St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-25
TO REGULATE INSURANCE.

Hearing on Senator Davis Meas
ure Relating to Fire Insurance
Companies.
The judiciary committee in the senate
gave hearing TO the insurance men
yesterday afternoon on Senator &. X.
Davis insurance bill, S. F. 81. This
measure purposes to knock out the pro-
vision which places the insured at the
mercy of the nearest magistrate' in
case of loss and also provides that an
agent shall be considered to represent
his company at all times and notice to
him shall be notice to the company. The
only two insurance men to attend were
President Bigelow and Adjuster Ferry.
of the st. Paul Fire and Marine. The
first point attacked by them was the
nearest magistrate" clause, and while
diSclaiming any particular antlpathy to
it. they claimed that it was of no effect.
The celebrated AtWater case, where a
man was unable to secure a certificate
from the nearest MAGISTRATE" was
brought up and threshed over.
what did that decision turn upon?"
asked Senator Davis.
Upon the lack ofthat certificate"
replied President BlgeloW, who then
explained that the fire was generally
supposed to be fraudulent. Murder
will ont" is an old saying he said, "but
arson will not out"
President Bigelow and Mr.. Ferry OPP
posed the agency clause and also that
| prohibiting the insertion III policies of
a clause compelling the insured to sub
| point Senator Davis was LOADED for
bear' and asked:
Are insurance experts very numer-
ous?"
This was referred to Mr.. Ferry, who
said there were none, and then went on
! to state that he would be frank and state
that there were some men who were
| very frequently selected by insurance
| companies as arbitrator.
But we always try to get fair men,"
he sal /.
Without discussion by the committee
| the bill was put over until the next
meeting, when it will probably be rec
| ommeuded to pass. 1t is brief and to
| the point. 1t follows:
Section l. No fire insurance company
heretofore or hereafter empowered to
| do business in this state shall issue or
use, in this state, any policy of inSur-
ance wherein 1t is conditioned that the
insuree named in such policy shall be
| required, in case of loss, to procure the
certificate OF the nearest justice of the
| peace, magistrate. notary public, mayor,
judge or other official or person, as to
| such loss, or the amount thereof, or the
circumstances under which the same
occurred, or of any fact in relation
thereto.
Sec. 2. No such fire insurance com
pany shall hereafter insert in any of its
policies issued to residents of this state
any provision or condition whereby the
person, firm Or corporation through
whom such insurance was obtained
from such fire insurance company. shall
not he regarded as its agents for all
purposes connected with such insurance
both before and after loss, whether such
agency be verbal or in writing; nor
shall such fire insurance company in
sert in any of its policies so issued any
condition or agreement limiting in any
manner the authority OF any agent who
negOtiates insurance or issues policies
for suchscompany.
Sec. 3. No such fire insurance COM
pany shall hereafter insert in any of its
policies issued to residents of this state
any condition or provision whereby the
insured, in case of loss, is bound to sub
nit such loss to arbitra tors or apprais-
ers.
Sec. 4. ANY policy of insurance
issued to residents Of this state, which
shall contain any of the conditions or
agreements enumerated in this act. shall
be void as to such conditions or agree
mentS.
Sec. 5. Any fire insurance company
that shall violate any of the conditions
Of this act shall be forever excluded
and prohibited from doing business in
this state.
Sec. &. All acts or parts of acts incon-
SiStent with this are hereby repealed.