The Washington times., 1922-09-02
Walters Statement.

Walters Statement.
HI, statement follows. in part:
'vThe insurance trust has com.
pletely blocked legislation giving
compensation to District workers.
The trust will permit no legislation
unless its casualty and guaranty
company members dictate such leg
islation.
.The case u this: Congressman
Fitzgerald has prepared and intro
duced a compensation bill for the Dis
trict. 1t was approved by the FEEDER.
alton of Labor and by compensation
authorities in many States. 1t was
q fair bill. and. II supported, looked
Tor early enactment.
'The insurance trust was on the
ground. Its influence began to be
felt IN committee. From the home
district of every committee member
a violent stream Of protest came IN.
signed by local insurance agents.
Threats of reprisal were made II the
member did not listen to the demand
of his constituents who were In the
casualty insurance business.
OutgeneraI '"Trust."
"Things happened: committee MEM
bers weakened, but some backbones
pressed his bill and after some close
in.fighting, a favorable report was
ordered. In committee fight,
Congressman Fitzgerald had the aid
of Congressmen Zihlman of Mary
land and Waters Of Pennsylvania.
who helped outgeneral the insurance
trust forces. The vote was narrow,
but enough. -
.Then comes me tale Of the adj
ventures of the Fitzgerald bill on
the floor. It was reached on Dis
trict Day and read. The insurance
trust opposition developed at once.
There were speeches intended only
to delay. The, friends of the bill
were compelled to wait another
District Day. District Days have
come and gone, but always some
thing appears to prevent considera-
ton of the Fitzgerald bill. In the
District committee record vote
ordered Chairman Focht to give
the Fitzgerald bill right OF way on
every District Day. That decision
was conveyed to Floor Leader Mon
dell, but the Fitzgerald bill Is
sidetracked.
meanwhile things happened. The
insurance trust got busy In primary
was defeated for denomination and
there appeared in the Insurance
World an article saying his defeat
had been accomplished by an or
eanization Of insurance agents as
a rebuke for his failure to vote In
their interests. Congressman Fitz.
gerald received threatening letters
from agents of the Insurance COM
NAMES. CONGRESSMAN Zihlman is
a member of an insurance firm,
doing business in Cumberland. His
partners were approached and told
TO get Mr.. sZihlman right Con.
rressman Zihlman to mix business
with his public service.
Congressman Punished.
His firm received notice from sew
erai companies that their business
relations were severed. The Con.
rressman Is being punished for
standing out against an insurance
trust.
Next comes the tale of last Mon
day. II was District day. BY order
OF the District Committee the Fltz'
gerald bill had the right of way. but
Chairman Focht appeared with a
dozefl, popgun bills. Leader Mondell
was not on the floor, but Congress
man stafford, willing and anxious to
be- recognized as a leader. furnished
the brains for the insurance trust
He and Chairman Focht staged a
Donsensical debate, playing for time
The Record shows the nature Of the
horseplay. 49, 10
FINALLY a point Of no. quorum
was made and Congressman Stat.
ford was prompt to seize the op'
portunlty and move to adjourn. So
another District day passes and
the workmen of the city are denied
the advantages of compensation in
surance, and all because the insur'
ance trust swings q mighty power