The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-30
INSURANCE.


topic in insurance circles. Opinions OF
insurance men are unanimously In favor
of the Major, for they consider the rebuke
was richly merited.
The insurance department. OF Massachu-
setts has always had way OF saying what
it means and though companies and indi-
viduals have often smarted under the re-
Dukes OF the commissioner, the estima-
tion in which the department Is held the
world over is ample evidence that the de-
partment Is generally about right.
1t appears that leading life insurance
company in New York is desirous that the
insurance departments OF the leading
States in which it does business should
make an examination of its affairs. lnvi-
tations 10 this effect were sent out to the
leading insurance commissioners, and OF
course the Massachusetts department was
one of the first written to.
Before accepting the invitation, Insur-
ance Commissioner Merrill, as a matter OF
professional courtesy, wrote to the New
York department asking whether the pro-
posed examination, by commissioners OF
other states, made at the request OF the
company, would meet the approval OF
the New York department. AS a reply
the commissioner states that he was In
receipt of an opinion rendered by the At
torney General of New York, to the effect
that such an examination would be OF no
binding effect and of no legal
IOrct Wltnln tndb SLhtc, VI WIN thC
insurance department thereof. The
commissioner further states that
the Attorney General Of New
York pretty strongly intimates that the
commissioners of other states have no
authority to summon as witnesses the
officers OF New York companies and ex-
anime them under oath, and that the re-
suits of any such examination through
these officials would be only the volun-
tary and unverified statements OF the
'individuals" signing their names
thereto, of ''little or no value as
q protection to policy holders" and en-
titled to only the credit usually reposed
citizens in any voluntary and extra judi
cial proceeding" In answer to this opin-
ion the commissioners wrote the president
of the company asking for an examination
in part as follows:
against this assumption and its con-
clusion feel impelled most vigorously to
protest. 1t is an imputation put upon
the legally authorized commissioners of
other States, an attempt to discredit their
findings under proper and rightful pro-
ceedingsy fully authorized by the Laws OF
the states into which these COM
panies at their own request have gone,
and by whose laws they have agreed to
abide, and cannot, with due regard for
the dignity Of this commonwealth, per-
NIT such an assumption by the Attorney
General of New York to pass unnoticed
and unchallenged.
While, therefore, very much in doubt
whether could consistently consent to
ion to which have referred, and which
has been transmitted with no word of
dissent by the Insurance Department Of
New York, and therefore apparently with
its endorsement, Isee no course left to me
tut to assent to your request, and this
department will, therefore, join in the
examination as proposed. Respectfully
yours, GEORGE. s. MERRILL,
"Insurance Commissioner"
An Important Appointments.
G.. Herbert Ide of Boston, field repre-
sentative of the London and Lancashire
Fire Insurance. Company, was today APP
pointed New England special for the New
York Underwriters Agency. He enters
upon his new dates July 10.
VIII Not Retire from u. s.
The United States managers of the I'm
perial and Lion Insurance companies re-
ceived cable yesterday from General
Manager Il. Cozens Smith Of the Imperial
at London, England, as follows:
Rumors that Imperial and Lion Insur-
ance companies will retire from the
United States absolutely false"
The Commercial Alliance Life.
The official reports of the investigation
of the Commercial Alliance Life Insurance
Company will be out in a few days. The
company is considerably impaired and
the superintendent IL Is Understood, has
required that additional funds be con-
tributed to the assets this week.
Queens Southern Department.
ATLANTA, June 29.--Mr. w. b. Prescott
has been appointed assistant manager of
the Queens Southern department.
Sailed for Europe.
Nj. Il. g. Irwin, the well known and pop
ular president OF the Fire Association of
Phifadciphia, In company with his wife,
the Augusta Victoria OF the Hamburg
American Line for much needed rest OF
few weeks. Mr.. Irwin was bade adieu at
the wharf by many OF the attaches Of his
company, who, with his numerous friends,
heartily wish him a pleasant voyage and
safe return.
North British's Western Department.
The North British & Mercantile Insu-
rance Co. have completed negotiations for
a Western department.. w. j. Littlejohn
OF Chicago has been selected as manager
and Mr.. J. q. Griffith OF Milwaukee, as
associate manager. The appointments are
to take effect on July I.
Mr.. Wyley j. Littlejohn Of Philadelphia
has for the past seven years been assistant
manager OF the SOnueCticut insurance
Company of Hartford.
Death of Walter Il. Fay.
Walter l.. Fay, the field representative
of the National Fire Insurance Co., Western
Massachus etts and Connecticut, died at
his fathers home, Worcester, on Wednes-
day last. He was but "a years of age and
had been sick two or three days. He leaves
wife and two children. Walter l.. Fay
commenced his insurance career in Boston
at the Office of A. M. Ballard, who was then
New England manager for the Northern OF
England. He afterwards went with Mr..
T.. q. Richards, the representative OF the
Queen Insurance Company, and when Mr..
Richards went TO Hartford to become
secretary OF the National, Fay went with
him and soon rose to the position OF
special agent. He was a popular member
OF tho New England Insurance Exchange
and chairman of the divisions of the
factory Improvement committee. The
funeral will be held at Worcester today,
ffom the home OF his father.
This is the second death this week OF
New England Insurance Exchange mem-
! bers, and both OF the deceased gentlemen
were members OF the factory improve
t.arf fout.t