The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-10


el36, OOO, 600
From the year 1870 to 1877, both inclusive.
the aggregate of business done in this State
by stock fre insurance companies Is a. follows
Risks written. $lsl 26l xoO0
premiums received ~ Wl,IHW
losses incurred. Observation-Disclosures. PSI $500
During the same period these companies have
paid into the State treasury about s5OO,OOO in
specific taxes.
In the year 1870 there were 80 life insurance
companies of other States doing business in this
State. This number has been reduced 10 %
No considerable loss has fallen upon our people
by reason of the failure of lif insurance com
hnental of New York. The number of life
insurance policies now In force upon the
lives of citizens of this State Is about
p, 1000. representing insurance TO the amount
of 81, OOO 600 During the eight years last
past, covering the period of the existence OF the
Insurance Bureau. large number of both life
and fire insurance companies have been sent
out of the State or refused admittance on &C
count of inability to comply fully with our laws.
The subsequent failure of many OF these con
Germs has demonstrated that the State standard
of solvency cannot be too rigidly maintained
During the past two years no failure has oc-
Cured among companies authorized In this
State They have suffered somewhat In de-
preston of business and in shrinkage of values,
in common with all other financial institutions,
but there appears no good reason for doubling
their ability to fulfill their contracts.
The laws relating to life, fire and marine in
surance are believed TO be adequate for the pro-
lection Of the people and the companies, and
need no radical changes. 1t might be well
TO enact law to more effectually punish in
surance by unauthorized agents and companies
At the last session Of the Legislature an act was
passed intending TO regulate the business OF
plate-glass insurance by placing such compa-
MES under the same requirements as life COM
panies The act is quite indefinite and OF
doubtful constitutonality, and recommend its
repeal and the passage of a more specinc law
regulating this kind of insurance.
FIRES.
Kindred to the subject of insurance is the
great destruction of property annually by fire.
Some idea of this may be obtained from the
fact that the fire insurance companies alone
have paid out over s10,OOO,OOO for losses in
Michigan within the last eight years.
According to the most reliable data accessible,
there were, during the year 1877, in this country
and Canada 10, 4O3 fires, or one in nearly every
fifty minutes. The value of property destroyed
by these fires amounted to nearly slOO, OOO,OOO
OF that sum sac, OO0, 900 was paid by insurance
companies and the remainder of the loss was
sustained by property owners The entire sum,
however was total loss to the wealth OF the
country. The State of Michigan suffered losses
by fire in 1877 of over $1,000, 900, about one
half Of which fell upon the insurance COM
panies.
The balance, 81 100000, may fairly be con-
sidered as the net loss to this State each year by
fire. Many of these fires may be attributed i'll
directly to the entire absence or mt n-enforce-
ment Of building laws and directly to defective
construction. After all probable innocent
causes are eliminated, the criminal records af
firm that arson is not an infrequent agent IN
the burning of property. This class of fires
may be set to hide crime, crafty revenge, or to
| force sale to insurance companies OF over
insured property. This subject is an important
one in view of the desirabili'y of saving the
wealth of the State and suppressing crime.
Within the last eight years, 1t appears from
the reports OF the several prosecuting attorneys
TO the Attorney General, that the number Of
persons proceeded against in this State for vari-
Gus offenses was AZ S24 OF these 3l3 were
charged with the crime of arson, but only forty
two were convicted and punished. 1t would
seem that the laws are ample for the punish
ment of this crime, and it Is not apparent that
there is any lack Of zeal on the part of prose-
cutting officers when proper complaints are
made. | suggest whether the requirement of
some examination and report by competent
local officers into the of the fire. extent Of
the loss and amount of insurance, would not
furnish valuable information, and. at the same
time tend to constitute protection against
such calamites.
CHARITABLE AND HEALTH BOARDS.
The Board for the Supervision of Charitable
Institutions has steadily pursued its work. and
refer you to its report for many excellent sug-
gestons in regard to our system of charities and
direction.
The reports of the Board of Health have at
tracted attention and contain valuable informa-
ton in regard to the prevention of disease. It
is to be regretted that great delay occurs in the
preparation and publication of the vital statis-
ties II would seem that they lose much of
their value when brought out years after they
are taken.
THE RAILROAD STRIKE AND THE MILITARY.
In July, 1877, spirit of violence and disorder
was manifested in some sections of the country
which resulted in serious disturbance, with the
destruction of many lives and millions of dollars
worth of property. Combinations were formed,
railroad depots, warehouses and shops seized,
freight and passenger trains compelled To stop
running, and large part of the carrying bust
ness of the countryfor the time being suspended
Having reliable information that similar
danger was threatening the peace and good
order Of this State, deemed it my duty 10 take
prompt and energetic measures to meet such
emergency should it arise. l accordingly or
dered out the whole military force of the State
to be encamped where they might rapidly be
made available in case of need To this call
! the troops promptly responded, and the three
regiments were quickly in the field ready for
active duty. On the 18th day of July portion
of the hands in the employ of the Michigan Cen
trail Railroad Company at the city of Jackson
struck, and, compelling others to abandon work
and join with them, proceeded to stop all trains
running over such railway TO or from said
city. On being advised of this action
appealed TO me demanding the protection
of the State against this unlawful and violent
interference with the company's property.
Deeming it my duty to use the military power
only a last resort III aid of the civil authori-
ties when their efforts to restore order had
proved powerless, / at once placed myself in
communication with Hon. James ODonnell,
Mayor of the city, requesting him to keep me
advised of the situation. and assuring him that
| would direct the military to promptly and
firmly support the local authorities in main
tanning peace and the supremacy of the laws.
l further issued proclamation enjoining all
persons to refrain from improperly and violent
~ molestDg or interfering with the property of
others, and requiring local executive officers to
be active and vigilant in their respective local
tiles for the maintenance of the public peace
l was gratified i'll short time TO be assured
by the Mayor of Jackson that the civil au-
thorities, aided by the citizens of the place,
were doing all in their power to quiet the dis
turbance and provide for the passage of trains,
with fair prospect that such result would b.
speedily at aimed without resort to the use OF
military force. I was subsequently advised
that the parties engaged in the unlawful pro-
ceedings had wholly relinquishcd their designs,
and would no longer hinder the corporation
from the regular use of its railway. The
trouble was ended fortunately without the de-
struction of a dollars worth of property or