The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-08-21
Publication
Against Law
NORTH DAKOTA OFFICIAL DE.
MES THAT OFFICE USES
STATEMENTS AS MEANS
OF GRATING.

Bismarck. N. D., Aug. 21.-whole-
sale charges Of "legalized ana entire
Y unnecessary graft" Supervision Of
the pork barrel. political graft" etc.
e ~eferred by The Surveyor, a New
~ W insurance journal, in connection
~ structures upon the North pa
kotA, 90o occurring insurance compa-
MES q. 20 'ish annually in certain
aaewspape new brief abstract Of their
nnancial CO. =, calls for a sharp
ance w. G. Tsyiof. The commissions
drops q hint which might easily be
interpreted to mean that, in the mat
ter OF economy, there is plenty Of op-
portunity for house cleaning on the
part Of insurance companies, and that
the effort to eliminate waste might
better begin at home. This sugges-
ton is particularly interesting at this
time, when the matter Of the enor,
nous expense Of conducting the busi-
the public eye. Mr.. Taylor's letter fol-
lows:
August 1s. 1913.
Editor The Surveyor:
My attention has just been called
to certain articles in the July 1s and
August issues Of your journal in
which You touch-none too lightly and
far from accurately-upon the re-
quirements Of the law Of North Da-
newspapers Of abstracts Of statements
Of authorized insurance companies.
Wrong at Start.
In the issue Of August The Sur
veyor states that "the law under which
this unique milking process is legalized
was passed in 1911" File on you! I
had supposed that IL there was one
thing upon which insurance journals
prided themselves more than anoth-
er 1t was that Of accuracy Of state
ment. Yet in this instance The Sur
veyor is. in point Of time. Just twenty
six years out Of alignment! In other
icisms are leveled is legacy Of terri
torial days. 1t having been enacted in
1885.
This act has been amended from
time to time. but its general, eprovis-
ions remain unchanged. The amend
ment Of 1911 in no wise affected the
act so far as foreign" insurance COM
panies are concerned. and in view Of
this fact. your statement that "the
first intimation the companies had Of
this obligation was the receipt Of bills
from the commissioner" IL absurd.
Many companies now authorized in
North Dakota have been doing busi-
ness in the state since statehood
(lSS9). and have annually received
from this department gentle remind.
ers sof the fact that our publication
laws were still In effect. % that your
susrsstIons Of. "a ..:nfsk tintinnation''. II
grossly Inaccurate
Altogether AS . matter Of mutual
convenience, and not because the SUI
pervising oficer has the slightest in
terest therein, the practice has been
for the companies to authorize the
commissioner Of insurance to select
the papers in which the publication
shall be made. 49,.
Would Have Power.
In substance that duty legally de-
wolves upon him, since he Is empower
ed to select three newspapers in each
Of the judicial districts from which
the companies shall select one IN
lished." But, by an obvious process
of elimination, the commissioner could
absolutely control the selection Of
newspapers, in any event
I do not think should take um>
bragg at your gratuitous reference to
1.-The twelve. unheard Of papers" in
which certain abstract was publish
ed. / am sure there are more than
twelve newspapers published In the
SIdSC OIL IN0W xOTh VI WHICH u0VCI
heard--and yet that fact would not
necessarily impugn the merits Of those
twelve or more unheard Of newspa-
pers. It is even possible that there
are at least twelve citizens Of North
Dakota who never heard Of The Sur
veyor-than which there IL perhaps
not a more jealous organ Of insur-
ance companies anywhere.
Law is Drastic.
In conclusion let me say that In my
Judgment the publication law OF North
Dakota, with reference to insurance
companies, is drasti- In some cases.
as in the instance Of company writ
ing very limited lines Of insurance
as plate glass or steam boiler-the
expense Of publication IL undoubtedly
a hardship. That the requirements of
the law should 'be modifed is quite
possible; that It should be entirely re-
pealed do not believe. nor will ever
lend my aid to that end. To brand
the publication law Of this and other
states as piece Of graft, newspapers
generally are srafters, and supervis-
ing officials as accessories before and
after the fact does not rebound to the
credit or Judgment Of The Surveyor,
nor will It assist in bringing about re-
suits which the insurance companies
are said to desire. In the light Of his