Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-25
INDEPENDENCE OF
The FARM LIFE
SECRETARY OF STATE FREAR
TALKS TO AGRlcuLTuRIsTs
AT ROUND up INSTITUTE.
VALUE OF RECENT LEGISLATION.
ESPECIALLY THAT RELATING
TO LIFE INSURANCE.

boy applied as term of reproach OF
unsophistication. The farmers ed
vantages have placed him in a posi-
lion OF independence far SURPRISING
TIE man N city life. AT the first far
mer's institute held in this state,
remember Hod Taylor said "A farmer
Is just as gooo' citizen as any other
| citizen, when he is a good citizen.
Today he could say. the farmer is a
more intelligent, independent citizen
than ever before. He knows no allie.
glance to any trades organization nor
employers league. His only allegiance
is to the state and his only duty 10
himself and family. He has an active
interest ia state affairs for whatever
| benefi the state, benefits him For
this reason. he has an active interest
in legislation than benefits the gen.
eral public.
So said Secretary of State James A.
Frear in an address before the round.
up formers institute here yesterday.
Mr. Frear discussed the Importance OF
the farmer in the political life of the
nation and his relation to legislation.
He reviewed the important legislation
/ in Wisconsin during the recent years.
OF insurance Laws.
Il note that ! was expected 10
briefly speak to you or the subject OF
insurance" said Mr.. Frear IF oppcr-
tunity afforded l would be glad to say
something upon the subject of the
state furnishing lie insurance pro
! lection 10 its citizens at nominal
cost, but will only refer briefly to
one phase OF the insurance laws
| passed by the las: legislature.
Just as you pass laws regulating
public service corporate ions or other
artificial monopolies, laws governing
/ the manufacture of poisonous food
stuffs, laws furnishing dishonest men
for dishonest acts OF laws to reach in.
competents or polite swindlers, so the
state Legislature passed laws at its
last session, to protec; policy-holders
as well as widows and orphans, from,
practices that were unjust and OBJ
jectionable.
TO hold out allurements of q
/ profitable investment when the
charge for investment is severa
times a reasonable amount, is secur
ing money under false pfetenses and
as culpable in character as any 9th
er fraud. The large majority Of IN
surance companies do business in q
conservative way and can probably
continu, prsiness in Wisconsin, il
they so desire. but other compani1
that charge excessive amounts ~
expenses irapcsiug upon the credulitl
of unirtormer people under new
/ laws are now Obliged to remain out
side OF the state
/ From the insurance commission
er's last report, 1t appears that onf
company that wroee $G73,196 new
business in 1906 in Wisconsin, USED
1 s1,936.394 for carrying It's total net
insurance for that year The actua
expense for carrying on the business
that same year was s1.312,469 So Ii
other words the expense for the yeaI
was Is per cent, greater than the
ne insurance.
For every dollar Of net insurance
carried in 1906, approximately ont
dollar and twenty-five cents was paiJ
by this company for expenses. Fol
every nine dollars collected TO pro
tect widows and orphans Of Wiscon
sin polIcyholders five dollars wa,
paid to agents or for other expenses
and four dollars set aside for insur
ance. And yet all the leading com
panes that have withdrawn from th'
state objected 10 laws reaching suct
impositons and refused TO submit e
any limitation Of expenses, undei
the new laws, only 25 per cent Of IN.
gross premiums based on twentl
Payment life policy can be used fol
Expenses. This law will proven
lmany companies from doing business
under past exuavagant methods, viii
give a stimulus 10 legitimate life IN
surance and can only be Objectionable
10 thoae that refuse to accept rea
lsoaable restraint. Other importan
Is VS. were passed for the protection
of policyholdera and these laws, un
less shown to incorrect in princi
pal should not Je repealed.
"Oyer five hundred thousand lif'
fr.t,t.aDca MT. ae arc carried fn tn,