New-York tribune., 1911-02-02
Ten Proposed Bills Relate to
Conduct of Fire Insurance
in This State.
DRASTIC BRIBERY MEASURE
Legislative Committee Finds NO
Definite Evidence of Illegal
Traction Line or Race
track Expenditures.


1e.,e,strrA Yesterday. onbodying IN IT
eleven suggested bills. Of which ten relate
10 the conduct Of the FIRE insurance husi-
ness
The single recommendation based on the
committees graft investigation is con-
1ained i'm a proposed bill providing that
hereafter any member of the Legislature
10 whom a bribe is offered shall report the
offer 10 the Assembly or Senate of when
he is a member Immediately. under penalty
of q fine of $500 or Imprisonment for not
more than ten years. or bo'h. Under the
same penalty the bill provides that the
member 10 whom a bribe IS offered must
also report the matter Immediately 10 the
District Attorney Of the county in when
the offer is made.
Rv the terms OF the ten bills affecting the
FIRE insurance business which are suggested
I'm the report the rate making power or the
New York Fire Insurance Exchange, the
Suburban Exchange and the similar rate
making bodies for Buffalo and for the rest
of the state outside the Buffalo and metro
rolitan districts would be regulated and
supervised by the State Superintendent OF
Insurance. ana the Office Of state FIRE mar
shal. with TWO deputies would he created.
The fire insurance companies doing busi-
ness in the state would he required 10 in
Clude in their annual reports TO the state
Insurance Department a tabulation Of their
risks in the congested value districts of all
the large cities Of the country, said con-
gested value districts 10 ho defined by the
State Superintendent; brokers licenses
would be issued by the State Superntend-
ent Of Insurance instead Of by the various
exchanges and company agents would be
REQUIRED to secure a license from the State
Superintendent: rebates would he prohib-
tied. and factory mutuals. Loyds and inter
insurance associations would ne admitted
10 tie state under certain restrictions.
Bill to Preclude Bribery.
The subject Of corrupt practices, the COM
rittee reports. was difiicdit to invesu-
gate. for the reason that many Of the
recessary witnesses were either dead or
beyond the Jurisdiction Of the committee
and because of THAI the measure suggested
which would require the immediate report
Of any legislator 10 whom offer or promise
OF bribe was made. would preclude such
corrupt practices in the future or if fut-
ure investigation were held those legs-
lators who did not so report offers Of
bribery would become equally liable with
the attempting briber
No definite and substantial charge. veri-
fed upon knowledge Of corrupt practices or
official misc mduct i'm connection with leSls-
lation or the legislature. or with any mat
ter or proceeding before any state depart
ment board. body or officer, was filed with
the committee says the report in one Of
its paragraphs.
lnvesuoation of the matters FIST brought
.Lyf e 1a-
The repcr1 SAYS. makes ii apparent that the
firm Of Ellingwood x Cunningham was
used lo.ween lso and 1904 by 6. Tracy
Rogers. acting for the Street Railway As
sociation as clearing house through
which To transfer money from the treas
uries Of the yariols railroads belonging to
the association 10 the individual accounts
Of certain members of the Legislature and
political organizations, whom they deemed
useful in the protection and promotion Of
their interests i'm matters of legislation.
The alleged payments by the sugar beet
interests To Legislators for the purpose of
furthernG and promoting the system of a
state bounty for that industry the commit
Zee finds were not substantated. This con-
cluSion was reached. says the report. be-
cause Of the absence Of corroborative evi-
manner of tessifying Of Harry +. thinner
lin, the agent for those interests. who tes-
tihed 10 the payments.
Nothing Against Rscetracks.
on the matter Of the alleged racetrack
interests lobby fund the committee draws
no conclusions. but sums up the testimony
which was offered before it in these words
ut appears that one Of the eight racing
associations expended some $1,000 for the
purpose Cf publicly The aggregate legal
expenses Of these bodies in 1908 amounted
10 about $1,000 There is no evidence
however. that any Of these expenditures
were for Illegal purposes
\ brief review Of the testimony OF Rob
ert II. Elder giving the story which Elder
testified ex-senator Frank J. Gardner told
him, is made a part Of this section OF the
committees report.
City Chamberlain Charles H. Hydes Ia
NOUS vacation becomes a part Of the state
records by the committee S report. although
his name does not appear except by infer
erce IN this passage: Certain persons
whom it was unable 10 examine by reason
of their having left the jurisdiction of your
committee. and their continued absence
therefrom when their presence was desired
and their failure 10 return up 10 the time
your committees power 10 call and exam
ine witnesses expired 90
The Metropolitan Turf Association and
tre milkmcn had each only one book so
tie committee did not know where 10 look
81 reported for the alleged corrupt legis-
lsuNe activity of those Two organizations
IN raoetreck and milk industry bills. re-
spectiyelN.
ON the FIRE insurance end Of the invcsti-
cation the committees recommendations
with regard TO the supervision Of the rate
making power at present enjoyed by the
four exchanges in the state provide for
hearing before the State Superintendent of
II lrsurance on any complaint Of rate dis
elimination. the superintendent 10 have the
power 10 eliminate such discrimination II
proved The exchanges are 10 be subject 10
annual examination by the Insurance De
uartment. and must devise a system 10y
which they can give hearing 10 any com
planning policyholder and they must make
regular reports TO the Insurance Depart
ment of all schedules and changes in
schedules with fun details.
Duties Of Fire Marshal.
Tho proposed state fire marshal would
d. aw a salary Of $500 a year. He IS 10 be
appCinted by the Governor. with an inde
terminate term. ending only wnen his sue
,,ssor is appointed. Two deputies. at $-J'0
and 5000 respectively shall assist him,