Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07

began, knew nothing against 1t, and had
erence to 1t. and during the long period in
which the question was pending. there was
never any serious objection to the So
ciety, except as I have outlined above, as
to its not being a fraternal beneficial as
ISOLATION. And during that time, and IN
the hearings that were had. our relations,
so far as 1 know. were entirely friendly
Another Point Considered.
In reply to the charges that he wrote to
the insurance departments Of different
states notifying them of his refusal to Issue
license to the Royal Benefit Society, Mr..
Drake refers to the requirements Of the
states that outside insurance companies
seeking to operate in the state must show
that they are licensed to do such business
In their home states or District. Continu-
ing, Mr.. Drake says:
1.-THE main and sole purpose of nearly
every insurance law and OF every insurance
department Is the security and protection
of policy holders by compelling insurance
companies to observe and comply with the
laws made for that purpose. All insurance
departments and their officers, each in its
own jurisdiction, are engaged in this same
common cause and work. and naturally and
in practice assist each other therein by
often giving other departments notice of
facts coming to their official knowledge
which might affect the question of licensing
or continuing to license an insurance COM
pany.
1T is respectfully submitted that no su-
perintendent of insurance is guilty of an
offense in notifying other departments IN
the interest of and fer the protection of
policyholders of facts which prevent him
from issuing a license. and which, If
known, would prevent company from do
ing business elsewhere in violation of law.
1T is also true that 1 informed one of
the newspapers of this city that l had re-
fused license to this society. With ref
erence to this, 1t Is submitted that such re-
tlrn
open and public. and thing which any one
might know who chose, and which all the
public had right to know. And. further.
that any person. knowing this refusal, had
perfect right to inform the press, or any
person Of the fact. And I had the same
perfect right to do this as did every other
person And. as 1t is submitted. therefore,
this constitutes no offense or wrong
Charges Declared to Be False.
'The president of the society charges
continues Mr.. Drake, that have said that
the next step against the Royal Benefit So
ciety would be an application for a receiver
for it. This is absolutely and unqualifiedly
false. I have never said or insinuated any
thing Of the kind and do not believe that
Mr. Pennington ever supposed that 1 had
done SO. On the contrary, whenever I have
spoken of 1t l have said that the financial
condition of this society was all right.
Il answer in a lump all that Is said in
these charges, or elsewhere, In any way
connecting me with any sayings. charges.
insnuations or purposes of Mr.. Ernest f.
Nlemeyer, by saying that SO far as 1t is
said or insinuated that / have ever known
of. inspired. authorized or assented to or
given authority for anything whatever that
Mr.. Niemeyer has said. done. intended or
attempted with reference to this society Is
absolutely false in word, letter, spirit and
substance, and the truth is not In It,
There has never been any collusion,
understanding
between Mr.. Niemeyer and myself as to
this society or its concerns, and whatever
he may have said as to either, or may nave
intended or attempted, II anything, was
without my knowledge. procurement or as
sent. I never knew anything of the mat
ters charged until I saw them as coming
from Mr.. Pennington. and DO not believe
he has ever had any reason to believe that
had any connection with the matters ne
charges. and the statement that | did or
said either or any of the Things referred TO
in this answer or alleged In the charges,
from any hostility DRILL will toward this
society or with the intent to fnJure or ais
credit it is absolutely without foundation
in fact. as it Is destitute OF reason Tor It's
existence" y =g6
Mr.. Drake says that with reference to.
each and all of the thirty-one charges pre-
ferred by the society as affecting 1t spe-
officially. he denies them and declares them
to be false sHfE
Reason for Delay in Reports.
With reference to the charge that ne mas
not prepared his annual reports as early as
the law directs, Mr. DrakeIsays that he has
been unable to do this,i owing to the press
of important business and the limited as
sistance furnished the department. The
force. he says, is Inadequate. and the
clerks in the office do not even get any OF
the regular holidays. excepting July 4.
Thanksgiving day and Christmas. lie DE-
clares that the society has applied for
license to do business. and that there are
three such applications in his office. With
reference to the charge of the society that
Mr.. brakes mental condition Is unsound.
Mr.. Drake says:
The whole charge, with It's many In
situations, Is cruelty wicked and ma
lici9usly false, and is SO known to be by
every one who utters It."
Mr. Drake declares that he has en-
deavored to administer the business of
the insurance department fairly and Inn
partially and according to the law.
In conclusion Mr.. Drake says:
The creation of an insurance depart
ment to compel insurance companies to
comply with the law In itself supp0ses
that there will be conflict and conten-