The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05

cleavage Va the line which divides the nom
est man who tries 20 do well by his noish-
Dor from the dishonest man who does Ill
by his neighbor.
REAL CONDUCT is CONDUCT.
In other words. the standard we should
establish Is the standard OF conduct, not
the standard OF occupation, OF means. or
of social position. IL is the mans moral
quality, his attitude toward the great
questions which concern all humanity, his
cleanliness or llfe, his power to do his
duty toward himself and toward Others.
which really count, and II we substitute
Tor the standard of personal Judgment
which treats each man according 10 his
merits, another standard in accordinca
with which All men OF one class ara
favored and all men OF another class dis
crimlnated against, we shall do irrepara-
Dle damage 20 the body lolittc. I be-
ieye that our people are too sane. to self
respecting, TOO nit for self-government.
ever 10 adopt such an attitude.
This government Is not and never shall
be government by plutocracy. This gov
ernment is not and never shall be gov
erned by r mob IL shall continue 10 bs
in the future what it has been IN the past.
a government based on the theory that
each man, rich or poor, Is TO be treated
simply and solely on his worth as a man.
that all his personal and property rights
are 20 be safeguarded, and that he IS
wrong from others
The noblest OF all forms OF government
IS selt-governmont. but IL is also the most
difficult. We who possess this priceless
boon. and who desire 10 hand II on TO
our children and our childrtn's children.
should ever bear in mind the thought 50
finely expressed by Burke. Men ara
qualified for civil liberty I'm exact propor-
tlon 10 their disposition 10 put moral
chains upon their own appetitles: I'm pro-
portion az they are disposed TO listen to
the counsel OF the wise and good in pre-
ference to the hattery OF knaves. Soci-
ETY. can not exist unless controlling
power upon will and appetite be placed
somewhere, and the less of IL there bo
within tho more there must be without.
X Is ordained I'm the eternal constitution
OF things that men Of Incorporate minds
can not DO free. Their passions forge
their fetters."
INSURANCE.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples OF corporations whose
business has extended so far beyond the
Jurisdiction OF the states which created
them as 10 preclude strict enforcement Of
supervision and regulation by the parent
states. In my last annual message I
recommended that the congress careful-
ly consider whether the power of ths
bureau OF corporations can not constl-
tutionally be extended to cover interstate
transactions I'm insurance"
Recent events have emphasized the i'm
portance OF an early and exhaustive con-
sideration or this question. to see whether
10 Is not possible 20 furnish better SAFE
guards than the several states have been
able 20 furnish against corruption of tho
flagrant kind which has been exposed
1t has been only too clearly shcwn that
certain of the men at the head of these
large corporations take but small note
OF the ethical dnsttnction between hon
esty and dishonesty: they draw the limo
only this side OF what may be called law
honesty, the kind of honesty necessary
In order TO avoid falling into the clutches
OF the law. OF course the only complete
remedy for this condition must be found
In an aroused public conscience, a higher
sense OF ethical conduct In the community
at large, and especially among business
men and in the great profession OF the
law. and I'm the growth OF a spirit which
condemns all dishonesty whether in rich
man or in poor man. whether Il takes
the shape OF bribery or Of black mail
But much can be done by legislation
which is not only drastic but practical.
There is need OF a far stricter and moro
uniform regulation OF the vast insurance
interests OF this country. The United
States should in this respect follow the
policy OF other nations by providing ade-
quate national supervision OF commercial
Interests which are clearly national in
character. My predecessors have re-
peatedly recognized that the foreign busi-
ness OF these companies is an important
part OF our foreign commercial relations.
During the administrations of Presidents
Cleveland, Harrison and Mckinley the
state department exercised its influence,
through diplomatic channels, TO prevent
unjust discrimination by foreign coln-
panies. The negotiations illustrated the
propriety OF the congress recognizing the
national character OF insurance. for I'm the
absence OF Federal Legislation the state
department. could only give expression
TO the wishes of the authorities OF thu
several states, whose policy was inerfec-
tive through want OF uniformity.
is THE POWER IN GOVERNMENT
[ repeat my previous recommendation
that the congress should also consider
whether the Federal government has any
power or owes any duty with respect 10
domestic transactions in insurance OF an
interstate character. That state super.
vision has proved in adequate is generally
conceded The burden upon Insurance.
companies. and therefore their policy
holders. Of conflicting regulations OF many
state, Is unquestioned, while but little
effective check Is imposed upon any able
and unscrupulous man who desires 10 ex.
ploll tlS company IN MS own interest
at the expense Of the policy holders and
the public. The inability of a state To
regulate effectively insurance corpora
uons created under the laws of other
states and transa citing the larger part OF
their business elsewhere is also clear.
As remedy for this evil OF conflicting,
Ineffective. and yet burden some regula-
lions there has been for many years q
wide spread demand for Federal super.
vision. Tho congress has already recog-
nized that interstate insurance may be a
proper subject for Federal legislation. for
In creating the bureau OF corporations it
authorized IL to publish and supply use
ful information concerning interstate cor
porations. including corporations en-
gagged IN insurance" II Is obvious that
II the compilation OF statistics be the
limit Of the Federal power. It Is wholly
ineffective 20 regulate this form OF com-
mercial intercourse between the states.
and as the insurance business has out
grown In magnitude the possibility OF
adequate state supervision. the congress
should carefully consider whether further
legislation can be had. What is said