New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-25
ALLOW VOTING PROXY
Legislative Committees and Governor
Agree on Insurance Changes.

Albany. May 2t-The general outline OF the
amendments the Armstrong insurance laws
agreed on hy the Senate and Assembly insurance
committees N conference with Governor Hughes
made public by Senator Fancher chairman OF
the Senate committee. tonight. The chief feature
oc the law IS the retention of proxy voting
The official ballot Is to be devised and framed by
the Superintendent Of Insurance. but IS to be sent
out by the companies The ballots to be num-
bered, and in form to correspond generally to tho
official ballot used in regular elections for public
officers. Policyholders desiring give proxies
must inclosc their official ballot with their proxy
which authorizes the recipient to fill out the ballot
Elections to be biennial, except that onehalf
the officers of companies to be elected in 1908
In the following year complete new directorates are
20 be chosen. This postpOnement is made in order
TO separate the insurance elections from state and
national political elections. Provision is made re-
quiring every nominee any ticket to file writ
ten and duly acknowledged acceptance of the NOM
ination. thus meeting the situation created by the
alleged commando ering Of candidates at the last
election against their Wtl. All nominations must
be filed with the S1oerin tendent of Insurance three
months Before the date of election, and In case
there is contest then the companies need not
send out any official ballot. Voting will be by
proEy otherwise. the company shall deter
mine. This VIII the large expense of sending
out the ballots.
The other amendments built around these
main principles Among other details. agents are
forbidden during working hours from asking prox-
les or engaging iE eectioneering but no attempt
is made TO forbid their working outside of these
hours Officials of companies are however ex-
pressly prohibited from compelling agents take
part In this work In addition TO various
amendments which contained in a single bill
there Is a measure amending the penal code by
providing penalties for violations OF the law.
Tic two Legislative committees have been in n
ference with the Governor throughout the prepara-
ton of these bills and many of his suggestions
are embodied in the law The legislation is
announced entirely satisfactory to the Governor.
The bills will be introduced Monday night and
speedily rushed through.
administration interests In the retention OF
proxy voting the Legislatures approval OF their
contention on this question. opposed TO the
views OF the international committee. The 'nom-
nee provision, the other hand, is believed be
the outcome of the alleged ''consCripting' OF four
international committeeman the Mutual Life
administration ticket In the recent election
Regarding the 'electiOneering' amendment, IL
was recalled that throughout the New York Life
SS1inpaigI ana during the latter portion of the
Mutual Life campaign. the administration in
terestS of both companies declared that the agents
We're canVassing votes entirely In their time.
The international committee sought 80 to amend
IN the campaign.
The provision forbidding officials to compel
sent out by the Mutual Life Its agents early in
the campaign, and which was largely responsible
OF removal OF colonel A. NJ. Shook, OF Tennessee f
Q: Sutton, OF Massachusetts. and Thomas r. and
Herbert n Fell of this city. four of the alleged
International committee interests regarded the
oHlcIaI ballot provision victory for their
side' me buIk of the Mutual Life pro-admnistra-
so-ca!led Joker ballot, which had title To indi-
cate that 1t was the administration ticket