The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-15
SEARCHES FOR LIGHT
SENATOR DRYDEN PROPOUNDS
 SOME QUESTIONS.
Question of the National Control of Life Insurance-Enort to Obtain . Comprehensive Expression
 of Public Opinion.

New York, Oct 14.--For the purpose of securing a comprehensive express sion of public opinion on the, question of national control of life insurance companies, United States Senator John F. Dryden of New Jersey. has sent out many copies of the following circular letter with the appended list of aues- tions to be answered.:
 My Dear Sir-In his annual mes sage, President Roosevelt called the attention of Congress to the necessity for Federal Legislation providing for regulation and control of insurance companies transacting interstate and International business. In compliance with an increasing demand from insur- ance policyholders and others inter- ested in the public welfare, I intro- duced into the late Congress a bill to this effect, providing that there should be established within the Bureau of Corporations division of insurance and that policies of insurance were deemed to be articles of commerce and instrumentalities thereof. The bill was introduced too late to secure final consideration, but I expect to rein troduce 1t, possibly with slight modifi- cations, into the next Congress.
 "The bill will be introduced on be- half of the policyholders of all Ameri- can insurance companies and the fol- lowing Improvements are expected to result: Things to He Gained.
 "First-An increase in the security of the polcyholders.
 "Second-A decrease in the expense rate and the cost of insurance. ''Third-A decrease in the burden of needless taxation.
 "Fourth---A decrease in the amount Of nfa lah x0 n eli tn meet the requirements of some fifty States and territories.
 "Firth-The stamping out of fraud ulent insurance enterprises. "Sixth-Adequate protection for com panies transacting business in foreign countries. Since thus far interstate insurance transactions have not been brought within the scope of Congressional ac- tion, I desire to secure an expression of views from the interests affected by such a measure and I therefore take the liberty of troubling you with question to which I would like have you reply either yes or no as the case may be, together with any additional comments of your own which you wish to make upon the matter.
 If entirely convenient kindly fill in and return the attached blank in the enclosed stamped envelop and accept in advance my sincere thanks for your courtesy and cooperation.
 T am very truly yours. John r. Dryden"
 Hist of Questions.
 @. 1.-Do you endorse the sug- gestion of President Roosevelt that in- suranee companies engaged in inter state insurant business should be reg ulated by and brought under the con trol of the Federal government.
 70. 2.-Do you hold the insurance business to be a national rather than local interest, and properly entitled to the solicitude and care of the na- tional government.
 @. 3.-As a matter of personal opin- lon. do you hold the business of insu- rance to be commerce, or an integral and indispensable element of com merce in the sense in which this term Is used in everyday language7
 @. 4.--Are you in any way appre- hensive that 1t would be inexpedient or inadvisable to increase the power of the Federal government to the ex- tent implied in the regulation of insu- rance by Congress?'