Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-10-25
No Cut In insurance Fees.

ton on October IL, 1906, at Owensbor, o
KY, and the Secretary was instructed
to send a copy to every doctor and
newspaper in Kentucky:
Your committee on Insurance has
carefully considered the subject of
medical examinations and the reduction
of fees, prospos ed by certain of the
old time companies, and submits as its
report the following preamble and reso-
lutions:
WHEREAS, The recent official inves.
legations of the three great life insur-
ance companies of New York clearly
developed that the medical departments
were among the few which were not
honeycombed with Encouragement or
corrupt; and,
WHEREAS, The legislation resulting
from the investigation intended to cure
evils existing elsewhere was at once
seized upon as justification for long
premeditated, concerted and systematic
plan for debauching these departments
by lowering the standards and conpen-
sation for medical examiners, employ
ing and importing into every section
recent graduates and men who have
failed in practice, as well representa-
tives from the lowest grades in profess
sion, thus destroying what has always
been recognized as fundamental safe.
guard in sound life insurance; and
WHEREAS, While nothing could justi-
fly such a short-sighted course the Off
cial reports of the income and expenses
of the insurance business in this state
and the country at large, last year,
and during all of its history, and the
facts in regard to the recent legislation
in New York make ridiculous the plea
that the action was necessary in the
interest of economy or was caused by
such legislation. Now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, by the Kentucky State
Medical Association, in annual conven-
ton assembled, That this organized
and concerted attempt to lower the
standard and compensation of medical
examiners all over this country is not
only most unjust and degrading to our
profession, but is so unsound as bust
ness proposition that it cannot but ulti-
mately prove most expensive and dam
gerous to all policyholders in these
companies, made up of our patrons and
ourselves:
RESOLVED, That large experience
having demonstrated that the thorough
and painstaking examination of every
applicant for insurance cannot be made
for less than five $500 dollars, we
recommend that this amount be fixed
as the minimumIfee, and shall be NOR
ally binding on all members in this
state on and after January l, 1907.
RESOLVED, That in view of the vast
interests involved we urge the profess
sion in every county in this state to
meet at the earliest practicable day
and arrange for organized resistance to !
this organized and ineXcusable oppres-
sion. We advise that this be done out |
side of the society, and that. so far as
possible, it include every reputable |
physician in the county, whether "a
member of the society or not. We adj |
wise that the agreement be not made |
a test Of membership, our reliance sbe-
ing upon the justice of our cause, |
spirit of mutual helpfulness and coop
GRAFTON, and our evident duty to protect
the best interests of policyholders:
RESOLVED, That we pledge our cor
dial support to those companies which
have so managed their affairs that they
have never been tainted with charges
of corruption, and consequently have
not found it necessary to degrade their
medical subordinates, or otherwise des-
troy the protection to policy holders,
and our Secretary is hereby instructed
to publish list of such companies in
each issue of the Journal, uron condi-
ton that they are approved by our act
i've and fearless state commissioner of
insurance:
RESOLVED, That we also pledge our
support to the International Policy
Holders Association, which is sup
porting the United Committees Ticket
the middle one on the official ballot, in
every effort it may make for the pro-
lection of the interests of polcyholders;
that our secretary is hereby instructed
to furnish each county society in Ken
lucky with an ample supply of ballots
to the tickets supported by this Assoc
citation for trustees of each of such
companies, and that we appeal to the
profession in each county and state in
the United States to cooperate with US
in this movement.
DIR. ]. w. ELLIS (CH'R'M), Masonville,
DIR. d. C. BOWEN, Elizabethtown,
DR.. T. j. SHOEMAKER, Morganfield.
Committee.