The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-17
SPECIAL MESSAGE
SENT TO CONGRESS
Seeks National Measure to Pre-
vent Repetition Of the Re-
cent Scandals.
Gives Governor Johnson Credit
for Suggestion Of Impor-
tant Legislation.

WASHINGTON, April Il. President
Roosevelt today transmitted to congress
an important message relating to in
surance legislation. Accompanying the
message were the report and recon-
mendations of the insurance convention
which was held in Chicago last Febru-
airy.
Among the recommendations is the
draft Of bill which congress is urged
to enact into law with such amend
ments as it's wisdom may suggest.
The president urges the enactment Of
the proposed measure, as, he says, I'VE
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 com
mittee.'
The text of the president s message
follows:
Governor johnson Inspired It.
81 herewith transmit the report and
recommendations, with accom- anying
papers of the insurance convention
which met in February last at Chicago.
The convention was called because of
the extraordinary disclosures of wrong
full insurance methods recently made
by the Armstrong legislative committee
gestion that it should be called coming
to me originally from Governor John
A. Johnson of Minnesota, thru Com
missioner of Insurance Thomas D..
O'Brien of that state.
1.-The convention consisted of about
100 governors, attorneys general and
commissioners of insurance of the states
and territories OF. the, union. The con-
ventlon was seeking to accomplish uni
tOrmItV g
out the states and territories, and as a
prime step toward this purpose decided
to endeavor to secure the enactment by
the congress Of the United States Of
proper insurance code for the Dis
trict of Columbia which might serve as
q model for the several states. q sss1@
To Protect Policyholders. I *
"Before adiourning the convention
appointed a committee Of three attor-
neys general and twelve commissioners
of insurance Of the various states to
prepare and have presented to the con-
gress a bill which should embody the
features suggested by the convention.
1.-The committee recently met in Chi
cago and in thoro and painstakinp
fashion sought to prepare bill which
should be at once protective of policy.
holders and fair and Just to insurance
companies, and which should prevent
the .graver evils and abuses of the
business and at the same time fore
stall any wild or drastic legislation
which would be more harmful than
beneficial.
1.-The proposed bill is discussed al
length in the accompanying letter by
Superintendent Thomas E. Drake OF
the department of insurance in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Urges Prompt Action.
II very earnestly hope that con
gress, at the earliest opportunity, viii
enact this bill into law with such
changes as it's wisdom may dictate.
~ have no expert familiarity with
the business, but [ have entire faith
in the right Judgment and singlemindet
purpose of the insurance convention
which met at Chicago and of the com
mittce Of that convention which for
mulated the measure herein advocated
eve are not to be pardoned if we
fail to take every step in our powe
to prevent the possibility of the repe
tition of such scandals as those tina
have occurred in connection with tn
insurance business as disclosed by tn
Armstrong committee.
Theodore Roosevelt