Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
oFrom a STAFF Correspondent

OFrom a Staff Correspcndent)
LINCOLN. April 1o.-Cspecia1S-state
Auditor Barton has started out to make
every insurance company doing business
in Nebraska either conform TO the law and
the requirements of his office or quit husl-
ness.
Tc a number Of companies Mr.. Barton
has written letters calling attention to
their weak points and giving instruction
for these matters to be corrected or he
will at once proceed to put the companies
cut Of business.
The action OF the auditor has stirred up
quite a rumpus among several of the COM
panies and one company wrote the auditor
a lengthy letter telling what It intended
to do In the way OF reform. This was
answered by Mr.. Barton with the state
ment that promises did not go and that
the evils must be corrected by May l or
proceedings would be instituted.
Between now and July the auditor will
issue his order prohibiting any company
from printing on Is policies the statement
that the same is guaranteed by the state.
A bill which was introduced in the legis-
lature attempted to prevent this, but II
failed OF passage. The bill gave the COM
panies until January !, 1910. to conform
to the ne wrule and get rid of their present
literature. The auditor will make his rul-
ing in conformity with that bill, which was
killed by the insurance lobby.
Promises to Keep 1t Up.
on several occasions insurance coEmis-
sioners have started out to correct the
evils of the insurance business. but each
time the matter had been allowed to drop.
Auditor Barton intends to keep after the
companies until every unsafe and unreliable
company is either forced out of business
or made safe and reliable.
The insurance business got considerable
airing during the late session of the legis-
lature and so many charges were made
against certain of the companies that sew
eral companies are anxious for an investi-
cation, while other, OF course, are Just as
anxious that there be no Investigation.
One insurance man remarked this morn
Ing that he believed a grand jury should be
called to investigate some of the companies.
The fact that the insurance lobby this
winter was more numerous probably than
any other lobby has attracted attention to
the business of insurance and Is one of
the causes for a demand for an investlga-
ton. Mr.. Barton has his examiners at
work and 1t is very likely that before the
summer is over Nebraska will be treated to
some real live juicy news regarding insur-
Rnce companies.
Railroads Make Money.
The railroads of Nebraska have done
fairly well this last year, Notwithstanding
IT was election year and everything was
going to the dogs. Following is the
sho Of some OF the roads which have
filed their statements with the State
Board of Assessment:
No[thwestern1.oGGross earnings IN Ne
braska, $6,141,527; net earnings, S2,l93,-
81; net earnings per mile, 1892.
Rock Island EGross earnings in No
braska, Sl,414.45b; net earnings, 1907, 495;
net earnings per mile, $1.22s.
Mason City & Fopt Dodge-Deficit. &74,-
Northwestern-Gross earnings in Ne
brasks, 1871; net earnings, S424.l11;
net earnings per mile. sLS75.
Slal7s,S4O; net earnings, S25,25s
Pacific Railway in Nebraska-Deficit,
linton Pacific system-Gross earnings,
3t4,ss9,926; net earnings, s21.272,476.
This company made no report of its earn
lngs In Nebraska.
what Ia the Sex of n StaIIionR
That is one of the important questions
which Nebraska's first democratic legis-
lature has left for the experts to deter
mine. In the West bill providing for the
keeping Of a record of pedigrees of stall
lions at the state farm and to prevent
the advertisement of false pedigrees, 1t Is
set out that a record must be kept In a
book setting out the age. sex, color, etc,
OF the stallion.
Politician Out of job.
The only business the platform convention
will have to do when called the second
Tuesday in July will he to select a state
committee. The Donohoe bill which pro-
vides for the nonpartisan judiciary and
regents Of the State university, make IT
unnecessary for n state convention this
year except for the purpose OF selecting
the state committee. There will be no need
Of a platform bcause neither party will
make a state campaign because the can
didates go ON the ticket this fall without
party designation. Under the Kuhl amend
ments to the primary law the only business
which the platform convention can transact
Is the PRONUNCIATION of a platform and the
selection OF a state committee. There is
no occasion for a party platform this
summer.
The Fight I'm Lincoln.
II am for strict regulation and enforce
ment of the law, whatever II is. II the $50
closing rule carries, | am for its strict en-
fOrcement and for shutting off liquor sell
ing in drug stores. sporting houses and
OAher unauthorized places
o l.. LOVE.
l have always stood for strict regulation.
II seems to me that the present rules are
satisfactory, and ! favor no change unless
the people vote for it, A. II. HUTTON.