The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-12-08


adequate national supervision OF conn
msrcial interests which are clearly na-
tlonAl in character MY predecessors
have repeatedly recognized that the
foreign business ~ Those companies ~
an important part ~ our foreign com
mcrcial relations. During the admin
istrations % Presidents Cleveland,
Harrison and Mckinney the state de-
partment exercised its influence,
through diplomatic channels. 90 pre-
vent unjust discrimination 10y foreign
countries againet American insurance
companies These negotiations Mus
trated the propristv ~ the congress
recognizing tho national character ot
insurance. for In the absence OF Ted
cral leg station the state department.
could only give expression 10 the
" ishes ~ tho authorities ~ the sever al
states whose policy was ineffective
through want ~ uniformity.
repeat my preyin na recommended
tion that the congress should also con-
slider whether the federal government
has any power or owes any duty with
respect 10 domestic transactions IN I'M
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-
flicting regulations ~ many states. is
unQuestioned while but little effective
check is imposed upon any able and
INSCRIPTIONS man who desires 70 eN-
ploit the company N his own interest
at the expense ~ the policy holders
and OF the public. The inability 81 a
state 10 regulate effectively Insurance
corporations created under the laws OF
other states and transacting the larger
part % their business elsewhere IS
also clear As a remedy for this eNii
OF conflicting Ineffective and yet bur-
for MANY years a widespread demand
FOR federal supervision The congress
has already recognized that Interstate
insurance may be proper subject Tor
federal legislation FOR in creating the
bureau OF corpora lions 10 authorized
u to publish and supply useful in-
formation concerning Interstate cor
porations. including corporations en-
gagged i'm Insurance. ~ lis obvious
that IL the compilation Of statistics be
the limit of tho federal power, II Is
wholly Ineffective TO regulate this
form % commercial Intercourse be-
tween the states and as the Insurance
business has outgrown In magnitude
the possibility Of adequate state sue
pervisiOn. the congress should care
fully consider whether further leglsla-
tion can be had what is said above
applies with equal force 10 fr1ternal
and benevolent organizations which
contract fNF AAlf INSURANCE
Under the subject % rational revenues
the president makes a plea for The enact
uert or reciprocal. arrangements between
this and other countries bui does rot ask
fo- any tariff legislation az ire present
time In the same connection he asks Tor
economy a. appropriations.
Business Methods IN Departments.
or the subject ~ graft" in tire several
government apartments that have been
under Investigation he says
At various times have instituted
Invest cations into the organization
and conduct az the business OF the eN-
ecutive departments. While none Of
these inquiries have yet progressed
far enough 20 warrant final conclu-
sions they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general impress
sion that the organization OF the de-
| partments is often faulty In principle
and wastefui in results while many
l OF their business methods are anti
I quated and inefficient. There is every
I reason why our executive govern
mental machinery should be NJ least
as well planned. economical and
efficient as the best machinery ~ tae
great business ORGANIZATIONS. which at
present IS not the case To make II
50 is task 81 complex detail and es-
/ sentially executive In It's nature. prob
\ ably no legislative body no matter
how wise and able could undertake IL
with reasonable prospect of success.
! I recommend that the congress con-
\ slider this subject with a view - pro-
1 vide by legislation for the transfer.
I distribution consolidation and assign
ment OF duties and executive organiza-
I tions or parts % organization and
z for the changes in business methods.
I within or between the several depart
Z ments that will best promote the
. O. "a NJ ifuf cha "A r. Z q
OF the government work
Federal Elections.
on the subject Of federal elections re rec
ommen1s hat IL be made unlawful Tor po-
| liticai parties 70 receive campaign con-
! tributicns from the corporations. and also
| that Il be made unlawful. for corporations
20 give such contributors ana n This con
I neciion he SAYS.
Contributions by corporations 10 any
| purpose should BE- forbidden by law
| directors should not be permitted 10
use stockholders money for such pur-
poses. and moreover. a prohibition 81
Z this kind would be. as far as IL went.
an effective method OF stopping the
evils aimed at In corrupt practices
acts Not only should both the ma
Z tfonal and the several state legisla-
lures forbid any officer 81 a corpora
tion from using the money ~ the cor
poration in or about any election. but
they should also forbid such use %
money in connection with any legisla
tion save by the employment ~ coun-
sol In public manner FOR distinctly le-
gal services.
The Hague Conference.
The Hague conference and the sub
iect OF arbitration generally is treated
81 at considerable Length. and In this
connection an explanation is given ~
this governments connection with the
coming conference in the following
words
The first cor ference Of nations held al
The Hague in 1879 being unable 70 dis
pose of AIT the business before q. recon-
mended the consideration and settlement
OF number % important questions by
another conference 20 be called slbse
quen,ly and al an early date. These
questions were the following % The
rights and duties 81 reutrals. % th'
limitation OF the armed forces on land
and sea. and ~ military budgets. cl the
nse ~ new types and callhers 81 military
and naval guns. 90 the inviolabilty 81
private property az sea IN times ~ war
,5l the bombardment ~ ports cites and
villages by naval forces In October
lsol. at the instance of the lrferparlia.