New-York tribune., 1906-04-21
INSURANCE REFORM SAVED.


The insurance policy holders of the country
owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Higgins
for his prompt and effective measures to save
from ema ascula ton that most essential provision
of the Armstrong code which would give them
effective control of their own property. With
out doubt, some members Of the Senate honestly
questioned the wisdom of making public the
lists of policyholders. Nobody impeaches either
the honesty or independence of Senator White.
When others sought to strike out the publicity
provision and leave no method by which pol
icyhOlders could organize. he suggested the
plan for communication through the company
offices. in the clear belief that II was work
able compromise. Senator Armstrong then, and
Mr.. Hughes afterward, gave convincing reasons
against the sufficiency of this plan and showed
that unless the policyholders could get direct
access to the names of their fellows there could
be no hope OF effective cooperation against
whoever happened to be In control Of their
property. The management If enabled TO act
the go-between. could always defeat any in
dependent movement In spite of Senator Arm
strongs arguments, the amendment prevailed,
for the Senators who were acting on unselfish
conviction were suddenly reinforced by the
friends of the insurance lobby. which watches
for every chance TO make a point for the per
petuadon Of the present forces in control of
the companies. The very king pin was drawn
from the chariot of insurance reform. and it
has been restored only through the Governors
action in coming TO the rescue of the Armstrong
committee
The bill as finally agreed upon in caucus
makes some concession to the objections of
men like Senator White. For the greater part
of the year-seven months at least, and, unless
a contest is initiated ten months lists will
be secret Thus rival companies will not have
great opportunity for twisting, probably not
much more than they have had with local agents
going over every community with a fine tooth
comb. and not needing any list to know about
what insurance their possible patrons carried
We doubt if anybody carrying any considerable
insurance has failed hitherto to receive offers
from rival companies. The bill as it now stands
is strictly a Republican measure the Demo
cratic leaders having voted against it. For the
preservation of this most essential feature Of
the reform code, and consequently for insur-
ance reform in general. the Democrats are en-
titled to no credit. The Republicans fearlessy
made the investigation exposed abuses even
when they threatened to injure the party, and
under the Governors leadership have defeated
all attempts to prevent the application Of thor
ouGh correCtives 1t is everywhere recognized
that IL" Governor saved the situation, and that
he alone could have saved it Senator Arm
strong says:
Governor Higgins rendered signal service to
the people of this state yesterday. When the
insurance reform measure in danger. and
when a weak vacillating man would have
hesitated he acted instantly and literally took
the situation by the neck and shook IL out so
effectUally that resistance practically ceased at
once. l am sincerely proud of Governor Higgins
to-day, for I know that he is better understood
to-day in his true character of rugged. upright
honesty and determination to do his duty as
he sees it, and regardless of how others may
view il, than ever before.
That is just tribute and true estimate Of
character Governor Higgins is not a sensa-
tionalist or a sef-advertiser. He does not yield
himself to the exploitation of every scheme
which can be made to appear momentarily
popular. and so is not heralded as a hero by
the expoiters. But he is conscientious and
sturdy, and when real moral issue is pre-
sented he is always effectively on the right
side