The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-11

panfes, IZ5 nre insurance companies.
forty-one casualty companies. thirty
seven fraternal insurance companies
and nineteen assessment companies,
a total Of 271. organized under the
laws Of other states and doing bust
ness in the state OF Indiana grand
total of 1924. These 324 companies
last year collected in premiums from
the people of Indiana the sum of $685.
073 S15 Al. The securities entrusted
to the care Of the department, under
the law. have face value of IS $685.
900. They are subject to frequent
change and substitution. Their ac-
ceptance and care require skill and
legal knowledge and unqualified in
tegrfty as well. The fees collected
by this department for the year 1905
aggregated $66, 553.21, and for this
year s72,6 $50 The insurance taxes col
lected for the year 1905 aggregated
1903, 1876 1t is simply impossible
to secure effective administration OF
such a department with the allowance
made. The department is entitled to
stand, and, if properly organized will
stand, as barrier between the peo-
pie and the horde of graveyard in
surance companies, funeral benefit So
cfeties and various wild, visionary con-
Germs and criminal speculative organf-
cations that are continuously organ
izing and storming the department for
the privilege of duping the citizens of
the state and preying upon credulity,
sorrows and misfortune. Considera-
ton of these facts lead inevitably to
the conclusion that law should be
enacted separating the insurance de-
partment from the auditors Office and
creating an independent department
to take over the supervision of the
business of insurance. The new de-
partment is absolutely essential to the
public welfare. and / sincerely trust
this recommendation will receive your
early approval. The form of other
insurance legislation will necessarily
depend to some extent upon the crea-
ton of this department, and for that
reason whatever legislation you enact
providing Tor it's establishment should
be among your first enactments.
Railroad Commission-The act of
OF the Sixty-fourth General Assembly
creating a state railroad commission
has more than justified it's enactment.
Some of its provisions are imperfect
and others almost wholly inefficient,
but the commission has been able to
render signal service to the people in
many cases, Notwithstanding the
weakness of the law under which
they have worked The law should
9th cd in a
giving the commission additional pow
ers
State Board of Tax Commissioners.
The work coming before the state
board of tax commissioners has grown
so rapidly and has been added to so
greatly that the amendment of the
law relating thereto has become an
necessity. Last year this
board considered and assessed prop
erty of the aggregate value of 1924,
377,4 46. Under the present law it has
but fifteen days in which to perform
It's work l earnestly recommend an
of the statute, requiring
he board to begin its first session on
he first Monday of April of each year
and providing that 1t continue in SEES
sion for period of forty days, if the
business before it shall SO warrant.
While l am personally willing to con-
inue to serve the state as member
IF this board. my judgment is that
he governor ought to be relieved from
on the board. 1t is quite
for the governor, in the
midst of the ever-increasing executive
70
he character of service as member
If the board to which the state is
untitled.
State Institutions.-The state insti-
utions, taken as whole, never were
n better condition than they have
,een during the past biennial period {
Political considerations never affected
hem as little. Their management has +
,een characterized by economy and
In a number of instances
he cost of maintenance per capita .
as been reduced Notwithstanding the
lcrease in the cost of supplies There +
j, however, still room for improve
lent in the administration of these
lstitutions. | suggest for your con-
Iteration the propriety of revising
lie laws relating to all such institu-
ons other than the institutions for
igher education, that uniformity may
e had in their administration.
tuberculosis Commission.-By joint
ssolution approved March 6. 1905,
lie Sixty-fourth General Assembly au-
lorized the appointment of a COM
lission of FIVE persons to investigate
lie need of hospital for the treat
lent of tuberculosis in this state and
lie work of such institutions in other
-ates. These gentlemen have made
ide and intelligent investigation of
lie subject and have filed a report Of
leir proceedings and their conclu-
ons, copies of which will be furnish
/ you and which | commend TO your
The subject is one that
ppeals greatly to all thoughtful per-
)ns, and if the finances of the state
i'll permit, steps leading to the es-
Enlistment of such an institution
lould be taken by you.