Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-09
Approved by New Members.

committee, Senators James Of Ken
lucky. Hollis of New Hampshire and
Sherman of Illinois, asked one or two
questions about the measure, and then
gave their consent, with the members
of the old committee, to the favorable
report of the mea sure.
Those members of the committee at
tending the meeting today were Sena-
tor Smith, Maryland. chairman, and
Messrs. Martin, Kern, Jones, Works,
James. Hollis and Sherman.
Members of the insurance committee OF
the American Bar Association appeared
before the committee to urge the enact
ment of an insurance code for the Dis
tr1ct which should be a model for the
entire United States Ralph w. Brecken-
ridge of Omaha, Neb., chairman of the
insurance committee; Arthur l. Vorys of
Ohio and Charles W. Farnham OF Minne-.
sofa We're the members present George
w. Ingham, insurance commissioner for
the District, also attended.
The District committee decided that
while it's members were heartily in SYM
pathy with the idea for reform of the
insurance laws of the District and the
framing of a model insurance law for
the entire country. it would be necessary
for the American Bar Association or
some individual to submit code of law
for insurance before the District COM
mittee could go into the matter
Suggests Plan to Secure Action.
Chairman Smith told Mr.. Breckenridge
that there was nothing on the subject now
before the District committee for it to
consider, but that # bill were framed
h could easily find senator to intro
duce il, and that then the District COM
mittee would be glad to give Mr. Breck-
enridge and any others interested in the
matter a full hearing.
Our purpose in coming before he Dis
trict committee" said Mr.. Breckenridge,
is to get a start toward the reform of
the insurance laws OF the entire country,
and toward uniformity in these laws. Ii
a model Law for the District of Columbia
could De enacted, it would be a great
help in getting reforms throughout the
country.
Mr. Breckenridge referred to former at
tempts to have a code OF insurance law
drawn up for the District, when bill
was introduced in the Senate calling for
the appointment Of a commission TO draft
such code after full investigation. The
Senate committee. however, was opposed
to the creation of any more special COM
missions. and decided to leave the matter
to subcommittee. Among the senators
on the subcommittee We're former Sena-
tor Bulkley OF Connecticut and former
Senator Burkett of Nebraska.
RetOrt PrOvokes Laugh.
They were defeated for reelection. :"
said Mr. Breckenridge, ..and the subcom-
mittee died a natural DEATH
DO YOU call that natural DEATH"
asked senators. as a laugh went around
the ROOM
hold of this natter asked Senator
James.
Senator Smith then suggested that un-
less Mr.. Breckenridge had a specific bill
to submit there was nothing before the
committee to consider, and in this he was
backed up by Senator Martin. Senator
Kern and the other members of the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Breckenridge suggested that an
other subcommittee of the District COM
mittee of the District committee to go
into the matter Of framing a code for the
District, but he was assured that sen-
ators did not have the time to take up
this task, and that his committee would
have to frame such bill. If he wanted
action.
After the conference Mr. Breckenridge
declared that he had no intention of drop
ping the matter and that bill would be
prepared for a new insurance code in the
District and submitted to the Senate.
No General Legislation Probable.
Inc DlStrlct committee redcned an In
formal decision that 1t would not pro-
coed with legislation for the District gen.
orally. bpt that IL any senator had a
measure in which he was interested the
committee would be called together to
give this measure its attention. Senator
Smith expressed the views of the other
members of the committee when he stated
that this special session had been called
for tariff legislation and not general leg
islation, and that as no District COM
mittee had been organized In the House.
il appeared useless to continue with Dis
trict legislation in the Senate at this time