The Detroit times., 1911-03-23
INSURANCE BILL
IS TAME AFFAIR
Effect Is Practically Killed By
Amendment Upon Reconsidera-
tion After Having Pissed.

/ (From star Correspondento
LANSING, Mich. March 2S.-Much
oratory was spilled yesterday AFTER
noon over the Ashley bill for the reg
ulation of fraternal insurance socie-
ties. The bill was passed on third
reading, but Rep. Warner obtained a
reconsideration. and secured the
adoption OF an amendment which
emasculates the bill by making 1t APP
plicable only to such societies as
adopt 1t by referendum vote OF the
members. In this shape II Is almost
as good as no bill at all.
The bill is designed TO put all ira
ternal insurance societies on a OASIS
on which they can meet their obliga'
lions, and provides that after 1914 all
fraternal benefit societies shall sub
NIT annual reports TO the state insur'
ance commissioner showing the
value OF their outstanding certificates
and their chances OF meeting them.
A longer period is given the socie-
ties to put themselves upon an ap-
proved basis.
The protest comes on the require
ment OF the bill that the liabilities
OF and society shall be com
puted by one or three ways First
Congress; second. any higher table. or
third, the actual experience OF the
society, covering not less than ~
years, and not less than 10000 lives.
Several associations outside the Ma
tional Fraternal Congress, particular
| " the New Era society, with head
quarters at Grand Rapids, protest
against these requirements. declaring
that It practically means the placing
of fraternal insurance rates as high
or higher than those of old-line insur
anee companies.
When the bill came up for third
reading on special order yesterday az
ternoon, Rep. Averill, of Kent county,
who had sought delay on previous &C.
casions, sought to have discussion
still further postponed, and the bill
referred TO the committee on state
affairs. Rep. Ashley made hot pro-
test
Rep. Gansser opened the argument
in favor of the bill, pointing to the
experience OF the A. o. U. W., which
was put out OF business because OF
insufficient rates.
Rep. Ashley and Rep. Fred l..
Woodwork also got in speeches fav-
oring II.
The previous question was then de-
manded by Rep. Havtland, who evil
IDENTIFY supposed that II would apply
only to Averilps resolution. The Aver
I'll resolution was defeated. SO TO 81,
and then Rep. Warner rose 10 intro
duce an amendment leaving the oper-
alton OF the terms OF the bill To ref
erendum OF the societies. He was
promptly met by the speakers rul-
ing that the previous question refer
red to both bill and amendment. The
vote on the main bill was So for, to
30 against Rep. Warner immediate
lily gave notice that he would file a
reconsideration, and as soon as some
special business was disposed OF, he
made the motion, which was carried.
Then the battle was renewed, Warn
er's amendment carried SO 10 29.
|. The house I'm committee OF the
whole approved the committee sUbsti-
tute for bills by Reps. Glasner, Burn
ham and Baldwin, correcting an
ambiguity in the present drain COM
missioner law and providing for APP
peal TO the state highway commits
sioner in case OF dissatisfaction by
the people or dispute between two
drain commissioners over county
line drain. The law OF 1909 provided
that a drain commissioner should be
elected at each biennial election to
serve four years. II Is made 10 read
two years.
The McNaughton tonnage tax bill
which was resurrected from the sen
ate committee yesterday with an idea
OF putting Gov. Osborn in an en-
barrassing position, was quickly kill
ed. The vote stood 10 to 13. The bill
was declared unjust, as 1t put the
mining interests at q disadvantage
compared with those Of other states
where the ore Is freer, and as IL made
no distinction between the various
grades OF ore. The friends of the bill
were Senators Barnaby, Conley, Free
man, Kline, Lee, Leidlein. Murtha,
Putney, Rosenkrans, Smell, Vaughan,
Walter and Watkins. Those who kill
ed II were Senators Bradley, Cartier,
Collins, Foster, Fowle, James, King
man, Mapes, Miller, Moriarty, New
ton, +. d. Scott, G.. G.. Scott, Taylor,
Ward, weter, White and
Virgins.
Senator Leidlein's bill permitting
townships TO do highway work with
out first asking bids, was passed by
the senate on third reading.
The committee substitute for Sen
ator Lees bill, requiring all bar ap.
plicants, including students hereafter
enrolled in the University OF Michi-
gan law school and the Detroit Col
lege OF Law, TO take the state bar
examination before being admitted to
practice, was approved by the senate
in committee OF the whole last night,
without much adverse comment. The
substitute is rather more stringent
than the original bill, and there was
some question as 10 whether II is
necessary, but the sentiment was gen.
eral that there should be wedding
out OF undesirables somewhere, and
that this was good place TO begin.
Persons who have not been admitted
in any state are required under the
bill TO produce certificates OF qualifica.
tons equivalent TO four.year high
school course and satisfy the state
bar examiners that they have studied
four hours day, six days in a week
and 36 weeks year for three years.
and must then pass an examination
In subjects covering the regular law
course. Students enrolled In the IInt