The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-24
corporations and Politics.

Perhans the most notable feature OF
the report of the Armstrong Investigation
committee is that Witch relates to
contributions by insurance companies Tor
political purposes. The committee &c
commends that all such should he strict
" prohibited. Nothing disciossd ny me
inyt 81 igatIon," says the report. De
serves more serious attention ihnn the
systematic efforts of the large lnsur-
ance companies to control large part
of the legislation of the state. lileS
have been organized into an offensive ana
defensive alliance to procure or 70 pre-
vent the passage of laws affecting not
only insurance. but a great VARIETY OF
important interests to which, through
subsidiary companies. or through the
connections III their officers, they nave
become related Thair operations Rave
extended beyond the State ara the cour-
try has been divided into districts SO ttat
each company might perform conveniently
its share of the work. Enormous sums
have been expended in sur'eptitiocs
manner Irregular accounts have teen
kept to conceal the payments TO- which
proper vouchers have not been required.
This course of conduct has created II
widespread conviction that lurge por.
lions of this money have been dishonesty
used.
..The pernicious activities of corporate
agents in matters of Legislation demand
that the present freedom OF lobpSlnS
should be restricted, They have brought
suspicion upon important proceedings of
the Legislature and have exposed It's
members to consequent assault.
IAN effort should be nude to strike
at the root of the evil by requiring.
under proper penalties, full publicity With
regard TO moneys expended IN connection
with matters before the Legislature. Cor
porations should be required to keep ac-
counts and vouchers, in @hlcl all such
payments should be fully detailed aud
receipted for, and an adequate statement
regarding them should form a part OF
such reports as may be required
The committee strikes the keynote when
ii says that not only should such con-
tributions be prohibited and treated as
waste OF corporate moneys. but that
any officer. director or agent making
authorizing or conscnting to any such
contributions should he guilty of mis-
demeanor. and the nrohlhiuon should BIC
etxondtd TO corporation contributions OF
this character.
we cannot afford IN matters OF this
character to treat corporation as ar
inaniniqte thing. The law must reach out
and take hold Of the person or person,
responsible for such abuses and punish
them as Niolators Of Law,
There are two sides TO this quas
tion and VIC do not OF course, excuse
those members Of our Legislative bode
who accent brides from corporations. |;
ono sense they are more guilty tia,
the brlbe-giyers, for they are civic trait
ors and violate the most sacred traa
Which the people have reposed in thenr
4 It sofne!imeB happens that these traitor
deliberately hold. up Heedsul legislation
or Introduce bills miiolcal 10 the in
,errsts OF corporations. Tor the nutpoa
Of Being bought OF and It was contest
before Inc Armstrong Committee tina
one distinguished president Of II llfo il,
surance company had employed an agen
70 look after sucn traitors and dee