New-York tribune., 1905-07-25
TIE INSURANCE INQUIRY,

Now that the Assembly members Of the
| joint committee to investigate the insurance
business have been named the work of in
quiry may be expected to begin promptly and
in earnest The personnel of the committee
leaves something to be desired, but that was
inevitable with the complication of legislative
precedents and claims, which may we'll have
caused Governor Higgins to hesitate about
starting an investigation that might fall into
dangerous or bungling hands.
The Democratic members were, of course.
put forward by their organization. and their
character makes it clear that. however much
the Democracy may hope to exploit the in
surance scandal for political ends. Il has no
earnestness In honest work for the public
Senator Riordan is of the men who be
trayed this city on the gas measures and was
loudly threatened with discipline by Murphy.
This is his punishment Mr.. McKeown is de-
scribed by the Citizens Union as a thorough
ly undesirable type of politician" The Re
publican members are Of a better type but
we hope that Mr.. Rogers Will not bring to
this investigation the shrinking, sentimental
''go and sin no more" spirit which he displayed
in the Hooker case. Senator Tuly is a new
man. who has made a good impression for
ability and straightforward honesty. After all.
however. the work Of the committee depends
chiefly on its chairman and its counsel. and in
is, perhaps, the best man who could have been
selected, being free from any former insurance
entangements a trained lawyer, a legislator
Of aggressive force. rugged personality and
clean record. If q lawyer of unquestioned
character, independence and energy is selected
as counsel and has a free hand to probe TO
the bottom, without respect for any personal
or political interest. the investigation may be
a credit to the committee and of great benefit
TO the public. good example has been set
by the thorough. expeditions, unsensational but
effective work of the Stevens committee, which
studied gas and electric lighting questions.
It would be useless to ignore the fact that
popular suspicion-be it justly unjustly-is
aroused with respect to the attitude Of some
officials toward the insurance scandal. The
notion that insurance funds have in the past
been at the service Of politicians and that
powerful Influences will be exercised to pre-
vent either complete exposure or thorough
going reform is widespread. The only way to
meet ii and establish beyond reproach the good
name of the State administration, the Repub-
lican party. the joint committee and each one
of its individual members is to follow every
clew and suggestion of insurance mismanage-
ment TO the end. When the hearing is closed
it should not be possible for a critic. however
carping. TO say with the least shadow Of plau-
sibiity that any lead was ignored or any trans
action deftly steered away from. The people
want the whole business turned inside out and
the ramiications Of all these private deals in
the disposition of trust funds to be exhibited,
whether they were TO aid railroad manipula-
tons or boom subsidiary companies, or fur
nish hidden troughs for hungry politicians. The
confidence of the community not merely in
insurance companies, but il the honesty and
fidelity Of our financial leadership has been
shaken and nothing VIII re-establish faith and
safeguard business prosperity but full knowl-
edge that every abuse has been exposed and
every due restitution exacted and that the
ground is cleared for a new start
Senator Armstrong has upon him a heavy
responsibility, but with 1t an opportunity such
as comes 10 a man only once In lifetime.