Montana labor news., 1935-07-11
People Are Warned Not to Sign
the Petitions to Refer to Ref
erendum.
Law Is Progressive Measure for
the interests of People-State
VIII Affect Great Savings.

Many laws have been enacted in
Montana to create a monopoly in fire
insurance. Our rates are the highest in
all the land, adding straws to the bur
den which is breaking the backs Of the
workers and producers of our state.
Vicious attacks on the State Insur-
ance LAW throughout the legislative
session, before the supreme court, and
now in a referendum campaign before
the people, are the result of the fear
that this great progressive step will
not only lower the cost OF fire insur-
ance, now nearly 100000 a year, upon
public property, but also compel lower
rates on property in general.
The cost of insurance is one of the
burdens on production. The total for
the state per year is not less than three
million dollars. This is too high, and
if the state insurance fund is made a
success, it must come down.
The administration of the law is
partly the duty of the State Auditor.
An effort was made by progressive
members toward the last of the ses-
sion to place it in the hands of some
other department, better to be trusted
in the matter.
The thought came to late. In the face
OF the vicious and combined opposition
of all organized Hobbies, a change might
leave IN opening for the defeat of the
bill. With much misgiving, the power
was left with State Auditor Holmes.
1t is the common thing in the vari-
Gus states that insurance commission
ers are selected and elected by the for
eign insurance corporations. Their
powers are very great in matters al
feoting the lives and affairs of the
people. Montana is now no exception.
Small and locally owned and managed
co-operatives, insuring both life and
property, operate in many states. Their
records are good, and their costs very
low. In Montana there are only a very
few.
If the people would wake up, elect
their insurance commissioner, and
plan and enact their W laws, repeal
ing those which were written in New
York, and enacted by former lobby
controlled legislatures, an important
step would be taken toward better con-
ditions affecting everybody.
The State Insurance Law of Montana
must be protected. 1t is the one great
progressive step OF its nature which
has been force through the legislature
of this state. If the people can be fooled
into destroying this law, it is no use to
try to make any progress through po-
litical action. 1t is no use for the citi-
zen to vote.
Let the legislature delegate its pow
ers to the Hobbies Of the various mon
opolies. Repeal the primary law and
let small groups Of bosses select rub
Der stamp governors and officials. Let
a few from the banks and offices go to
the polls and register the will OF the
political powers, and call it a day.
Or otherwise, if the people OF Mon
tana are jealous of their rights, if they
wish to work toward the more album
dant life for their community, the State
Insurance law leads toward other easy
and simple steps which they may take
if they wish.
We have great resources, many fine
and able people. Our prosperity does
not depend on that of the rest OF the
country, unless we weakly allow it to
do SO.
Keep our insurance money at home.
Produce by the same system, for other
needs, at home. Insurance is a prod
uct, a necessity, which must be paid for
as part of the cost of living. Other
necessities, other products, can be
taken out OF the field of foreign mon
opoly and produced comparatively at
home. The money can be kept at
home.
We produce plenty, and can produce
more. We do not thrive, because we
sell to cheap and buy to dear, We
must protect our state insurance law,
which is one step toward reversing this
process.
T. RAY CARROLL.