Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-07

me inpcr aince OF ear actfon looking to a
solution Of the subject of some sort OF con-
trol that will furnish better safeguards
than the several states have been able to
furnish against corruption Of the fragrant
kind which has been exposed, and In this
connection he continues:
There 10 need OF stricter and uni
form regulation Of the vast insurance
interests OF this country. The United
states should in this respect follow the
policy of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision OF COM
mercial interests which are clearly ma
tional in character. MY predecessors
have repeatedly recognised that the
foreign business of these companies 10
an important part Of our foreign COM
EsEsstIH!JIn EssEEsst!JnE eiad5ksonareRHNRs Il 'esi esieSSssHS
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
recognizing the national character OF
insurance, for In the absence OF teo.
eral legislation the state department
could only give expression to the
Wishes Oh tu6 VA sHN
states. whose policy was inenectiVe
through want OF uniformity.
repeat my previous recommenda-
tion that the congress should also con-
slider whether the federal government
has any power or owes any duty with
respect to domestic transactions in IN
surance OF an interstate character
That state supervision has proved in
adequate is generally conceded. me
burden upon insurance companies, ana
therefore their policy holders. OF con-
lflictinE regulations OF many states is
unuuestloned, while but little enectiVe
check IL imposed upon any able ana
unscrupulous man who desires TO ex-
plot the company In his own interest,"
al the expense of the policy holders
and of the public. The inability of
state to regulate effectively insurance
CORPORATIONS created under the laws OF
other states and transacting the larger
part Of their business elsewhere IL
also clear. AS a remedy for this evil
of conflicting, Ineffective, and yet bur-
densome regulations there has peen
for many years a widespread demand
for federal supervision. The congress
has already recognized that interstate
insurance may be a proper suDlect TOT
federal legislation, for in creating the
bureau of corporations 1t authorised
1t to publish and supply usetul IN
formation concerning interstate cor
porations, Including corporations en-
cared in insurance" 1t Is obvious
that II the compilation OF statistics pc
the limit of the federal power, II 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 su-
pervision, the congress should care
| frllv consider whether further legisla-
| tion can be had What is said above
applies with equal force to fraternal
and benevolent organizations which
cOatract for life INSURANCE
Under the subject OF national revenues
the president makes plea for the enact
ment of reciprocal arrangements between
,hIs and other countries, but does not ask
for any tariff legislation at the present
time In the same connection he asks TOT
economy In appropriations. u...
! Business Methods in Departments.
On the subject of graft" in the several
, government departments that have Deeh
under investigation he says:
At various times | have instituteu
Investigations into the organization
! and conduct OF the business OF the ex,
ecutive departments. While none o,
these inquiries have yet progresseu
far 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
| uuated and inefficient. There Is every
reason why our executive govern
mental machinery should be az lehs.
as we'll planned. economical anu
efHcient as the best machinery or the
great business organizations, whlcn ~ q!
present Is not the case. To make IL
| so IL q task OF complex detail ana es-
sentially executive in Its naturei prop
ably no legislative body. no matteI
how wise and able could undertake II
With reasonable prospect Of success
1 recommend that the congress con-
sider this subject with q view to pro-
| vide by legislation for the transfer
dIatribution, consolidation and assign
ment OF duties and executive organise
tions or parts Of organizations, ana
for the changes IN business methods
within or between the several depart
ments, that will best promote the
economy. eficiency and high character
of the government work.
Federal Elections.
On the subject Of federal elections he rec
ommenda that II be made unlawful Tor po'
utIcal parties to receive campaign con
trIbuiions from the corporations, and alsc
that Il be made unlawful for corporation
70 Give such contributions, and In this con-
nactlon he says:
Con,r,hutions by corporations to any
nurnoss should be forbidden BY law
directors should not be permitted y
use stockholders money for suen pur,
nosea. and. moreover. q prohibiuon o.
thia kInd would be, a. far as II went
an efYectIve method Of stopping the
av,is aimed at in corrupt practices
scts NOT only should both the ma
tInnoi and the several state legisla'
tures forbid any ofiicer OF corpora
zion from using the money OF the cor,
noration in or about any election. bu,
,hsv should also forbid such use oi
money in connection with any leglsiA
tIon save by the employment OF eouh
sci in public manner for distinety IT,
The Hague Conferences.
The Hague conference and the sub,
a., ~ aTbltratlon generally is treated
q a consis lsSEt5sh re n GsiSenf Y ny y
this governments connection VIII .n'
coming conference In the toiio"ihl
words: -.,- A.,. =.
The nrst conferences Of nations neio y, 2
The Hague In 1Ss, being ehao,e ors =. e,s
-. m All the business before u, recon
pp,enhsd ire consideration and settemen
~ : number Of important questions b.
v -, !. = .o,ference 70 be called Eubae