The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-19
THE GOVERNOR OF SFLORIDA
POINTS THE WAY.


of ability and practical craftsmanship,
recommends that that State organize
an Insurance Department that shall
write insurance on the lives of its peo-
pie. save them the extravagant sums
they now pay. keep in the State the
New York that it is wasted in riotous
living, and put life insurance within
the reach of all it's citizens. Every
able-bodied man is worth money to his
State. If he dies without insurance
in many instances the support of his
State. If he leaves even a small
amount of insurance, instead of his
children depending upon the bounty of
the State, they early become wage
earners and add to the wealth of the
State. The same reasoning, on the
financial side, that calls for the edu-
cation of children in public schools
will be invoked by wise statesmen to
provide life insurance that will en-
able every man of small earning ca
pacity to leave one or two thousand
dollars to his family in case of his
death.
The State that is the pioneer in pro-
viding this real State Insurance De-
partment will do the greatest public
service that has been done by any
State since New York dug the Erie
Canal and North Carolina built the
North Carolina Railroad. Both works
were essential to progress. It is quite
as great duty today for a State to
provide life insurance as it was to pro-
vide those public highways of COM
merce in the past century. We would
covet for North Carolina the honor of
being the pioneer in this new depart
ment which will become one of the
strongest and most popular arms Of
government. but if Florida is wise
enough to heed the recommendation
of it's wise constructive governor. it
will deserve distinction among it's sis
ter states. The lead must, of course.
be taken by one of the States that is
sending out its money TO enrich other
States. We may not expect it from New
York, or New Jersey or Connecticut,
made wealthy because the business Of
other states sends millions there to pile
up great pyramid SURPRISES. They are
naturally we'll pleased to have North
Carolina send them annually $685.
1880, of which it pays back in poll
cies only $S53, 9S3.S9. leaving s2,402,-
on 4 - naIx he
State. Is it any wonder that the peo-
pie of Florida, North Carolina and
other states are tired of that steady
drain? We shall be greatly surprised
if there is not constructive statesman
ship enough in North Carolina to
evolve a system by which the State
shall with safety and business success
make an insurance department that
will insure the lives of its people. at
least in sufficient amount to save
the State from the care of widows and
children when the bread-winner of the
family dies.
The New York Sun is disposed TO
make light of the recommendation Of
the Governor of Florida and of the
News and Observer. This is not un-
expected, for the Sun holds a brief for
1.-The system" the trusts, the combina-
tons, the grafters. To be sure it oc-
casionally calls for investigation,
but stops short of going to- the root
of the evil, or of taking any course that
prevents the control of government by
~ iat, cd hy
privilege The national Investigation
and regulation" of insurance companies
was first proposed by one of the presi-
dents of great insurance company,
who is a United States Senator. Those
great companies wish to escape State
taxes imposed by the forty-five states
and think they could supervise the ma
tional regulation. But what the peo-
pie wish is insurance at such rate
as will put 1t in reach of every wage
Garner and will in every municipality
put the utilities to the people without
profits to persons smart enough to get
a franchise. OF course these reforms
will not come in day, but because
they are wise and sensible they are
sure to come in North Carolina where
the people can make their will eff
fective. Some people who do not see
beyond their nose will be deceived by
the hue and cry of Socialism raised by
the organs of The System. but
thoughtful men will study the question
in all its bearings. and determine for
themselves whether it is practicable
and safe The result of such investi-
cations i'm the long run will be decided
in favor of state insurance and munic-
ipal ownership of public utilities. the
New York Sun and the other papers
that hold brief for the monopolists,
to the contrary Notwithstanding.