ought to be pre-
served, but it ought also to be per
fected. Some phase of the plan OF
indeterminate sentence should be
adopted, and the law so amended that
a prisoner may be paroled without
seeming to strike down the judgment
of the court which imposed the sen
tence.
Attention was called to the move
ment. now general throughout the
country, to better care for the boys
and girls who are led into crime
There ought to be a marked difference
between the treatment given to the
mature and the immature criminal.
Against Inebriate Law.
| The inebriate law, if it cannot be
amended, should be repealed The
| plan of sending inebriates to insane
| hospitals is bad, not only for the in
ebriates, but for the insane. He hat
seen enough of the i'll effects to leat
him to earnestly appeal for some 9th
er place of detention.
No Primary Law.
There has been much discussion il
Iowa during the past two years re
specting a primary election law ant
he believes public opinion has gradu
ally ripened SO that there is now {
great preponderance of sentiment il
favor of some regulation that would
insure common decency and fairness
in the nomination of candidates for of
fee. There is practically no fraud
| dishonesty or even unfairness in the
conduct of general elections, he sale
but the manner in which caucuses
party primaries and other proceedings
leading up to nominations are held