Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-17

under which the State shall be en-
powered 10 make a thorough and ex-
haustive examination into the rates
charged for FIRE insurance. and 10
enable the State further. II Il Is found
that such rates are unreasonable and
excessive. 20 fix and proclaim just and
reasonable rates. which shall be
charged in the future BY all the IRE
insurance companies doing business
In this State
am pleased 20 announce that gen
tiemen. representing very important
and influential IRE insurance interests
OF the state. have declared their will
ingness % cooperate with the Insur-
ance superintendent and his legal stan
In and about drafting a bill, under
which the right OF the State 20 make
such investigations and 10 TX such
rates is recognized. and that they are
willing TO have such provisions incor-
porated In law 20 be enacted by this
Legislature. The Insurance Superin-
tendent and his counsel and the coun-
sci for these insurance interests have
been engaged for some days past in
endeavOring 10 agree upon the details
OF such a bill. II such an agreement
is reached. such a bill will be present
ed TO this Legislature for its action
Should they not agree upon the details
OF the bill. one will be presented to
the Legislature BY the Insurance Su-
perintendent, embodying the funda-
mental principles of investigation and
regulation BY the State. hereinbefore
referred TO, and such other provisions
as may be agreed upon between the
insurance interests and the Insurance
superintendent. leaving the other de-
tails OF the bill. which may not be
agreed upon. 20 the careful considera-
ton OF this Legislature. Such a law
IS now in force in the State OF Kan
sas. and has been pronounced valid
and constitutional by the Supreme
Court OF the United States in the case
OF the German Alliance Insurance
Company y. Lewis, decided April 20.
1914.
In that case the court held that.
"the business Of insurance so far az
fccts the public welfare as TO invoke
and require governmental regula-
ton" in assimilation OF in
surance 10 a tax. the companies have
been said 10 be the mere machinery
BY which the inevitable losses by fire
are distributed. so as 70 fall as lightly
as possible on the public at large. the
body OF the insured. not the com
panies. paying the tax" and again in
the same case. the court declares that
IRE insurance has become clothed
with a public interest, and. therefore.
subject. to be controlled by ;he public
for the common good"
I earnestly recommend the passage
Of a bill providing for such investiga-
ton and regulation in the interest OF
the citizens OF Illinois.
Insurance superintendent Potts in
his report. after an exhaustive exam
nation into insurance conditions. Aas
made certain recommendations with I
To the codiiication and am
Dli6cation Of the general insurance /
laws OF this State 10 which ] hereby 4
direct your earnest attention.
20 the Amending Clause /
Of the Constitution Of 1870.
The Constitution adopted by this /
State in the year 1870 is in many re- |
spects an admirable instrument. Its /
lIll OF rights is broad and comprehen- /
sive. and its distribution OF powers OF /
government is in accord with the run
ismentRl laws OF most OF the States
II the Union.
In the march of events. however. II .
has been found that some few amend
nents are advisable. SO proud OF
heir work were the trainers OF this
Constitution that they framed the ar
icle relating TO amendments of the
in such a way as 10 make
TO the Constitution most
iihicult. by declaring that, 1.-THE Cen
raj Assembly shall have no power TO
propose amendments to more than
me article OF this Constitution at the
anne session. nor the same article
,ftener than once In four years" This
provision is archaic. inelastic, and IN
July onerous. II is so restrictive as
Z times 70 operate in practice as 4
prohibition against amendment. This
mendment should be amended so as
o permit at least three different arti-
les to be amended at the same ses-
ion
Because OF the difficulty in amend
lg the present Constitution, some SEN
iment exists in favor of the adoption
Z a new Constitution. Whether j new ,
Constitution Is adopted or not, in my ,
Judgment, the amending clause OF the ,
resent Constitution should be amend ,
d. The amendment OF the amending
lsuse could be adopted within two
r three years. SO as TO permit sew
raj amendments of the present Con-
titution TO be adopted thereafter. A
ew Constitution cannot be adopted by
,e people in the ordinary course of
lch matters within i've or six years.
What the new Constitution. when :
AIMED may be, and whether the peo- =.
Ie will approve OF IL OF not. cannot :
, known. In the meantime We must :
roceed, before the adoption OF a new :
institution. upon the lines of
10 old Constitution. and that Consti- ;,
tion should be amended. in its =.
nending clause. so as to permit the )
.0n1a IN amendments