The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-15
ST. PAUL. MINNESOTA. THURSDAY APRIL Is, 1875.


The Township Insurance Law.
At the request of many of our sub.
scribers we publish below a very i'm
portant law, and ask the attention of our
readers to it:
Be it enacted by the Legislature OF the State of
Minnesota:
Section I. 1t shall be lawful for any number
of persons, not less than twenty five, (25) re-
siding in adjoining towns in Goodhue, Dakota,
fillmore, Steele, LIE Sueur, Freeborn, Wright,
Chlssgo, Pine, hanabec: Meeker, the seventh
Dodge county, in this State, who collectively
shall own property OF not less than twenty
five thousand ($25 ,OO0) dollars in 0value, which
they desire to have insured, to form them
selves into company for mutual insurance
against loss or damage by fire or lightning;
which corporation may sue or be sued, con-
tract or be contracted with, plead or be i'm
pleaded in any court of law OF equity within
the State, and shall possess the usual powers
and lie subject to the usual duties Of corpora
tons; and the corporate name thereof shall
embrace the name of the town in which the
business Office Of said company shall be To-
Gated.
choose of their number not less than five nor
more than nine directors to manage the affairs
of one year, and until the others are elected;
and such directors shall choose one OF their
number president and one secretary.
Sec. 8. The directors of such company shall
file their articles of association, together with
copy OF their by laws, ind the names OF the
officers OF such company, in the clerks Office
of the town in which the Office OF such COM
pany is l,cated,. and shall keep record
OF their proceedings in book to be kept tor
that pur pose, together with the names OF all
persons insured, and the amount esch person
is Insured, which record shall be kept open for
the inspection Of all the members of such
company from the hours Of hire O'Clock A. NJ,
to fur O'Clock P NJ of each secular day, the
established holidays excepted
Sec. 4. The directors OF each company may
issue such policies, signed by the president and
secretary, agreeing in the uame of the COM
pany to pay all loss or damages which may be
sustained by fire or lightning tor term no ex-
ceeding five years, by the holders OF such poll
cies. and not exceeding the sum named in such
policy.
Sec. s. Every person so insured shall give
lis undertaking, bea,ing even date with the
policy SO issued to him, binding himself, his
heirs and assigns to pay his pro rata share to
the company OF all losses or damages by fire or
lightning, which may he sustained ~ any
shall, within five days after the execution
thereof, beAfled in the Office Of the secretary
OF such company, and shall remain on file in
such Office except wien required to be lro-
duced in court as evidence. He shall also, at
the time OF etfecting such insurance, pay such
per centase in cash, and such reasonable sum
fol- policy as may be required by the rules OF
by laws OF the company.
Sec 6. Every member Of such COMPANY.
who may sustain loss or damage ly fire Or
lightning, shall Immediately notify the presi-
dent of such company, or, in case Of his abb
sence, the secretary thereof, who shall forth
with convene the directors OF such company.
whose duty it shall be, when so convened, t.
appoint committee OF not less than three nor
more than five members Of such company,
to ascertain the amount of such
loss; and in case of the inability OF the
partit to agree upon the amount of such dam.
age, the claimant may appeal to the Judge of
the district court OF such county, whose duty
it shall be to appoint three disihtersted per-
sons as a committee OF reference, who shall
have fail authority to examine witnesses and
to determine all matters Of dispute, who shall
make their award in writing to the president.
or, in his absence, to the secretary Of such COM
pany, which award thereon shall be final The
said committee OF reference shall each be al
lowed the sum of two dollars per day for each
days services 20 rendered, and the sum of five
cents per mile for every mile necessarily
travelled in the discharge Of such duties, which
shall be paid ly the CLAIMANT, unless the
award OF said committee shall exceed the sum
offered 10y the company in liquidation OF such
loss or damage, in viii IA case said EXPENSES
shall W paid 10y the company.
Sec. Z. The CONF anies formed under the
provisions of this act may classify the property
insured al the time OF issuing policies thereon,
under different rates, corresponding as nearly
as may he to the greater or less risk from fire
and loss which may attach to each several
buildings or personal property insured.
Whenever the amount Of any loss shall le -
| ceTtained, which exceeds in amount the cash
funds Of the company, the president shall con-
vcne the directors OF said com any, who shall
make An assessment upon all property insured
| to the amount tor which each several piece OF
| property insured in such company shall LAY
| TO cover all unpaid losses, taken in connection
with the rate of premiums under which il may
| hav. been classified.
Sec g. 1t shall he the duty Of the secretary
completed, to Immediately mott y every prson
composing such company, by letter sent 10 his
usual ~ostofice address, OF the amount d. such
| lUse, and the sum due from him as his hare
| therrcf, and OF the time when and tn whom
| such payment Is to Le made, but such time
| saall not be less than sixty nor more THAI nine.
| ~ days from the date Of such notice, and ev-
| cry person designated 20 receive such nancy
| may demand and receive TIVE pr rent in I'd
dition TO the amount due On such hsse ssrn-n
- aforesaid fer his ices in receiving and pay
Ing ever the SINE.
Sec. 9. suits .: law may be brought asairs
any member OF such company who shall refus<
or neglect to pay any assessment made upoi
them by the provisions OF this set, and the di
recton Of any company 50 formed, who shal
| wiIfully neglect or refuse to perform the dut,el
| imposed upon them by the foregoing sections
Of this acs shall be halle in their individua
capacity to the person sustaining such loss.
Sec. TO- No company formed under this ac'
shall insure any property uut Of the limits o
the town or towns in which the said company
is located, nor shall they insure any property
i other than detached dwellings snd their con
tents, and farm buildings and their conte,ts
An live stock while On the PENIS Or runrinl
At large, AID h.y and grain in the Din or STACK
lin In Of sny incorporated city in This State.
Sec. IL. The directors Of such comL any q
formed shall be chosen by ballot, at the An