New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-30
DEFENDS STATE
INSURANCE FUND
Manager Alleges Unfair
ness in Recent Attack by
Stock Companies.
SAYS ETNA MAN
MISQUOTED HIM
Gov. Whitman to Dismiss Com
plant Against F. S. Baldwin,
Is Report at Albany.

F. Spencer Baldwin, manager OF the
State Insurance Fund. replied yester-
day 70 charges Of unfair and discour-
teous treatment Of the stock insurance
companies made to Governor Whitman
nv J. s. Rowe, viee-president OF the
Etna Life Insurance Company. He
turns the charge Of unfairness upon
Mr.. Rowe, and takes occasion to defend
the insurance provisions of the work
mems compensation act and state fund
insurance against the attack made on
them by Mr.. Rowe in the name of the
Etna company.
at is an old maxim" he says. that
the sccuser should have clean hands
Mr.. Rowe in his charges garbles one OF
nv sentences and quotes me as making
a statement far more sweeping than !
made. This hardly seems far
He goes on 10 criticlse Mr.. Rowe lot
accusing him of intent TO deceive poi
icyholders, for issuing letters and ad-
vertisements designed TO discredit the
state fund and for making public the
charges he presented to Governor
Whitman before the Governor took &C
ton.
In regard 70 the insurance provisions
Of the compensation act, attacked by
Mr.. Rowe as giving undue advantage
10 the state fund as against the stock
companies, Mr.. Baldwin says the pro-
vision only makes competition between
the two fair and equal.
"The state fund" he says, "in order
to realize the full measure of its po-
tential usefulness to employers and en-
ployes. should be live, active and Wig
orous competitor of the casualty com
panies. Its function is higher than
serving as convenient dumping
ground for business rejected by the
stock companies. The interests Of the
employer end employee, not the selhsh
interest Of the stock companies, should
dominate legislation governing the OPP
erations Of the state fund.
81 regard il as a mandatory duty 10
use all legitimate resources Of argu-
mert and persuasion to bring employ,
crs into the state fund and TO hold
them there against the pressure or
stock company representatives seeking
commissions and profits at the expense
of employers enticed away from the
state fund"
In regard to the argument that the
fund offers no protection should the
compensation law prove unconstltu-
tional. Mr.. Baldwin says that, since a
recent opinion of the Court Of Appeals
sustains the act, the attempt to cast
doubt on il Seems fatuOus and i'll ad-
vised. indicating a narrow and reac-
tionary view
In closing he says; eff the records
OF the state fund ard of the stock com
paries in the matter of observing COM
nor standards Of competitive business
ethics are compared, the result will not
be TO the discredit Of the state fund.
In fact. If It is proposed to pass cen
sure upon the party guilty of violation
Of these standards 1t is certain officials
and agents of the stock companies and
not the state fund that should be the
object Of such censure."
This reply. which was prepared at
tho request of the State Industrial
Commission. has been sent to Governor
Whitman. Il is understood he has eX-
pressed his satisfaction with the state
mcnt and his intention TO dismiss the
charges.