The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-30
Pennsylvani5Lsgislature May Start
Searching Investigation.
$4,000 FEES PROMPTS THEM
Resolution to be Introduced TO lnVes.
ti9ate State Insurance Department
ard Doines Of Lobhyists-Msy Ex.
tend to COMPANIES.

tisate State Insurance Department
ard Doinss Of Lobsyists-May Ex.
tend to Companies.
Harrisburg. Pa Jan. 27.-An insur-
tnce investigation may be inaugural
sd by the pennsylvania legislature as
lar reaching as the New York inyesti-
cation. A resolution which is intend
ed to open me way for such an inyes-
tieption will De offered by Mr. Am
norman. Democrat OF Montour conn
ty. in the house of representatives
next Monday evening.
The proposed inquiry will provide
for a thorough investigation. not only
of the Insurance department but OF
the whole department as we'll The
admission made by Robert T. Forster,
the actuary Of the department, that he
turned over last year TO the former
insurance commissioner Israel w.
Durham. $4,000 OF the fcss collected
by him. in addition to the legal fees
OF $4,000 Mr. Durham received from
the Office. has prompted the reformers
OF the house TO go INTO as full an in
vesdgation as may be allowed by the
extra session.
Mr. Ammermans RESOLUTION for an
investigation of the department had
been drawn before Mr. Forster made
his admission. and 70 IS said that IT
did not contemplate anything further
than an Investigation OF the aCtuary's
Office. and was similar in most part
to the resolution adopted By the sen
ate. II is now the intention Of the
reformcrs ana Democrats Of the house
10 provide for as complete an inyesii-
CATION as can be made. Whether It
will be possible to include an lnvesti-
cation Of the insurance companies
themselves has not yet been deter
mined
81 don't know how far reaching the
resolution win be-" said Representa-
tive ". r. Greasy. of Columbia, but
I think IL will provide for the appoint
ment OF a committee to make an in
vesugation. with full power To sum
mon witnesses.
According to the ruling that has
been made here however, they will
declare It out of order But don't
believe that the speaker will dare to
do so In the face of what has been
developed. and am satisfied that,
should he so declare. he would not be
sustained by a majority OF the house.
There is strong sentiment to open
up everything. and II would be dan
gerous for any one to attempt to OPP
pose an Investigation Of any kind that
might lead to the betterment Of con
ditions"
The actuary Of the insurance depart
ment receives his fees from a tax Of
two cents on every $1,000 Of insurance
that is written in this state Mr.. For
ster said that One-half cent on every
$1,000 is high enough tax.
His admission that such enormous
fees have been collected by him, the
greater part of which he turned over
10 the insurance commissioner, has
created a sensation here. He has been
allowed to retain about $500 a year
for his services.
Under the present system the sal
airy of the insurance commissioner is
only $4,000 a year His fees, however,
amount to $4,000 or 100000 Acting
under the governors call for the ex-
ira session, the house has already
passed finally a bill abolishing the
fees Of this Office. and fixing the com
missioner's salary at $4,000. The house
has also passed for the first time a
bill fixing the salary of the actuary at
$4,000. There IS apparently no oppo-
sition in either body to these bills.