The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-11
Plan Said to be Opposed by Bliss
and CorteIyou.
Mr.. Roosevelt Regards The Question
as one of Good Morals-The Report
That C~ortelyou and Bliss has Block
ed the Presidents Fan is not Given
Serious Weight-The Matter MAJ be
e to Next Chairman of Repubi-
can National Committee.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Washington, December 6.-Presi-
tent R~oosevelt's insiscence hat money
contributed by the insurance COM
Fanles to the 1904 fund be returned to
the policyholders is one Of the snb-
Jects o discussed by members of
congress. The story that George B.
Cortelyou, chairman of the Republican
National committee, and Cornelius N.
Bliss, the treasurer, are opposing the
presidents plan and have thus far
blocked it, is not given serious weight.
Ihelr judgment in the matter may not
coincide with that of the president.
blu if Mr.. Roosevelt is determined
the money shall be returned, members
Of congress believe, undoubtedly that
it will go back. ....
The president is represented as
viewing the question as one of good
morals, and it is pointed out that he
would hardly heap further honors
upon a man who opposed him on a
moral issue. Were the matter one
merely Of eXpediency there would be
no inconsistency in MS making Mr.,
Cortelyou secretary of the treasury
nc matter how sharply his views
might differ from those of the presi-
dent; but the president would hardly
place a man in that position whom he
considered morally deficient. Accept
ed opinion, therefore, is disposed 20
eliminate Mr.. COTtelyou as a deter
mined opponent of the plan Of ~restitu-
ton.
With Mr.. Bliss the case might be
different. Mr.. Bliss belongs to the
Mark Hanna school OF politics. and
the Hanna theory was always that
such contributions were justified, TAX
ing the ground that general prosperity
depended on Republican success at the
polls and that when a corporation
contributed it was merely paying a
premium on prosperity insurance, the
same Is it would insure against fire
OF other destructive agencies. Viewed
IN this light, contributions by the in
surance companies dlo not constitute
a fraud upon the policyholders but
were rather a wise investment in their
interest.
Having accepted such contributions,
Mr.. Bliss might Very we'll oppose resti-
tuition on the score that it would be a
confession of wrong doing in the ac-
ceptance. Discussing this phase ( the
question, a prominent New York mem
Der OF congress said:
IF Mr.. Roosevelt IS really urging
the return Of the money, he Is doing it
because he thinks it is the right thing
! to do, and it is a safe bet that he
would not have appointed Mr.. Cortel-
you secretary of the treasury if the
latter stood out against him upon
such a vital question Of principle. The
chances are hat it is Mr.. Bliss who is
opposing the return of the insurance
money. AS he is the custodian Of it,
| suppose it will be necessary to con-
vince him that it is right before the
refund can be made. Right here an
interesting point arises. Will not the
returning of this money be a confess
sion that the accepting of it WAS inn
| proper? MIR. Bliss is an old man. He
has long hold an honorable position in
the business and financial world, an
n al readily understand why he
should hesitate to plice himself in such
an eQuivocal position as the surrender
ing Of the insurance money would do
Perhaps it is the intention Of the adj
ministration to refer the whole mat
ter to Col. Harry New when he GUS
ceeds Mr.. Cortelyou at the head of the
Republican National committee.