Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-12-08

interests of this country. The UnNed |
States should in this respect follow the
policy of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision of COM
mercial interests which are clearly ma
tlonal in character. My predecessors
have repeatedly recognized that the
foreign business of these companies is
an important part of our foreign COM
mercial relations. During the admin
istrations 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 |
recognizing 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.
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. 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 ana
| INSCRIPTIONS man who desires to ex-
| ploit the company in his own interest
| at the expense of the policy holders
and OF the public. The inability of n
state to regulate effectively insurance
corporations created under the laws or
| 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
! for many years widespread demand
for federal supervision. The congress
has already recognized that interstate
insurance may be a proper subject Tor
federal legislation, for in creating the
| bureau of corporations 1t authorized
it to publish and supply useful in
formation concerning interstate cor
porations, Including corporations en-
gagged in insurance" 1t is obvious
that IL 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 su-
pervision the congress should care
fully consider whether further legisla-
, tion can be had. What is said above
applies with equal force to fraternal
: and benevolent organizations which
, contract for life insurance.
| UnQer the SUBJECT ndIlOHdl revenues
the president makes plea for the enact
ment of reciprocal arrangements between
this and other countries, but does not ask
for any tariff legislation at the present
time. III the same connection he asks tor
economy in appropriations.
4 Business Methods in Departments.
t On the subject of graft" in the several
e government departments that have beer
under investigation he says:
= rious times have instituted
S Investigations into the organization
and conduct of the business of the eX'
n ecutive departments. While none o.
: these inquiries have yet progressed
t sions, they have already CONFIRMED
: and emphasized the general impress
n sion that the organization OF the de
n partments is often faulty in principle
6 and wasteful in results, while man!
e of their business methods are anti
5. quated and inefficient. There is ever,
n reason why our executive govern
o mental machinery should be at leas
sc as we'll planned. economical an
y efficient as the best machinery of tn
: great business organizations, which a
10 present is not the case. To make
v so is a task of complex detail and es
re sentially executive in Its nature; prop
m ably no legislative body, no matte
ID how wise and able, could undertake
Or with reasonable prospect of success
n 1 recommend that the congress con
slider this subject with a view to pre-
or vide by legislation for the transfe
a. distribution, consolidation and assign
n ment of duties and executive organiza
an tions or parts of organizations, an
G. for the changes in business method
th within or. between the several depar'
A. ments. that will best promote N
of economy, efficiency and high charactt
T. OF the government work.
ge Federal Elections.
ru On the subject of federal elections he re
ne ommends that it be made unlawful for p
n n litical parties to receive campaign CO
Is tributions from the corporations and al
ne that 1t be made unlawful for corporation
~. ~. to give such contributions, and in this CO
~ nection he says:
ts Contributions by corporations to al
,ns purpose should be forbidden by LAY
Sa directors should not be permitted
~. use stockholders money for such pu
o noses: and moreover. a prohibition
'na this kind would be, as far as 1t weI
ma an effective method OF stopping Z
of evils aimed at in corrupt PRAGUE
M acts Not only should both the n
az tional and the several state legisl
I've lures forbid any officer of corpor
' tion from using the money of the &C
rsa poration in or about any election
they should also forbid such use
-. money in connection with any leSisi
'of tion save by the employment of cou
sci in public manner for distinctly
ihs gal services.
pn' 1tn The Hague Conference.
in The Hague conference and the su
we'd iect of arbitration generally is treat
rn- of at considerable length, and in u
to connection an explanation is given
this governments connection with I
coming conference in the follow
words:
hy, The first conference of nations held
etic The Hague in 1899, being unable to
en- nose of all the business before 1t, reco
S a rnended the consideration and settlem
Dor of a number of important questions
led, another conference to be called sub
'oot quently and at an early date Tn
the questions We're the following: %
i'm rirhts and duties of neutrals; (2)
ling Limitation of the armed forces on Ii
Dor- and sea, and of military budgets; (S
or use of new types and calibers OF milit
Nth and naval guns; d) the inviolapility
,cu- nrivate property at sea In times of W
ngs. "a the bombardment of ports. cities