Evening journal., 1915-03-01
PROPOSES DANcEROUs POWERS

a MONG tho many bills introduced in tho Legislature
"A and not yet acted upon is smondatory OF the
state Insurance laws IL affects Importantly tho so-
licng and writing of life Insurance in common
wealth and the and women engaged in that work.
Tho ostcnsiblc purposes Of tho bin are 10 raise the
standards OF tho life insurance soliciting force; 10
protect tho insurug public against dishonest lying and
rbhatng agents. protect rogularlycmploycd agents
against and women who arc only occasional and
incidental solicitors OF insurance. and far It may
be accomplished TO put end TO the splitting OF COM
missions between the insuring agents and the In
surcd
Viewed by the broad, these laudabo objects and
worthy of legislative and public sanction and support
The bill contains, however. provisions that would be
exceedingly dangerous under certain sets of circum-
1t vests in the State Commissioner Of lnsur-
power to upon the mental and moral fitness
OF any or to be licensed to solicit and
write insurance in this State II conors the further
power upon that commissioner to revoke. suspend
refuse renew the license Of any agent already
gagged in the business.
In other words under the law proposed it would be
possible for the State Insurance Commissioner TO pre-
vent any woman from engaging In the life
insurance business and also drive of that bus-
ness in this State any who already is
engaged in soliciting and writing such insurance, in
dustria and accident insurance agents alone being
excepted 1t also would make It possible for him to
dictate who should and who should not. constitute the
soliciting force of an company regardless
Of the judgment and wishes Of its officers
1T is true there exists in bill the saving
that any agent intending agent who feels asgrevod
by Tho action Of the state Insurance Commissioner may
seek redress in the Superior Court That, however,
would entail expensive litigation in each raised.
II would so expensive and humiliang in fact that
many persons although fully conscious of their
worihiness. would prefer 10 suffer in silence rather
than to avail themselves the avenue relief pro-
yded.
If the people could be that all state Commits
sonors Of Insurance would be nfalliblo in their udg
ncnt OF their fellow-beings; if they could be sure
that the minds Of such officials would be so free from
personal aud political preudoes that they would
be s,s2rycd by such preiudiccs to do injury any
man or woman and If the public could have positive
assurance that all such commissioners would be men
whose official actions could not be influenced in the
slightest improper degree by selfish and conflicting
ca3sidc interests it might not be amiss, when tho
things sought 10 be obtained arc considered, TO vos
such powers in such men.
The trouble is that # is not at all likely that We
ever shall have State Insurance Commissioner who
inlalliblo. whose mind IS absolutely free from per
sonal and political prejudice and who is wholly fre
from outside influence We think it will be sool
therefore, that there element OF danger in cloth
ing plain ordinary man. who usually is politician
with the power TO serve prosecutor judge and jury
TO close the insurance field to and who dc
sire 10 enter it, and to drive from that field men an
women who already are working therein In the absenc
Of such infallibiy. personal and political preclude
and susceptibility to outside influence. many person
no doubt think il would be wrong 70 place at tho mere
Of any ono State official HE bread and buop of ever
life Insurance agent in State and tho future Of 81
mcu and women who desire TO become active in ih
assurance field
while NOT matter eerianl, tlsi rer.