, 1874-03-13
THE INSURANCE LAW,
Special Ufspatch to Tho Chicago Tribune.

UElAIG 4N '4Ah lDUaHs
Brn1Nar1ELp, ILL.,, March 12.-Tho Houae In
sutanco Committee reported tho eonate bill
amending tho Insurance law 80 Oh to compel in
surorB to pny tho full amount Of tho policy when
destroyed, with d Recommendation that It apply
only to buildings and household furniture, aud
not to merchandise. stocks in trade or, In store.
Cronkrita beloved the bill involved important
1egal points, to settle which, lo moved to refor 1t
to tho Judiciary Committee.
Bralwcll WA of tho samo opinion.
Gordon thought tho companes should pay tho
full amount Of the policy Oh which they were
paid premiums.
Moore, Of Albums, sail tho bill would drive
tho best companies from tho Btnte.
Pollock argued that tho bill was ominontly
Just. simply requiring insurance companloa to
live up to their contracts.
Dunham thought tho idoa in tho bill was
good, but
THE BILL SHOULD DE scnuTrS1zED :.
by tho lawyers on the Judiciary Committee, rs
it might do mischief III its preaent ahnpe. A
nun might remove his goods, burn bis store,
nnti compel tho companies to pay the faco Of tho
policy 1t admitted Of collision between an
agent and the Insured, and WAS q premium upon
arson.
Jonos believed tho bill would encourage In
condnrisn, anti paced tho burden Of proving
tho value of tho property lost on tho coin-
panies,
After some further talk, 1t was sent to tho
Judiciary Committee.
An INSURANCE CIRCULAR.
Ducat i Lyon, ,nanagora OF tho Westorn Do
partnlent Of tho Home insurance Company,
hRyo issued seorot circular to their country
agents, making o frantic appeal for thoir CO.
operation to defoat tho insurance lRW now bo-
foro tho House. It will probably do moro
harm than good and help tho bill along. IA d
specimen Of q frantic appeal, and OF tue manner
III which legislators arc influenced, tho ciioulat
ia worth reading; Us follows:
Wo desire to hastily cali your attention to an iniqu
tolls law now before the Legislature Of Illinois, rcqur
Ing insurance companies to pay the full amount
merchandise destroyed by Gre, without regard to thu
actul value, aud to aBk that you your strongest
efforts immediately to defeat tho measure. Please
your best people ut onco and get them to petition you1
you, Of co'rsc, to use your own personal naucnce
upon them, but pressure from outsiders, not directly
concerned In the insurance business will pcrhnpB bt
moro effective. Not ono hour il to 10 lost, tile blu
b reported apon n fasorab!y to tho Lovei
House at any time. OF course There 4
no occasion to urge you to prompt work ngainst such
outrageous ac which, II paBscl Will as onoo offer
ceruud IL tho nattcr. because tile oaau1e, by ncreaB
ing fires, will tend to very largo advance upon even
tho present standard Of rates. iou arc personally In
apgo Of the act viii probably drive many sound com
pantes from the State, aud those which atay will bt
compelled TO make requirements Of agents, In the wa,
Of signed applications for all rAka taken, estimates oil
builders, etc., eta, that will greatly augment tho labor
Of traneacsing the business. Please Do not lose ont
minute in taking action aid getting n1l tho influence
you eau Immediately upon your Representatives a
Springfield.