Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-01
KANSAS INSURANCE,
Profits of the Insurance Business in the
State-Some Pointed Criticisms In Super
Intsndent wflder's Report

Profits of the Insurance Business in the
StAte-Some Pointed Criticisms in Super
intendent wilder's Report
TOPEKA. Kan, July % The nineteenth
| annual Kansas insurance report is SUBJ
mitted by State Superintendent Wilder.
| 1t shows that during the past eighteen
years fire risks to the amount of S1,014 =
T4S, 213 have been written in Kansas, pre-
miums to the amount OF SIC SS1. 064 have
been received and losses amounting to
s.. l6l. 5o4 have been paid. For the same
period life insurance risks to the amount
| of STl.S5S, 4S0 have been written and
y, 100, SO paid in losses. the premiums re-
ceived aggregating So. 96S, CPL Last year
the amount of fire insurance was S135. $40, =
52lS6; premiums, 81 95I, S1l5 losses
paid, 81, 095. $40 SO. The life insurance
business figured as follows: Amount writ
ten, S13, Ash. 9S7; premiums, $685., 92j 10;
losses paid. S258 s14
The Superintendent pays his respects to
the State Legislature as follows: when
the Legislature adjourned last March
every body in the State House felt as if he
had been through cyclone. There was
profound thaukfulness when the wind
bags left Such insurance speeches and
legislation as we had was paid for by
bogus insurance companies in Kansas aud
from other States; not in the interest OF
the people, but of boodlers."
OF lobbying the report says: 1.-THE
good insurance companies came to the
decision last summer. / believe. to pay no
attention to legislation last winter. Some
times they have committees in this State
and in other States to watch legislation.
Persons having large interests at stake
often do so. If the responsible companies
had bought few members last winter I'M
friendly legislation would have been
stopped. But these companies argued,
suppose. that if you buy three men in
1889, you have to buy half dozen in 1891.
They did not buy any body. Members
who came here to be ravished had to seek
consolation in some other direction-from
disreputable companies-and they did.
Bad laws increase insurance rates; the
people pay for them. When you elect a
corrupt man or a fool to the Legislature
your pockets pay for it The money
argument is a low one, but it penetrates
some hides and heads insensible to honor.
Why legislative leaders should accept
brides day after day and year after year
no one has ever been able to tell. A
POAiI'S41u nAO SetS paul never has any
money"
Then follows a list of the insurance
laws lately enacted and complete history
of the Topeka Wildcats" as Superin-
tend mt W Ilder terms the insurance COM
panies. with which he had a prolonged
fight last winter
The future of Kansas home companies
is touched upon as follows: kansas has
failed to establish stock fire insurance
company, for many reasons; they were
given in the report for the last year, and
the dishonesty of the managers of the
companies. That has broken down some
fifty fire, life, and livestock companies
started in this State. 1t kills a man and
is equally fatal to corporation. And yet
we shall have home companies in Kansas
They will begin small, and will be watch
full, prudent and economical The utmost
integrity must follow every step of their
growth"
Senator John Schilling. of Brown Coun-
ty, who stood by Superintendent Wilder
last winter when Bunton, Hackney ct al.
al, is eulogiZ=d in this remarkable report:
when you are in trouble" writes Mr.
Wilder, "a man of ability and force is a
tower Of strength. So has Schilling been
to me; and the powers of darkness can
not prevail against him. He has known
the whole condition of affairs from the
and has held large majority
OF the Senate as firm as a rock"
The balance of the report is made up of
statistical tables