The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-20
INSURANCE LOBBY ROUTED.
GOV. higgins PROMPTLY COIES
TO THE RESCUE.
ne Forces rhp Republicans Into = Caucus
With the Jesuit That the Provision
Of fhe Revision Bill stricken Out Yes
terSay nil BE Restored To-day.

Of me Revision Bill stricken cur YES
terSay VII he Restored To-day.
ALsAgr. Anril ie.-The clinue Of corpora
ton Senator'S, to-day hunted for a loop
hole OF escape from public execution for
their action Yesterday in listening 10 the
Establishments n the insurance lobby and
eliminating the kevs'pne NJ the Insurance
reform legislation suggested hv Mr. Hughes
and the Armstrong Investigating com
mitfee. Tney had not expected that their
batteries would q, soon be uncovered. but
when they auoka this morning they found
themselves standing exposed 70 the keen
eye OF pubic opinion. In their short to
cloak their features thus exposed they fell
back to the lat dlrch with their usual anuse
OF the press.
But while they we're irving 10 gather their
scattered forces CIV. Higgins came 10 the
rescue OF the Thousands n poheyholders
in the State and forced tine Republican
Senators into a party CAUCUS and away
from the unhoiy alliance NTH Senator
Grady and his little cotsrie OF useful coll
leagues.
As a result ~ the prsss criticisms this
morning word can 90 out 70 the people al
the country that the insurance legislation
proposed by the Armstrong COMMITTEES
IL 10 pass the Legislature, under an emer-
eency rneszaR from Gov. Higgins, With no
material change. The White amendment
adopted yesterday by the planted vote OF
% to "a ia 70 be stricken from the bill as a
result Of the caucus Of Republican Senators
held this a~f.a-aoon, but for the purpose OF
letting down easy some Of the Senators,
who were misled into voting for the White
Amendment, the section Of the general
revision bill, which Senator White emascl-
lated yesterday, ia TO he changed by pro-
yiding that instead Of the list Of policy
holders Of mutual life insurance companies
being open to the inspection NJ policy
holders every week day In the year, they are
N 10 be open to public inspection for a period
Of five months before the election OF direc-
tors. But If after two months have passed
and the poll dyholders do not signify any
intention Of running g policyholdera
ticket the lists are 10 be closed. These
lists will remain e curing the entire
FIVE months period, however, n aid any
fight Of policyholders for control which
starts within the tHo months period. This
action on the part of the Republican Sena-
tors IL the result Of the caucus which was
called after Gov. Higgins at noon gave out
the following official statement oondemnins
the White amendment:
Il learned With regret of the adoption by
the Senate Yesterday of an amendment
10 the bill amending the insurance law
GENERALLY Which took ont If the bill the
nrovision whereby poIicyholdsrs we're as
sured Of Information a. to the lanes and
residences Of their associates. feel that
the public demands that these bills be en-
acted into law substantially "a reported
and looks with suspicion upon all efforts
10 amend them"
several weeks ago when Senator Grady
by a close vote SlcCeedeJ in materially
amending the Elaberg rapid transit bill
IL was stated in these dispatches that the
vote by which the Grady amendment vas
adopted indicated tnat certain senators
had formed q ~cornhlnati9n 10 control legls-
lation for Offensive and defensive purposes.
l. was stated A. the time that this com-
hinstion was the work of Odell Influences
and that iis purpose was N draw the teeth
Of tine Armstrong committee reform leg
~isla'ion.
Tho ACTON ri Yesterday confirmed this
prophecy. and after the adoption Of the
White amendment in the Senate Yesterday
the present management ~ Republican
Affairs in the state came 10 a fun realization
of This fact. Consequently when the Senate
met this morningto resume its consideration
Of the general revision NJ the Insurance. law
recommended hy the Armstrong committee
there was an air of suppressed excitement
" IL III n NV o. ~ y bAlI wa w -
how far the unholy combination would
dare gn.
After the p cen NJ certain Senators had
been vented upon tho press. Senator Grady
started in 70 offer more amendments. The
most important one vas IN the section fixing
the COMPENSATION IF agents. He wanted 1t
increased. Senator Armstrong, In q lucid
argument. reviewed the work ~ the com
mifte4 on this point and declared that the
agents were treated literally, COMMENSURATE
with protecting the interests ~ the policy
holders
While the debate was going on the in
suYancs lobby betook itself to the Senate
gallery end Senator Armstrong saw them
listening with extended ears m what was
taking place and noting how things were
moving. He said he didn't fear them
while they were in the gallery and within
his vision, but he was afraid Of their in
huence when they were out Of his sight. in
dicating that he only too we'll realized what
i~nfuenoe,had prompted the adoption Of the
White arnendment Of Yesterday,
Meanwhile, AZ the Senate debate pro-
dressed, the friends Of insurance reform
leRislatfon we're working like beavers.
Gov. Higgins sent foDa number OF Hepubli-
can Senators. and the result was a decision
10 have q party caucus, as Il WIS evident
that the combination intended to further
IMMACULATE the bill
Senator Armstrong was talking at 1
o'clock, and 1t was suggested that an hour
Yaoeaa be taken for lunch. This was agreed
To. Then, to the surprise Of every one, the
RepubHcan Caucus was announced, They
foiRht it out behind closed doors for over
an hour, and as the time for reassembltng Of
the Senate arrived the CAUCUS was forced &c
adjourn without coming TO a decision fur
ther than 10 agree that The consideration oi
The Armstrong bill ehould be postponed
Until tomorrow.
Then the Senate met and adjourned and
the Republican Senators again went into
caucus. The second caucus lasted for ovel
three hours and much bad blood was OK
hibited, but the Teformers finally won the
day. =.
Tomorrow the Senate win meet at II
o'clock. and ft win be a regular Legislative
dsy. something unusual for Friday. The
Senators were notified TO be on hand, a.
otherwise a call Of the Senate would bt
ordered.
nnnn RnAnQ RILIa PVT IN.