New-York tribune., 1910-06-11
INSURANCE AGENTS MEET
Hotchkiss Addresses Represen-
tatives Of Fire COMPANIES.

Utica, n. y, June 1o-The tvveutv-eIshtf,
annual convention OF the New York State
Association of Fire Insurance Agents was
held in this city to-day, and was attended
BY more than one hundred members. The
association was welcomed by w. I Taber
president of the Chamber of Commerce. and
brief responses were made by P. D. Kier-
nan. of Albany, and L. ". Swan, president
OF the association OF Elmira. The reports
of the officers were heard, as were also re-
ports by H. II. Putnam, national secretary
treasurer, Of Boston. The association is de-
clared to be in hourishing condition
Business vas suspended this afternoon 10
listen TO an address by William II Hotch-
siss State Superintendent of Insurance,
whose address was mainly devoted to IN
surance legislation. He said in part:
Insurance bills usually fau within one of
the three following classes: ID Those i'll
troduced for sinister or revengeful pur-
poses. e. those generally amending the law
b. increasing o. restricting the powers of
companies; 90 those offered by companies
or interests which therefrom seek an ad-
vantage over their competitors
Tie first are easily handled. N the pres
ent state Of the public mind. a real strike
bill. once fairly exposed, has as much
chance OF paSsa re as would a bill to repeal
the insurance law itself, while bill voic-
ing thS grievance of some single policy
holder Is likely, unless the wrong aimed at
is general. 10 die in committee or be buried
by an adverse vote.
The second class includes by far the
larger number Cf bills considered by a leg
islature. Some are good and some bad.
Discussion. argument, facts and some con-
cert OF acuOn-Whic!i, when existing, IS TOO
often half-hearted and tnsincere-will ac-
cOmpl:sh the result. Money won tat least
in New York
The third class Is the most troublesome.
Legislators and department representatives
are quickly lost in maze of representa-
tion and Misrepresentation. banded back
and forth between companies seeking laws
that Will give advantage o. cripple
competitor. Al the bitterness OF CONNER
oIal rivalry Immediately comes out /
know OF no more hopeless situation in leg
islation than wien one great interest wars
on another and each apparently proves It's
case. Then is the time when the legls5latiDe
philosopher may well take thought OF
"Punch's" famous advice about matrlInory
and-'Don't!'
But the one thought I would leave with
you is that bills. if good, will pass, If
properly explained and advocated and
wetched-particularly watched. And con-
versely, If bad, viii fail, and by the same
No insurance dogma more justly merits
contempt than that which asserts that de-
pertments think only OF the pohcyholderS-
OF course, their first care is of the individ-
ual-that is the principal duty Of govern
ment-but companies rightly managed ana
properly sensitive TO modern conditions are
sure 10 receive that support when all the
creatures Of government claim
The. problem is, however. by no means
solved Conditions are changing. An
aroused electorate is demanding the means
whereby legislative processes VIII pe
changed. The autocracy Of legislative lead
ership partisan or bipartisan, is disap-
peariug before the rising tide of protest:
Our average legislator VIII soon be freed or
fear as to his tenure, and, with more time
to give TO the peoples business, seek the
reward Of their commentator and renoml-
nation by study and open advocacy Of bllls
in the insurance the banking, the public
service and other fields. If he does, com
panics and citizens may at last turn TO the
open door given by the constitution ana
ton, the legislature itself seek directly
the legislation they desire. Then will the
department approve bills. not often press
them And then will the evil era OF the
..third house. ami politua1 contributions
that laws De born be forever at an end.