Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-20
URGES PASSAGE OF
insurance MEASURE
PRESIDENT SENDS MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS RELATING TO
RISK LEGISLATION.
SCANDALS OF PAST
MUST BE PREVENTED
EARLY Enactment of Bill Hoped For by
Roosevelt - Recommendation of
Chicago Convention Also Trans
rnitted to Lawmakers.

washington, April lo.-T Iesiueue
Roosevelt Tuesday transmitted to con-
gress an important message relating
to insurance legislation. Accompany
ing the message were the report and
recommendations of the insurance con-
vention which was held in Chicago
last February. Among the recommend
ations is the draft of a bill, which
congress is urged to enact into law
with some amendments as its wisdom
may suggest.
The president urges the enactment
of the proposed measure, as, he says,
we are not to be pardoned if we fail
to take every step in our power to
prevent the possibility of the repeti-
ton of such scandals as those that
have occurred in connection with the
insurance business as disclosed by the
Armstrong committee. The text of
the presidents message follows:
Text Of the Message.
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: l herewith transmit the
report and recommendations, with &C.
companying papers, of the insurance
convention which met in February
last at Chicago. The convention was
called because of the extraordinary
disclosures of wrongful insurance
methods recently made by the Arm
strong legislative committee of the
state of New York; the suggestion
that it should be called coming to me
originally from Gov John A. John
son, of Minnesota, through Commits
sioner of Insurance Thomas D..
O'Brien, The convention consisted of
about 100 governors, attorneys general
the states and territories of the union.
The convention was seeking to ac-
complish uniformity of insurance legis-
lation throughout the states and ter
ritories, and as prime step toward
this purpose decided to endeavor to
secure the enactment by the congress
of the United States Of proper in
surance code for the District of Co
lumbia, which might serve as q MODEL
for the several states.
Before adjourning the convention
appointed committee of three at.
torneys general and IL commission
ers of insurance of the various states
to prepare and have presented to the
congress bill which should embody
the features suggested by the conven-
ton. The committee recently met in
Chicago, and in thorough and pains
taking fashion sought to prepare a
bill which should be at once protec-
tive Of policyholders and fair and just
to insurance companies, and which
should prevent the graver evils and
abuses Of the business, and at the
same time forestall any wild or drastic
legislation which would be more harm
full than beneficial. The proposed bill
Is discussed at length in the accom-
panying letter by Superintendent
Thomas E. Drake, of the department
of insurance in the District of Column
b bia.
" Asks Congress to Pass Bill.
II very earnestly hope that the
congress at the earliest opportunity
will enact this bill into law, with
such changes as it's wisdom may die.
tate. / have no expert familiarity
with the business, but | have entire
faith in the right judgment and single.
minded purpose of the insurance con-
vention which met at Chicago, and of
the committee of that convention,
which formulated the measure herein
advocated. We are not to be pardoned
If we fail to take every step in our
power to prevent the possibility of the
repetition of such scandals as those
that have occurred in connection with
the insurance business as disclosed
by the Armstrong committee
(Signed1 "THEQPoRE ROOSEVELT.
1.-THE White House, April II. 1867