Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-12-07

providing
adequate national supervision OF COM
mercial interests which are clearly ma
uOnal In character. My predecessors
| have repeatedly recognized that the
foreign business Of these companies is
an important part Df our foreign COM
mereial relations. During the admin
situations OF Presidents Cleveland,
Harrison and Mckinley the state de-
partment exercised its influence.
through diplomatic channels, to pre-
vent unjust discrimination by foreign
countries against American Insurance
companies. These negotiations illus
trated the propriety of the congress
recognising the national character OF
insurance, for in the absence OF fed
eral legislation the state department
could only give expression to the
wishes OF the authorities OF the several
states, whose policy was ineffective
through want of uniformity.
1 repeat my previous recommended
ton that the congress should also con-
slider whether the federal government
has any power or owes any duty with
respect to domestic transactions in i'm
surance OF an interstate character.
That state supervision has proved in
adequate is generally conceded. The
burden upon insurance companies. and
therefore their policy holders. OF con-
hicting regulations of many states. is
unquestioned, while but little effective
check Is imposed upon any able and
interruptions man who desires to ex-
ploit the company in his own interest
at the expense OF the policy holders
ana OF the public. The inability of a
state to regulate effectively insurance
corporations created under the laws OF
other states and transacting the larger
part OF their business elsewhere is
also clear. As a remedy for this evil
OF conflicting, ineffective, and yet bur
densome regulations there has been
Tor many years a widespread demand
for federal supervision. The congress
mas already recognized that Interstate
Insurance may be proper subject for
FEDERAL legislation, for in creating the
bureau OF corporations II authorized
II to publish and supply useful in
formation concerning interstate cor
poratIons, Including corporations en-
gagged In insurance" 1t is obvious
that II the compilation OF statistics be
the limit of the federal power. 1t Is
wholly ineffective to regulate this
form of commercial intercourse be-
tween the states, and as the insurance
business has outgrown in magnitude
the possibility OF adequate state SUI
pervision, the congress should care
fully consider whether further legisla-
uon can be had. What is said above
applies with equal force to fraternal
and benevolent organizations which
contract for life insurance.
Under the subject Of national revenues
the president makes a plea for the enact
ment OF reciprocal arrangements between
this and other countries, but does not ask
for any tarif legislation at the present
time. In the same connection he asks for
economy in appropriations.
Business Methods in Departments.
On the subject Of graft" in the several
government departments that have been \
under Investigation he SAYS:
At various times 1 have Instituted
Investigations into the organization
and conduct of the business of the ex-
ecutive departments. While none OF
these inquiries have yet progressed
1ar enough to warrant final conclu-
sions, they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general impress
sion that the organization of the de-
partments is often faulty in principle
and wasteful in results. while many
OF their business methods are anti
quated and ineficient. There is every
mental machinery should be at least
as well planned. economical and
efficient as the best machinery of the
great business organizations, which at
present Is not the case. To make il
so Is a task of complex detail and es-
sentially executive in its nature; prob
ably no Legislative body, no matter
how wise and able, could undertake II
with reasonable prospect of success.
I recommend that the congress con-
slider this subject with a view to pro-
vide by legislation for the transfer, |
consolidation and assign |
ment of duties and executive Organiza-
tons or parts OF organizations, and |
for the changes in business methods, |
within or between the several depart |
ments. that will best promote the |
economy, efficiency and high character |
OF the government work.
Federal Elections.
On the subject OF federal elections he rec |
ommends that II be made unlawful for po-
litical parties to receive campaign con-
tributions from the corporations, and also /
that It be made unlawful for corporations
to give such contributions, and In this con-
nection he says:
Contributions by corporations TO any
purpose should be forbidden by law; |
directors should not be permitted to |
Use stockholders money for such pur-
POSES: and, moreover, a prohibition of
his kind would be, as far as 1t went,
IN effective method of stopping the
wills aimed at in corrupt practices
lcts Not only should both the ma
lonal and the several state legisla-
ures forbid any officer of a corpora
ion from using the money of the cor
,oration in or about any election, but |
money in connection with any legisla-
ion save by the employment of coun-
el in public manner for distinctly le-
gal services.
The Hague Conference.
The Hague conference and the sub
ect of arbitration generally is treated
4 at considerable length. and in this
onnectiOn an explanation is given OF
his governments connection with the
oming conference in the following
7ords:
The first conference of nations held at
he Hague In 1899 being unable to dis
ose OF all the business before H. recon-
lended the consideration and settlement !
( a number of important questions by
mother conference 10 be called subse-
uently and at an early date. These | I
uestions we're the following: a. The
ghts and duties of neutrals; 90 the /
OF the armed forces on land
nd sea, and Of military budgets; (3) the ,
Sc OF new types and calibers OF military ,
nd naval guns; 90 the invlolability OF |
rivate property at sea in times OF war;
D the bombardment OF ports. cities and ,
Ol, at the instance OF the Interparlia-
Ientary union, which, at a conference
ED IN the United States and attended
y the lawmakers OF Is different nations.
ad reiterated the demand for a second
inference OF nations. issued Invitations
all the powers signatory TO The Hague
invention TO send delegates TO such a /
Inference and suggested that Il be again