Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-17
TO PROTECT THEPUBLIO
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT PRESSES
DISTRICT INSURANCE BILL

President Roosevelt today transmitted to
Congress an important message relating to
insurance legislation. Accompanying the
message were the report and Recommended
tions OF the insurance convention which
was held in Chicago last February. Among
the recommendations is the draft of bill.
which Congress is urged to enact into law
with such amendments as it's wisdom may
suggest
The President urges the enactment of the
proposed measure, as. he says. we are
not to be pardoned If we fail to take
every step in our power to prevent the
possibility of the repetition of such scan
dais as those that have occurred in con-
nection with the insurance business as dis
closed by the Armstrong committee"
The text of the Presidents message fol-
lows:
ITO the Senate and House of Representa-
tives
Il herewith transmit the report and rec
concentrations. with accompanying papers.
of the insurance convention which met in
February last at Chicago The convention
was called because Of the extraordinary
disclosures Of wrongful insurance methods
recently made by the Armstrong legisla-
tive committee of the state Of New York
the suggestion that 1t should be called
coming to me originally from Governor
John A. johnson of Minnesota, through
O'Brien of that state. The convention con-
sisted of about one hundred governors, at
torneys general and commissioners of in
surance of the states and territories OF
the Union. The convention was Seekin g
to accomplish uniformity Of insurance leg
islation throughout the states and terri
tories, 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
District of Columbia, which might serve
as a model for the several states.
Before adjourning the convention ap-
pointed a committee of three attorneys
general and twelve commissioners of insur-
ance of the various states to prepare ana
have presented to the Congress bill which
should embody the features suggested by
the convention. The committee recently
met in Chicago. and in thorough and PAINS
taking fashion sought to prepare Dill
which should be at once protective of policy
holders and fair and just to insurance COM
panies, and which should prevent the
graver evils and abuses of the business,
and at the same time forestall any wild or
drastic legislation which would be more
harmful and beneficial. The proposed bill
Is discussed at length in the accompanying
letter by Supt Thomas E. Drake of the de-
partment of insurance. in the District OF
Columbia.
II very earnestly hope that the Congress
at the earliest opportunity will enact this
bill into law, with such changes its wis
dom may dictate. / have no expert ia
miliarity with the business. but ! have en-
tire faith in the right Judgment and single
minded purpose Of the insurance conven-
ton which met at Chicago and of the COM
mittee of that convention which formu-
lated the measure herein advocated. We
are not to be pardoned II we fail to take
every step in our power to prevent the pos
sibility of the repetition OF such scandals
as those that have occurred in connection
with the insurance business as disclosed by
the Armstrong committee
ROOSENN
The White House.
April 17th 1906