The Somerset reporter., 1907-02-07
For IN Insurance Search.

The relles, which senator Heselton
has made 10 have the Maine Insurance
department Investigated and made free
from suspicion, or have The suspicious
confirmed, AS the facts revealed may
warrant, is reason able and shouid be
granted without question. Mr.. Carr has
held the iii e Tor long time now. 50
far IN known he has seldom been on he
side Of the people az against the com
panies on any question where the peo-
pie stood to lose ard the companies
q, God to win A most pleasing gentle
man. whose handshake Is equal to a
benediction Mr. Carr has r. dulously
courted the promoters of insurance
graft, and If he has not openly advocat-
ed the grating measures which have
been suggested by some OF the conpa-
MES, at least his voice has not been
heard In loud or open rebnke to some
measures, which in the minds of honest
citizens should be disgrace to Maine.
The retention of the compulsory ar
btration clause in the standard insur
ance policies ~ perhaps the most open
piece of grating that Name has sane
toned by enscim ent This method ia
one by which the compares receive full
payment Of premiums on policies where
the companies fix the vaindtion. and
then allows The com i'aDles to scale down
the valuation 10 suit themselves, and
compels the losers to submit their claims
to arbitration for settle meut In cub.
star CO the compulsory arbitration clause
gives the companies both ends and the
middle of the insurance business, and
then denies the losers the light 10 have
trial by jury. some years ago. when
the law was referred to board of law
yers for an opinion as To its justice.
the report was made that the enactment
was unconstitutional and would not
hold inasmuch as Ii denied the right to
trial by jury, something which in theory
at least, is granted To every citizen But
in this case the Maine legislature seems
to have been above the constitution and
law. aud 'onunued the objectionable
/ clause without culver.
1t was believed at that time, and it is
still believed tn At had the insui ance COM
missioner of Maine have spoken out and
opp1sed the outrage. az it was his duty
TO do AZ paid servant of the people.
Maine have been saved the shame
of permitting insurance companies TO
collect premiums without giving any
guarantee in case of loss Ard there
are her counts against the Insurance
department, counts which should be
Investigated fully. In theory Mr. Carr
is the huwark, which the state has put
up to defend the people of Maine against
the greed of the insurance companies
How far he has performed his duty re-
mains 10 be found out; but unless the
conduct of bis office receive an investi
CATION there ia no way of getting AT the
facts. Ii an honest old farmer like Hon.
A. W. Gilman of the agricultural depart
ment can ride around on free passes
and charge his travelling expenses to the
State, ard if refined and highly moral
educators of the Young, like Superin
tendent Stetson of thu educ ttional de-
pariment can do the same thing there
seems To be few state off eials who are
worthy of absolute trust
If Mr. Carr is fquare and above board
an investigation will help hlm greatly.
If his conduct reveals certain acts of a
questionable nature. the fac q should be
made public. Report has it that Mr..
Carr conrts investigation. If 80, the
legislature will be lacking in courtesy TO
deny him Bangor Ne,rS.