New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-11
PASS INSURANCE BILLS.
Senators adopt Too, but amend
Third by Big vote.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune

Albany June lO-Two important bills containing
amendments 10 the Armstrong insurance laws Of
last year were adopted by the Senate tonight. and
third was amended by a heavy vote. All the
fight came this. which designed to pre-
the by the companies Of their vast corps
of agents in vote getting for the administration"
I lkets in the company elections.
Senator White. who last year tried hard 20 pre-
vent the free exhibition of the policyholders' lists
prior to the company elections fought hard against
this measure it came from the Insurance Com
mittee and with able support from others sue
ceeded in adopting Senator Cohaan's amendments,
which. in the opinion of many here. leave a loop
hole in the measure The bills adopted provide
for the election of entire new board of directors
OF mutual companies in 1909 and biennially there
after, who shall hold Office for two years and
that witness shall be excused from attending
or testifying in any proceeding looking TO the de-
lection of rebate giving because he was a party
but shall not be prosecuted because of his testi-
mony.
When the bill which aroused the opposition came
up, Senator Cohalan offered amendments to it, He
declared that his amendments made no change
that the original bill provided that insurance
agents or officers should work at any time for
the success Of any ticket at the company election
while his amendments would permit them to work
for a tickets success after business hours.
Senator White wanted to know who appeared for
such amendments. Senator Fancher chairman OF
the Insurance Committee said the international
policyholders' association wanted them. Senator
Foelker held that the bill violated the constitutional
rights Of free speech and free press but Senator
Hooker maintained that he could read no such
meaning into it. This inserted at Mr. Inter
myers request. he said. but was not nearly so
drastic his original suggestions It was made
necessary by a breakdown IN the original law. An
swering query from Senator McCarren as to the
cause Of this breakdown, he said 1t came over the
count of ballots and proxies Official ballots under
the charge OF the Superintendent of Insurance had
been provided row. and votes on proxies must be
made these official ballots.
Senator Grady declared that the polcyboIders
were being exploited by assoca tons and individuals
for their own personal interests rather than for
those Of policyholders. Senator White denounced
the international Iolcyholders committee bitterly
as men who were used as cloaks by fnanciers seek
ing to get control of the vast resources of the in
surance companies.
Senator Sake read letter from James McKeen
counsel for the Mutual Life in which he declared
that this bill would make ii impossible for officials
OF company TO work against the reelection of a
bad administration.
The Assembly passed tonight two Of the insur-
ance bIls-the biennial election bill and another
Assemblyman Schoeneck allowed the second bI
70 SIP by without objecting TO IT, When he awoke
to reconsider the vote by which the Bill had BEEN
passed nj, Rogers objected to the motion. saying
that the bill had been prepared with great care and
cooperation that II met the Governors wishes and
lh an, ne could not agree to any amendments
Scnoeneck s motion be made special order to-
hibiting insurance companies using their agents
and employees TO solicit for the directors pro
posed by the company.
The vote on the amendment:
Ayes-Boyce, Cassidy. Cohalan Cullen. Emerson
Franchot. Frawley. Fuller. Grady, Grattan Harte
I5asenfug; Hin. Knapp. Mccall McCarren. Nc,
Sage smith Thompson Travis and WhiteP2s
Dunn Fa5cber' AirrsF4ng Burr Gqrdts Davis
HaiAes' Iuuy' Nemple and WfcoX-15.