The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-24

vinoed-and he was convinced that ex-
 President Cleveland was also of the opin-
 ion-that ultimately and perhaps within
 the course of a few years, it would be
 not only expedient, but of vital impor- tance that supreme and exclusive au-
 thority be given to the government at Washington for the supervision and reg ulation of life insurance companies of the United States.
 How this was to be done MT. Nesting house could not say. But he thought 1t would be accomplished only by an amend ment to the constitutiee.
 An impartial board, so to call it. like that of the Ryan trustees was, MT. West inghouse thought. possibly in better posi- tion to take heed of the various perplexi- ties, the cautiously inconsistent statutes passed by many of the states-inconsist- ent when the relation of the statutes of one state to those of other states is con sidered-the occasional unreasonable an- tagonism with insurance companies and the embarrassments caased by the fact that the insurance company might legally do some things in some states which were illegal in others. But, taken in connec- ton with the stupendous growth of Amer ican life insurance. all this would compel concentration into governmental board at Washington having regulation, super vision and control of the insurance com panies and exclusive power in this re- speet.
 There Is at present in progress an ear nest and persistent attempt to obtain public sentiment all over the United States with respect to a proposed amend
 ment to the federal constitution The amendment. if adopted, would take from the states the power of taxing and super vising the insurance companies and place that power entirely in the hands of the federal government.
 The amendment itself now pending in Congress is brief It is as follows Con- gress shall have power to regulate the brsiness or commerce of insurance Il foug bout the United States. it's terri tofies and possessions. The resolution which contained this amendment will probably be withdrawn, and if the advice of John C. Spooner, who was formerly United States senator from Wisconsin, is followed, 1t is likely that new reso- ll ton will be offered in it's place in these words: Congress shaI have power to regulate the business of insurance by a corporation in states other than that by which it was created" resolution of this kind would, it is believed be more
 readily approved by public opinion than would one which was figrst formulated into the resolution now before Congress- For under the so-called Spooner resolution the business of insurance corporations throughout the United States will be rl2ceu exCiuSlNtly m stnc regulating pow CTS of Congress, excepting that the busi- ress transacted by domestic insurance corporations wo i'd still be within tile con- trol of the state by whose charters these corporations were created. but only in respect to the business done by the cor rors tion within the states boundaries. Senator Spooner, who has given careful study to this proposition, has, in a re- Ct nt opinion. stated that if an amendment to the constitution of this kind were ap- proved by the necessary number of states then Congress would provide for the ere ation of an insurance commission, follow ing the example, in that respect, estab- lished by the interstate commerce com mission.
 The Appeal to the Poor
 The present purpose of those who are agitating in favor of an amendment of this kind is set forth by Darwin P Kings ley. His authority both as the director of what is now probably the largest life Insurance company in the world and, furthermore. as a profound student of the philosophy and fundamental princi- pies upon which the stupendous modern or ganization of insurance is based, is cer- tain to cause whatever he says to be care fully needed Mn. Kingsley is anxious te learn what the view of the people of the United States respecting this matter is He is in favor of such agitation, wholly educational in it's characters and resembling in some of it's features the agitation so skillfully and wisely di- | rected by the citizens league. to the end that public opinion might be set in favor of reforming our banking and cur roncy laws, would make it possible | for the people to make up their minds
 as to the expediency of making an amend ment fthis kind or course. if such an amendment is to be adopted there
 must first of all be the passage of joint resolution by Congress whereby the
 uestion will be submitted to the va rio us states. But 1t is deemed by Mr l<ir gsley and by others the better part first to learn what the views of the cit