The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-22


the Mutual, to whom the chairman q I
the committee Of expenditures entrust- /
ed large sums, died just BEFORE the De
ginning Of the investigation ara an
parently left no account as 10 how the
money had been spent
Andrew Hamilton. who within ~ !
years received upwards of $lsVOD,OVV
from the New York Life on the war
rant of its president in connection with 1
its bureau of legislation, and taxation,
has remained abroad and has failed TO
render any proper account, showing
the disposition of the money. Inc Of
have no knowledge of the uses TO
which 1t was put The officers Of the
Equitable from whom light might
have been expected in disbursement
of their company either remained out
Of the Jurisdiction or have been dis
abled by illness. on account of the
absence of the necessary witnesses and
the lack of proper vouchers, the com
mittee has been unable to trace the
moneys said to have been disbursed in
connection with legislation, but while
II is sufficiently evident that large sums
have been disbursed for improper pur-
poses. 1T is also clear that payments
for confidential OUTLAWS exempt from
audit have furnished abundant oppor-
tunities for Interpretations. They
suggest the necessity of requiring
strict accounting from those who are
responsible for the payments, as well
as from the agents who have received
the moneys.
Voters Are Policyhoiders.
1t has been insisted that the insur-
ance companies have been so continu-
ously menaced by the Introduction of
improper and I'll advised legislative
measures in many states that they
have been compelled to maintain a
constant watchfulness and to resort to
secret means to defeat them. An in
surance corporation, however. holds a
position OF peculiar advantage in OPP
posing any legislative measure which
really antagOnizes the interest of
Dolcyholders. A very large proper
ton of the voters of the state hold
policies of life insurance. It is easy
for the committee to appriSe them of
hostile legislative measures and in ad-
dition department of the state gov
eminent exists for their protection,
whose recomme ndatiOns have rarely
failed to receive proper consideration
in the legislature. It is not a difficult
matter to direct public attention to an
Objectionable bill affecting life insur-
ance corporations or to have opposing
argument and criticism effectively pre-
scented. Again, if. in spite of argument
fairly and publicly presented, the leg
islature insists on passing a law in
imical to the true interests of the COM
panies it is not the officers but the
po1cyholders who must bear the loss,
and the consequences which can read
lily be pointed out are almost certain
to bring about an early repeal of the
obnoxious legislation. The employ
ment of agents to disburse large sums,
and of clandestine methods to defeat
j legislation is wholly inexcusable.
The perniciOus activities of corpo-
rate agents in matters of legislation
demand that the present freedom of
lobbying should be restricted. They
have brought suspicion upon important
proceedings of the legislature and
have exposed its members to conse-
quent assault. The legislature owes it
to itself, as far as possible. to stop the
pra ctice Of the lavish expenditure of
moneys Ostensibiy for services in con-
nection with the support of or opposi-
| ton. to bills and generally believed to
be used for corrupt purposes. The
+ Legislature should free itself from the
stigma which now attaches to the
1 progress of measures affecting impOr-
/ tant interests. The laws. against sbrib-
/ cry and corruption, offenses which are
difficult of proof, are sufficiently strin-
gent, but an effort should be made to
strike at the root of the evil by requir-
/ ing, under proper penalties. full pub
lefty with regard to moneys expended
/ in connection with matters before the
/ Legislature.
Regulation of Lobby.
Corporations should be required to
keep accounts and vouchers, in which
/ all such payments should be fully de-
tailed and receipted for and an ade-
quate statement regarding them,
should form part of such reports as
may be required.
In the case of insurance corporations
I the remedy lies, first, generally within
/ the requirement of a proper author
/ izatiOn of all expenditures and vouch-
/ ers, stating in detail the purposes for
which moneys paid for legal expenses
/ in connection with legislative matters
have been expended. And further the
company should be compelled to set
forth in its annual statement to the
superintendent of insurance all sums
dfsbursed, giving the names of the
payees, the amounts paid and the spe-
cific purpose of the payment.
Professional services in promoting
/ legislation may be entirely honorable
and are frenquently necessary. We
are not inclined to recommend legisla-
ton on this subject which will inter-
fere with the presentation to a legis-
latOr of the views of his constituents
| or of citizens generally, but we believe
that where legislation is opposed or
/ promoted by paid professional advo-
Gates the matter should be the subject
of suitable regulation.
The committee therefore recon-
mends that the law be so amended
that every person retained or employ
/ ed for compensation as counsel or
agent to promote or oppose the bills or
resolutions by either house, before en-
tering on the service shall file in the
office of the secretary of state, a writ
ing, stating the name or names of his
employer, together with a brief declar-
alton of legislative matter with refer
enee to which the service is to be rem
dered. The secretary of state should
be required to provide a docket of
legislative appearances, with appro-
pirate blanks and induces in which the
names of counsel and agent may be
properly entered. Fees contingent on
Legislative action should be prohibited.
It should also be made the duty OF
every corporation and association do
ing business In the state within two