Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1906-03-03
HOW INSURANCE INVESTIGATION
BEGAN.

~ y
sion which set off the explosion was a
fancy dress ball in February of 1905.
What contrast! Rejane, dancing, cos
tunes, spectacular fun and wealth, the
aggressive surplusage of prosperity.
And now? The contrast is almost too
dramatic. The priest with his sacra-
ment hurries to one president whose
death was fastened by humiliation.
Another lies broken in constitution, in
a sanitarium. Another sells his goods
and lands, preparing for exile. The
giver of this ball is in voluntary exile.
And-so ironical is Heaven-what
started the mighty housekeeping was
social and not business errors. Here
Is Fate's sequence: Hyde's ball; then
Alexander's letter, very quotable, call
ing attention to Hyde's love for lime
light, of display, of flattery, to man.
ner of life not conducive to public con-
fidence. Then followed the contest
between Hyde and Alexander, and the
cat was out and jumping.
II anybody had been asked, a year
ago, to name an invincible financial
trinity, all of us know what the answer
would have been. If so much can be
done in a single year, and without
panic or calamity, with stock-market
prices steadily rising and unequaled
commercial prosperity, it's a hopeful
sign, with cheering differences. The
public is frequently pesimistic if re-
forms do not happen with sufficient
speed. The excitement about postal
frauds has passed, but Geo. w. Beav-
ers has just gone to join Machen, Lor-
enz, the Golf brothers, McGregor, and
Upton in the penitentiary, for a two
years visit. The outcome of the Slo-
cum disaster was far from satisfac
tory, as the most guilty parties to the
crime could not be reached,
but one man at least suf-
fered as an example. The pub
lie and the press have complained
loudly about the deliberate procedure,
in the insurance matter of District At
torney Jerome. Mr. Jerome is not a
man to be coerced He acts when he
is ready. The problem which con-
fronted him was complex. AS there
were many concerned in the misdo
ings, and only limited number of con-
victions needed as warning, it was
his duty to consider many things;
moral guilt, legal guilt, the influence
on the public, the attitude of the com
panies, the effect on various compa-
MES and their business; for the pen
alties and loss to the companies should
be as far as possible evenly distri-
buted, since it is in reality prevail
ing state of things that is being at
tackled, rather than the iniquity of in
dividuals. Criminal action has from
the early stages of the revelation been
a necessity, but caution and a clear
head have been necessary also. 1t is
not hurry that we need, but wisdom,
justice and the successful termination
of prosecutions once begun.
Insurance corruption has its root in
mistaken general ethics. When judge
Parker made has charge about the con-
tributions of corporations to Republi-
can campaign funds, just before the
last Presidential election, Mr.. Roose.
welt denied with great indignation that
immunity from unfavorable legislation
was promised in return the implica-
ton being that the party might in all
virtue accept such contributions if no
promise were implied or made. Now
what does this distinction mean? The
officers OF an insurance company are
forbidden, by law AMI ny any sane con.
science, to make sucn political contri.
buttons. They do make them, and
the political party accepts them. The
trustees take away the money of the
hen pficiariac tho po1it;o;ooo -