Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-21
PRODUCE LETTERS
FROM THE BENCH
INSURANCE MEN C0NSTRUE
THEM AS VIOLATIONS
Wiseonsln's Chief Justice Wants to
Know How His Policy Charges
Can Be Reduced--lnquiry
ls Now On
nv Aesoclated Press.

Iv Associated Press.
MILWAUKEE, July 2O-1n the pro-
ceedings before the committee of the
legislature engaged in investigating
life insurance conditions in this state,
State Manager NJ. c. Albright of the
Union Central Life company of Cincin-
natl introduced correspondence showing
that a supreme court official asked that
the agents commission for the collec-
tion of his (the supreme court officials)
policy be paid to him. The letters were
written by Chief Justice r. d. Mar
shall. Justice Marshall late this after
noon vouched for the authenticity of
the correspondence. The justice, how
ever, said he thought there was nothing
irregular in any of the letters
The original correspondence was pro-
duced by Mr.. Albright late today In
the letter soliciting the commission for
collection is the following:
Letter No.
''I suggest that you send my receipts
to the First National bank of Madison,
Wis, with a draft attached for the
$671. 40 and Instructions to deliver the
receipt upon payment of the draft on
or before the date of the premium, and
that in such case you permit the bank
TO take the usual agents commission for
the collection and pay the same to me.
My policy came from one agent en-
tirely outside of my circle of business
acquaintance.
''I see no reason, myself, why cannet
be permitted to make the payment in
the manner permitted, but if there are
reasons of course YOU will write me
suggesting where to send the money"
The letter from Justice Marshall was
referred by the home office of the in
surance company to State Manager
Albright of Wisconsin, who in turn
wrote to his superior officer:
Criticlses Judge
.'When Judge of the supreme court
of this state makes an appeal for a
rebate and does it direct to the home
Office, is it not time that there be some
elevation in the moral conscience of the
people in high places before we can
hope for much change for the better
among the rank and file on the rebate
question:"
Mr. Albright also wrote to the justice,
informing him that rebating was for
hidden by law in Wisconsin. The final
answer of Judge Marshall was written
to Mr. Albright as follows:
Madison, Wis, Oct. IA, 1902.
u G. Albright:
Dear Sir-Here is the draft for pay
ment on my policy. 1 am not unac-
quainted with the law to which you
refer On reflection you will probably
see that there is nothing in the law to
prevent your company from paying 10
any bank any collection charges you
see fit. do not take your letter very
seriously. 1t would not be out of place
for your company to establish an
agency outside of Milwaukee. Yours,
"R. d. MARSHALL"
"P. S.-Send receipt to Madison, Wis. "
Judge Marshall Explains
II wrote the letters which were read
before the life insurance committee on
Thursday said Judge r. D. Marshall,
over the long distance telephone from
his farm in Kilbourne late this after
noon.
Il wrote as the letters will show that
the company had no local agent in
Madison, that | did not know where to
send the money for the premium and
submitted to the general office of the
company the propriety of allowing me
to pay the premium into the bank and
receive the usual agents collection fee
back, suggesting that they so direct the
bank if it seemed proper to them.
"They evidently did not deem it
proper. and l sent them the money in
full. That is all there is to it. 1 defy
any one to read in my letter any re-
quest for a rebate or allowance other
than the usual collection fee allowed
agents who handle premium renewals
II submitted the question to the com
pany whether or not it would be proper
to allow me such fee in the absence o
any authorized agent of the company
in the vicinity. 1t is as plain as the
monday sun and no other meaning
can be placed upon any sentence il