The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-03-19
NUMBER 49,.
For the Register.
"Is my Insurance Policy good for
anything P"-No. 3.

CTS my insurance Policy good for
anything P''-No. 8.
MEssRs BARRETT g. Com: The sub.
ject of Insurance is one Of importance
and general interest-and made especi-
ally so by tho games that have been play
ed, of late years, upon policy holders
People are beginning to awake to the
many little evasions and catches made
by Insurance Companies, to avoid pay
ing for losses-peoplc are beginning to
find that while Mey are always holden
for assessments, the companies can often
shift their liability in case Of loss-tbey
find that annual assessments are real and
certain facts but that in case of loss their
Insurance is contingent.
Complaints are constantly coming to
our notice, from policy holders, for a re-
fusal Oh the part of tho Companies to
pay for small losses, which viii not de-
fray the expenses of suit at law and es-
pecially for damages and exposure at
the time Of fire.
Nor is it the people of Vermont alone,
who feel the need Of a reform in Insur-
ance Companies, and are compelled to
seek what should have been paid them
promptly and willingly, in expensive and
vexatious suits at law. New York and
Pennsylvania, and other States, are suf-
fering in the same way-and are, now at
tempting by legislation to protect the
policy holder from the frauds which have
so often been practiced upon them.
have previously called your attention
to the imperfect representation in the
Policies, and printed reports of the CON-
panies-in this article wish briefly to
notice few things which they do prom
ise on their part in the charter and bye
laws, accompanying their policies. Aud
LIST.
They agree to pay all loss and damage
by fire, within ninety days after notice.
An agreement from which they plead
a release in an amendment, aud one Of
which the policy makes 10 men,ion-an
agreement too which am told they at.
tempt to avoid, by pleading a want Of
funds 10 meet tho loss il SO short time.
But 2ndly,
They are allowed to borrow money.Ly
their bye laws, to meet these losses, 3dly,
Most. if not all of the companies, by
their bye laws, promise to refer the de.
cision Of any loss to three disiuterested
nen, aud that their decision shall be final
-and'in many of these companies it il
incumbent on them to mako the offer to
refer previous TO the commencement of
any suit Do We hear Of any references
Of this kind, or Of any offers to refer2
4,hly,
Iu most if not all their policies. they
promise to pay ali loss by fire, and dam.
age and exposure, at the of time of fire.
Aud now does this turn out You are
met by the plea that you did not use all
possible diligence and foresight, in saving
your property-yeasonaJie diligence and
care is not sufficient TO support your
claim.
Aud we know OF cases in our vicinity.
of a refusal of the companies to pay for
losses accrulug from exposure at thu
time of fire when in the policies issued
by those very companies, they distinctly
aud expressly promise to pay all losses
sustained by such exposure Is such
policy good for anything1 1t leaves u.
in the dilemma Of going into law, or los.
ins our property, and, cvan-ii We con-
clude to sue for our right iu a Court of
Justice, it must BE done within about biz
months, or our claim il lost by the terms
of this charter.
II seems that the less we have to do
with such companies the safer we shall
be-SHch companies we say, for there
are a fee that appear to act honorabIy
and openly These complaints which
are constantly coming to US from those
who have sustained losses, are suffici
ent argument against such companies,
and in most cases of loss we have the
same complaints. Our Legislature ought
to take this thing into consideration.
New York has appointed a COMMITTEES
to investigate the conduct of it's Insur-
ance Companies. Vermont ought to do
the same, for in many of our companies
there is not much to prefer to New
York Bogus Company which pays moth
ing. Some of these charters are nearly
run out. We hope the people will see
to it that the expiration of the present
term of these charters will te the expira
tion Of their existence-ubless they are
given under restrictions which shall in-
sure safety TO the policy holder.
We shall be glad when these charters
run out for We are
Poliey-kOldcr in more than one suet
Insurance ComPaHy.