The Forrest City times., 1905-12-08

|
 | States should in this respect follow the | policy of other nations by providing | adequate national supervision of com | mercial interests which are clearly na- | tional in character. My predecessors l have repeatedly recognized that tho l foreign business of these companies Is | an important part of our foreign com | mercial relations. During the admin | istrations or Presidents Cleveland. l Harrison and Mckinley the state de- 1 partmcnt exercised its influence. | through diplomatic channels. to pre- l vent unjust discrimination by foreign l countries against American insurance ! companies. These negotiations illus l trated the propriotv of the congress 1 recognizing the national charac cter of i insurance. for in the absence of fed | eral legislation the state department l could only give expression to the l wishes of the authorities of the several i states. whose policy was ineffective l through want of uniformity
 l repeat my previous rccommenda- l ton that the congress should also con- i s!der whether the federal government i has any power or owes any duty with respect to domestic tra nsactions in in | surance of an interstate character i That state supervision has proved in- adequate is generally conceded. The | burden upon insurance companies. and l therefore their policy holders. of con aietin- regulations ot many states is uuqucStioned. while but little effective 1 check Is imposed upon any able and interruptions man who desires to ex- l plot the company iH his own interest i at the expense of the policy holders and of the public. The inability of q i state 10 regulate effectively insurance corporations created under the laws If other states and transactinE the larger l part of their business elsewhere Is also clear. As a remedy for this exft ! of conflicting. ineffective and vet bur deBSome regulations there has been ] for many years a widespread demand for federal supervision. The congress i has already recognized that interstate i insurance may be proper subject for l federal legislation. for in creating the | haroau Of corporations 1t authorized l it 10 publish and supply useful in ] formation concerning interstate cor l porations. including corporations en- gagged in insurance" II is obvious ] that if the compilation ot statistics he 1 the limit Of the federal power II is i wholly ineffective to regulate ttis 1 form Of commercial intercourse be l tween the states. and as the insurance i business has outgrewn in magnitude l tie possibility Of adequate state sg- l perrision, the congress should care l fully consider whether further lcEisla- i uoa can be had. What Is said abose i applies wIth equal force to fraternal i and benevolent organizations whIeh ! IotstA dtb lDE ll+t Ills IT tt!ittt
 Under tae subject of national revenues
 tEe president makes 2 p,e2 far the enact me.t of rec.proca. arrangements between tn.s and other countries. hut 5oes no, ask fsr any tariff legislation at tse present tlsaa. Tn the same connection ae asks for
 economy n appropriations.
 Business Methods in Departure ents
 On he sabjea; of graft iH fhe several
 government departments that lave beeE IaGeT Investigation Ee says.
 At various times l have instituted i Investigations into the organization and conduct of the business Of the eX- eeuuTe departments. While none ef l these inquiries have yet progressed i fa- enough to warrant final coueIu- sons. they have already confirmed ard onp n sized the general impress son that the organization af the de- paEtm"Hts IS often faulty #in principle and w2Stelul in results, wL4le laanX , of their business methods are anti qaated and inefficient. There is every reason Why our executive govern mental machinery should he at laast | IS well planned. economical and efficient .. the best machinery of the great business organizations. which at present ls not the ease. To make 4
 so is a task Of complex detail and cS- seEtally executive in it's mature, proh- ably no legislative body, no matter how wise and able. could undertake II With reasonable prospect of success. l recommend that the congress con
 slider this subject with view to pro- vide by legislation for the transfer. distribution. consolidation and assign ment of duties and executive orEauiza-
 uons or parts of organizations. and
 for the changes in business methods.
 within or between the several depart
 ments, that will best promote the
 economy, efficiency and high character
 Of tEC government work.
 Federal Elections.
 Or tke s4b5ec' of federal elections hs rec
 ommends that ]: b. mado unlawful for p1-
 .It.cal parties to receive campaign con
 trieuflons from the corporations. a.d a.so
 ,ha. t be mac unlawful f5r corporations
 to s.se suah contributions, aas .a ;h.s coz | ueet:0n he says:
 Contributions by ea~po~afIgrs to aoY
 purpose should ba forbidden hy law;
 directors should not be permitted to tIse ockEoldefS' meary far saeh p8r-
 poses; and. moreover. a prohibition of
 th.s kiad woald be. as faf as t N It
 ao effective mefh1d 0s Stourin@ inc
 oT3s aimed at n corrupt rracfises
 aztz Not only ehoull both the na-
 tioHal and tae several state Ic@lsia-
 J.F,s forbid any otlc,r of ooFp9r4- t.aa rom using the mono. ei the ar E6Tation in or about any election. bat
 tHgy should also Sosbld S1eA use of
 
 tfoa save Gy the s-ni'or. ut 0f couu-
 Sei .a public manner for distinctly Ie-
 -a. services.
 The Hague Conference.
 Tic lT8EEe conference and inc sub-
 jeet - arbitration generally Is treated
 of 1t considerable length, and n tl.s
 aestaaetlon an explanation is Etven of
 t.9zs Covernmcut's connection with thc
 e6m.1E conference Ii the following
 words.
 The first conference of nations held at
 Tae lIague .a lSa9 being unahie to dS-
 pzse uf alI the business before II, recom-
 .n.rs.,d the consideration and settleme II H9 :. number pf important questions by
 aHotAs- .3aforocce To hc called subse-
 tnsa.ly and al m early date. These
 qaeztioas wore the follow aE: G The
 t5eats @r3 duties of ncHtrais: Cl the Imitation os he armed forces on land and sea- e..l cf military hudf. Is; C2l the
 use as new types ani calibers of military aaa naval sans; ea 'he invielahUitv of
 g-f