Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-30
Fires ana In suraucc.


a quorum of the senate from which the
constitution most certainly Gusts him.
Fires ana In suraucc.
Insurance companies, when properly
conducted, are, unquestionably, Of great
public utility in distributing misfortune
the casualties of FIRE and flood-and in
making the losses which would fall heavi-
ly upon few, rest lightly upon the many.
But insurance companies have their atten-
dant evils, and some of them are prolific
of injury to the community in which they
do business. Some insurance directors
have but single ambition, and that is to
do large business, not seeming to care for
the consequences. They insure property
for more than it is worth, thus removing
all interest from the insured to exercise
care and vigilance in avoiding accident,
and inviting the dishonest to burn their
own property and expose their neighbors',
that they may recover more money from
the insurance company than the property
is really worth. A gentleman of long ex-
perience gives it as his opinion that more
fires are occasioned by over insurance of
dishonest persons than all other causes
combined. This is an evil which should
be corrected, if possible. 1t endangers men
who do not Insure, and makes the cost
higher to those who do insure. 1t taxes
honest and honorable men, and even expo
ses them to ruin, for the benefit of rascals.
No company ought ever to insure more
than three-fourths Of the value of the
property. This would always secure care
and prudence from the owners Of proper
ty, and remove temptations from the dis
honest. The Rising Sun Insurance Com
pany is the only one VIC know Of doing bus
mess in this State that adopts the plan sug-
gested above, and its freedom from losses
shows the beneficial results arising from
such prudential measure.
-~~>->--~,--~,~--
Now Law--Prc.paymcn ON all
Transient Printed Matter Com.
pulsory.
We are requested to publish the follow
ing regulations, which the Postmaster
General has made to carry out the provis-
ions Of the act just passed, requiring pre-
payment of postage on all transient print
cd matter.
/. Books not weighing over four pounds,
may be sent in the mail, prepaid in post
age stamps, at one cent an ounce, any dis
lance in the United States under three
thousand miles, provided they are put up
without cover or wrapper, or in cover
or wrapper open at the ends or sides, SC
that their character may be determined
without removing the wrapper.
2. Unsealed circulars, advertisements
business cards, transient newspapers, and
every other article Of transient printed
matter, (except books,) not weighing owe
three ounces, sent in the mail to any par
of the United States, are chargeable will
one cent postage each, to be prepaid by post
age stamps. Where moro than ono cir
cular is printed on sheet or circula
and letter, each must be charged with
single rate. Thu. applies to lottery ant
other kindred sheets assuming the form
and shape of newspaper; and the miscel
llanious matter in such sheet must ais,
be charged with one rate. A bushes
card on an unsealed envelop of circular
subjects the entire to letter postage. An.
transient matter, like circular.or handful
Enclosed in or with periodical or newspa
per sent to subscriber, or to any othe
person, subjects the whole package to let
ter postage, from being scaled, or from an.
cause whatever, all printed matter, with
out exception, must be prepaid or exclu
ded from the mail. It's the duty Of tn
postmaster at the mailing Office, as wei
as at the Office of delivery, carefully to ex
anime all printed matter. in order to Sc
that it is charged with the proper rate Q
postage and to detect fraud. At office
where postage stamps cannot be procured
postmasters are authorized to receive mon
ey in prepayment Of postage on transfer
matter; but they should be careful to kee
a supply Of stamps on hand.
The weather Em barge I'm New
York;
The New York Herald Of Thursda
says:
The embargo imposed upon this cit
. and surrounding country by the recer
snow storm is in measure removed
, With but one exception, we believe a
: the great railroads leading from the cit
have been cleared Of obstruction, and tn