The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-15
GOVERNOR GlEAN'S MESSAGE
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Continued from End Page.

nounced expected arrival, and after
this to heavily penalize them for every |
thirty minutes delay; the penalties
TO go to the school fund There may |
be other suggested remedies better
than any Of the above, but something
should be done 10 remedy the fearful
loss of time caused by waiting a. sta
tons.
"a To insure greater safety 10 the
travelling public, | urge most earnestly
two things: First. That a limit be
to the hours of service performed
by a railroad employee; and second,
that when the corporation commission
points out 10 a railroad that its road
bed or equipment is defective and UNI
safe, and the railroad authorities for
an unreasonable time neglect or re
fuse TO remedy the defects, the super
intendent and other officers of said
road having supervision of the defec-
tive road-bed or equipment, shall be
guilty Of criminal carelesSness and Ii
able t Indictment.
90 Having required railroads to do
their duty, they should be protected,
when not in the wrong. Persons, there
fore, who walk on their tracks. except
at regular crossings, should do 50 at
their W risk. and if injured while so
walking along the track, otherwise
than in crossing il ut regular crossings,
should not themselves, OF through their
legal representatives. in case Of death,
be allowed to recover damages.
INSURANCE.
We desire foreign insurance COM
panies to do business III our state, and
will protect them all we a against
fraud and wrong; but it is not far
for them to collect and carry away
over six million dollars of our money
to enrich and build up their home
states at North Cardinals expense.
Two remedies have been suggested:
ID The enactment of Il law making
it a condition precedent to a foreign
company doing business in our state.
that they have invested in solvent
each year, submit to the insurance
commissioner satisfactory evidence
that they have infested in solvent
North Carolina securities or property
an amount equal at least to nifty per
cent. of the premiums collected on the
policies of the people and property OF
this state. A great many countries,
and some states, have adopted this
plan. and it works we'll.
CD Or that every foreign company
doing business in the state make a
deposit. in North Carolina securities
to be approved by the commissioner OF
not less than $4,000 or o than
$50, 900. according to the moun or
business done by the company.
Why should honest companies OBJ
ject to either of these plans? Invest
ments are as safe and remuneratlVe
here as elsewhere. and while helping
our state, they do themselves no wrong
SO much misconduct and actual
crime have of late been charged against
certain insurance companies, that nave
used their policy-hOlders' money TOR
corrupt that perhaps it would
be we'll to enact a law. in the future
fO%rbidding any company engaged III
such practices from doing business
in the state; and upon charge De-
ing made, the commissioner should at
once investigate, and if the charges
/ are found true, at once stop the COM
pany soliciting business.
It is alleged that the opportunity Tor
these illegal methods is Increased Dy
allowing companies for years to holo
deferred dividends, thus furnishing q
fund always ready to be used as the
desire; and it is suggested thai a sure
| remedy would be to allow no deferred
| dividends, but require each company TO
distribute annually it's DIVIDENDS
among it's policy-holders.
I ask you to investigate tbs matter
| and do what is right.
The State Firemen'S Association
! in view of the valuable services us
| members render insurance companies
| bv protecting the property they nave
| insured. ask that a reasonable per cent
| be collected on all premiums and palC
the fremen's association, IN oruel
to furnish a fund for aiding o in
iured, or the widows and Children O
those killed while in the line OF duty
as fremen and to better equip ant
make fire companies mOr e1lclent
To me the request seems
COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND
CHILD LABOR,
ONLY one suggestion will | at tn
time make in regard to chlld .aDci
and that is. that children who cannO
read and write shall not work IN lac
tories until they are fourteen. IN.
will prove 4 SLlliuLuo W poII Pot0lt
and children, and do much good -
the cause of education.
To me, while the state may not Ee
! be ready for it, the solution OF IN
child-labor problem is 10 compel a
children between the ages OF eight an
twelve to attend school; and II !c
will read the commissioners repol'
YOU will see how strong this sentlnel-
is becoming>i in the state.
Tender children should be prOtectei
To put them at too early an age IN
factories, dwarfs their bodies az
minds. and, | fear, the healthy &ctlC'
of their souls; and no better RENEE
against this evil could be found ina
by putting them in school. Whe-
body. mind and soul car be trained an
beautifed.