The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-23

committee on expenditures entrusted
large sums, died just before the be-
ginning of the investigation and ap-
parently left no account as TO how the
money had been spent. Andrew Ham
ilton, who within ten years, received
UPWARDS of $1,000. 900 from the New
York Life Insurance company upon
the warrant of its president, in con-
nection with it's bureau of legislation
and taxation, has remained abroad and
has failed to render any proper &C
count showing the disposition of the
money. The officers of the company
say that they have no knowledge of
the uses to which it was put. The of
f1cers of the Equitable from whom
light might have been expected upon
the disbursements of the company
either remained out of the jurisdiction
OF have been disabled by illness. On
account of the absence of the neces-
sary witnesses and the lack of proper
vouchers the committee has been una
BILE to trace the money said to have
been disbursed in connection with leg
islation. But while it is sufficiently
evic ent that large sums have been dis
bGrsed for improper purposes it is also
clear that payments for confidential
OUTLAWS exempt from audit have fur
nished abundant opportunities for
Interpretations They suggest the
necessity of requiring a strict account
ing from those who are response
bic for the payments, as well as from
the agents who have received the
moneys.
Company Argument Met.
1t has been insisted that the insur-
ance companies have been so continu-
ously menaced by the introduction of
improper and i'll advised legislative
measures in many states, that they
have been compelled to maintain a
constant watchfulness and to resort
to secret means to defeat them. An
insurance corporation, however, holds
a position of peculiar advantage in
opposing any legislative measure
which really antagonized the interests
OF pOlicy-holderS. A very large pro-
portion of the voters of the state hold
policies of life insurance. 1t is easy
Tor the company to appriSe them of
hostile legislative measures, and in adj
dition department of the state gov
eminent exists for their protection,
whose recommendations have rarely
failed to receive proper consideration
IN the legislature. 1t is not difficult
matter to direct public attention to
an objectionable bill affecting life in
surance corporations, or to have OPP
posing argument and the criticism eff
fectively presented. Again, if in spite
of argument fairly and publicly pre-
scented. the legislature insists on pass
ing law inimical to the true interests
of the companies, it is not the officers
but the policy-holders who must bear
the loss, and the consequences which
can readily be pointed out are al
most certain to bring about an early
repeal of the obnoxious legislation
The employment Of agents to disburse
large sums and of clandestine meth
DDS 70 defeat legislation is wholly in
excusable.
Pernicious Activity of Agents.
The pernicious activities of corporate
agents in matters of legislation de-
mand that the present freedom of lob
bying should be restricted. They have
brought suspicion upon important pro-
ceedings of the legislature and have
exposed its members to consequent as
sault. The legislature owes it to itself,
as far as possible, to stop the lavish ex-
penditure of moneys Ostensibly for ser
vice in connection with the support of
or opposition to bills. generally believ-
ed to be used for corrupt purposes. The
should free itself from the
stigma which now attaches to the pro-
gress of measures affecting important
interests. The laws against bribery and
of proof, are sufficiently stringent but
an effort should be made to strike at
the root of the evil by requiring under
proper penalties full publicity with re-
gard to moneys expended in connection
with matters before the legislature.
Corporations should be required to
keep accounts and vouchers, in which
all such payments should be fully de-
tailed and receipted for, and an ade-
form part Of such reports as may be
required.
Authorized Expenditure.
In the case of insurance corporations
the remedy lies, first, generally within
the requirement of a proper authorize
ton Of all expenditures and vouchers,
stating in detail the purposes for which
moneys paid for legal expenses in con-
nectiOn with legislative matters have
been expended. And, further the COM
pany should be compelled to set forth
in its annual statement to the super
intendent of insurance all sums so dis
bursed, giving the names of payees, !
the amounts paid and the specific pur-
pose of the payment.
Professional services in promoting
may be entirely honorable |
and are frequently necessary. We are
on this subject which will interfere
with the presentation to a legislator of |
the views Of his constituents, or of citi- |
zens generally, but we know that |
where legislation is promoted or op-
posed by paid professional advocates |
the matter should be the subject of |
regulation.
How Law Should Be Amended.
The committee therefore recon- |
mends that the legislative law be so |
amended that every person retained /
)r employed for compensation as coun- |
sci or agent to promote or oppose the
passage of bills or resolutions by either /
house or executive approval of such
measures shall, before entering upon /
the service, file I'm the office of the sec
-etary Of state a writing stating the /
name or names of his employer, to-
yether with a brief description of the
legislative matter In reference to which
he service Is to be rendered. The
secretary OF state should be required TO |
Keep a docket to be known as the
docket of legislative appearances.
With appropriate blanks and induces in
which the name of counsel and agent
nay be properly entered. Fees contfn-
rent on legislative action should he