The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-01-07
B. +. GROUSE HONORED
HIGH CONTEMPLATION OF THOMAS
A. DRAKE
One Of the 8eSt Insurance COmmiS-
SiOnerS Within the Boundaries Of
This Country


ber Of underwriters of Baltimore was
given to Mr.. Benjamin f. Grouse, In
surance Commissioner of Maryland,
on December 81, at Hotel Rennert.
The speakers all commended Mr..
CrOuse'S management of the Office of
Insurance Commissioner.
A number of prominent insurance
officials from other cities were pres
ent.
Mr. ThOs. "a. Drake, superintendent
of Insurance Of District of Columbia,
one of the speakers said:
Mr.. Chairman and members of the In
surance Fraternity Of Baltimore:
am pleased to w with YOU Until yes
terday, however, 1 did not expect to eX-
perIence this pleasure.
Two weeks ago. when l received from
my esteemed friend of over thirty years
standing, who Is Secretary of your en-
Itertainment committee, an invitation to
attend this reception i replied that
would not be able to accept It, because Of
a public reception that is being held to-
night ia Washington in honor of the two
retiring commissioners of the district.
Later reconsIdered ny conclusion and,
yesterday 4 Informed Mr- Mcclellan that
| u would you'd be here From the stand point
night instead of being here. l, however,
prefer to be her and participate with you
III celebrating The re,,appointment " enc
insurance commissioners in the unled
States.
Commissioner Crouse's first appointment
four years ago, reminds me of an ex-
| perience had last year in appointing a
temporary clerk in the Insurance Depart
ment at Washington. There are never less
with the District government for posi-
tions, and the heads of the departments
are required by the Commissioners to al
ways examine those ON file and make ap-
pointments from them. if possible, before
selecting anyone from the outside. 7 had
out finding a suitable individual for the
place, so advertised. describing exactly
| the KIND OF a young man that was desir-
one of which, judging from the hand
writing Of the applicant, and the perfect
English he used, l concluded would meet
after questioning him carefully as to his
qualiications-to all Of which inquiries
| he gave satisfactory answers asked him
to which he replied, before had finished
the sentence: No sir. but can soon learn
both" Well l said, Il like that kind
of a disposition, and you shall have the
place" which ! gave him. He performed
well toe, every duty assigned him; re-
signed before he had fulfilled his engage
| ment, and today he Is in the Naval Acad-
envy at Annapolis. where am sure he win
4 distinguish himself as q student. and if
out. after he has completed his naval edu-
cation, he will distinguish himself, T feel
confident, just as Commissioner Grouse
| rights of policyholders and Insurance com
panies here in Maryland and elsewhere
| Mr.. Grouse became Commissioner at a
raging vim IN all The States af Whte heat
You all remember about it. + refer to
the insurance legislative Investigation in
particular that took place in the State of
New York that began early in 1905 and
lasted until midsummer of the following
year, That war" i such il might BE-
on 1851 o 1856 qe Fes
States. The Armstrong investigation
worked a hardship upon thousands, es-
their brow-I mean solicitors-were com
PEELED to- earn q livelihood BY performing
that kind Of labor, for such It i: a,pd Tie
skies have cleared, however, now, and,
thank God. the business of life insurance,
at least. has settled down again nearly
will never forget the first time met
early ~ in EnaE February, 1906, at the time, !,
called the conference of Governors At
| torney-Generals and insurance GnTpElis-
or% e er he % Ps fo uni
rived there several days in advance of the
and to introduce the delegates as they; they
came. Among the very first Of the In
surance Commissioners who appeared
4
registering at the hotel, he inquired for
me. overheard him and I introduced
myself as being the individual for whom
asm, and be told me. that, while he practi-
cally knew nothing about the business
Of INSURANCE. he had come there to learn,
in order to crafty his Unsuitable ambition,
| Governor Johnson who was permanent
Of t6e 6f hin
\ He asked questions that staggered life
long insurance men-including officers,
miadnagers 1Iidn raHo and agents; also actuaries of
was over. he left Chicago. knowing more
| about insurance principles and practices,
e Tie tie PRACTICAL "a Morkines of ~ thai find of
devoted his entire life to the work He
too too ever since, and and there 1ssin IS ,et pSi man
who stands higher on the list Of Insurance
| Commissioners from the standpoint Of
| fairly with both the companies and the
public. than the man we have assembled
here tonight to honor for the great work
years, through the Insurance Department,
for the people and the insurance com
I received my preliminary insurance ed
in the. early 70's. That city, you know,
\ resided ia Cincinnati twelve years. and
during that time learned from observa-
ton much about the habits and customs
of those good, generous people. 1t is the
custom in Kentucky to elect or appoint
man the first time to public office, solely
upon merit. After that they, as rule,
either re-elect Or re-appoint him consecu-
\ lively throughout the term OF his natural
life for the purpose as they say. OF win
that re-appointed your insurance COM
missioner in this instance, or its success
sors. will apply The Kentucky -vindication
plan to MIR. Grouse. lie il worthy of it,
and the longer he is continued in the Of
| fee he now holds, the better the interests
of the insuring public, as well as the in
surance companies, will be served.
Grouse and attended a convention Of In
surance Commissioners in New York.
\ While there he received a telegram an
nouncing his re-appointment for another
message to read. It caused me to feel
elated and i'm congratulating him. 7 said !;
\ Well that IL the best thing that has hap
nened in the line OF politics i'm the State
appointment" He agreed with me aud IN
honor of the event, we sat that night lear
each other in the finest theatre in America
not, however mt his expense nor mine
either. I meant just what said to him
in New York and wish to repeat that
congratulate him again, and say to the
| insurance frternity of Baltimore, and to
4 the citizens OF Maryland, that you have
| one of the best INSURANCE Commissioners
boundaries or the greatest, country for the
| business OF insurance, that exists through
out the civilized world.
MIR. wv. wv. McIntire was toastmas-
ter. The other speakers were Dr. J.
w. Herring, Comptroller OF Maryland; !;
Mr.. L. G.. Fouse, of Philadelphia; E..