Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-23
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS OF SENATE
Lively Fight Occurs over an Insur-
nnce Bill.

nnce Bill.
F'rom a staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, March 22.-(Special Ex-senator
Bartos of Saline county secured a favor
able recommendation today for S. F. 81,
which will prevent stock life insurance
companies from declaring more than s per
cent dividends to the stockholders and will
prevent stockholders accepting bonuses and
the like in addition to dividends. He made
a fight equal in intensity to the one he
directed toward the present system OF mu-
tual insurance now in force, but this time
more successful. as the senate recon-
mended the bill for passage.
Senator Myers of Rock county was quick
to move to postpone. whereupon Senator
Bartos referred to a brief on the subject
citing figures from Nebraska companies
and alleging there is need to enact laws to
prevent before It takes place wholesale
treasury emptying that took place in east
ern states in the big old line companies
before the insurance investigation.
He cited figures from the statements of
one eastern life company to show that
now It is paying its stockholders 1877 per
cent on the original investment and the
policyholders Ia per cent. He said the
Bankers Life company OF Nebraska was
Nv OHlN SlpCh NE COnpdhy pdylnG D per
cent to stockholders and the two other
stock companies were paying less, one
nothing as yet. But he said there were
indications and rumors that convinced him
the law was n necessity.
Ransom and King supported Bartos and
Tibbets and Myers opposed, as did Brown
and Howell.
THE bill originally provided for a maxi
mum interest rate Of & mar napf h,,1 Ca,
ator Buck of Otoe succeeded IN securing
an amendment to s per cent and the bill
|, was amended not to apply to dividends
paid on policies held by stockholders.
The senate today in committee Of the
whole acted upon the following bills:
S. F. 1853, by Laverty OF saunders-Rela-
tive to the rights of drainage districts
when their boundaries overlap. To pass.
5; F. S!6 by King OF Polk-To provide
makers or food must brand packages with
not weight or measure. removing ambiguity
of the present law. To pass.
5. f. 396, by Miller of Lancaster-For 96
per cent purity Of llnseed oil. To Pass.
S. #. 1886, by Diers-Misdemeanor to use
trading stamps or gift devices in sale OF
merchandise. To pass.
S, F.. 267, by Oils of valley-Provides
form OF ballot when liquor question is sub
mitted to vote of people In towns.
S. F. 25, by Bartos OF Saline-Adding to
penalties of train wTocking the theft of
io'iibdu anu SlBUdl uCNlCeS. 10
pass.
II. r. 2O3, by KiIIen OF Gage-Gravity test
OF nils. permitting the Introduction Of
Kansas and Oklahoma oils and providing
for an additional oil Inspector for the state.
To pass.
s. F. s59. by Banuing-For the levy Of 5
to % mills for road improvement in a
county on petition. To pass.
s. +. S39, by Oils of Valley-Gasoline
motor cars to have two toilet rooms and
smoking compartment. 70 pass.
S. F.. 2l7, by Tanner of Douglas-Compell-
ing owners Of property adjoining land used
for grazing or cultivation to bear half the
expense OF line fence when same is put
In by owners OF such land. To pass.
$. +. 81. by MISUNDERSTANDING dividends
of stockholders of stock life insurance COM
panies. To pass.
The following bills were passed by the
senate.
S.. Il. SS5, by Committee on Education
Permitting children OF school age to attend
nearest school.
8. F. 256, by Raymond-school districts