The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-06
NO GOOD TO KICK
GEORGE T. ANTHONY YANKs UP THE
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

GEORGE 7. ANTHONY YANKs UP TIL
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
They Object to Giving Him Detailed Ac.
count of Their Earnings of Premium:
Relief Fund, Claiming that Their Busi-
ness is Private-Anthonys Says that His
Office is Administrative and He Doesn't
Care to Argue the Case as it would Do
No Good.
Topeka, Kan, Dec. "a few weeks
ngo George T. Anthony. superint endent
of insurance, sent out 70 the various
fire insurance companies doing business
In Kansas, blanks upon which the COM
panfes are expected TO make returns
of amounts received as insurance pre-
nai11ns. for the purpose of determining
what amount the fire departments of
the state are entitled to under the pro
visions Of the 2 per cent reciprocal tax
law.
These blanks called for a detailed
statement showing the amount Of the
policy, the holder therof. and the
amount of the premiums. These deUalts
the companies object to showing, ana
some of them have characterized the
action of the superintendent as wholly
uIn eceSSaTy and not an esSentlal eie-
ment of the enforcement or the law
governing the tax and its COLLECTION.
Some Of the companies assert that IN
addition to imposing a tax or z per
cent upon the business for the main
tensnce of fire departments and fire.
mems relief funds, the compilation of
the data required in the blanks sent
out from the department will necessi
tate the expenditure of an additional 1
Der cent of the premiums, making a
total of per cent which will be ex-
pended for Kansas business.
Superintendent Anthony has prepar-
ed a circular letter which he is send
ing out 10 the companies. Its miss
ion is to answer all arguments made
against the preparation of the. detailed
reports asked for.
Mr.. Anthony feels that the compan-
les have upon their books record of
the business written in the various
cities, from which transcripts, fulfill
ing the requiem en- Is of the blank form
sent out, can be cheaply and quickly
prepared However. to those who have
neglected 30 keep proper records, the
letter comedies that, perhaps. some of
the expense and additional labor de-
manded will become a necessity. Yet,
tfgeDe Is no disposition on the part of the
superintendent 10 recede from his posi-
ton IN any point at issue.
Some of the representa- lives Of the
companies object TO making the de-
tailed statements upon the grounds
that the business IS Of private char
acter and that a report would place
the records OF such personal business
within the reach OF those who might
desire to examine them for the pur-
pose of 'meddKng IN business not their
own" The superintendent assures the
officers that the records will be careful
iy and privately preserved within the
vaults of the department.
After an exhaustive examination of
the whole case, Superintendent Antho-
ny reaches the following conclusions:
"Ffrst-T'he powers and duties of this
office are purely administrative and
ministerial, not judicial. Hence the con-
stitutionality or justice of the law can
not be raised nor discussed with me.
Second-T'he form of returns prescrib-
ed is the result OF careful thought and
the most mature Judgment, the correct
ness OF which is more than sustained
by the spirit Of resistance to the law |
80 patent in all the correspondence lead
ing up 10 this writing The require
m5ntS Of these blanks Will have to be
adhered to. in facts and figures, or they
will be refused as a noncompliance
with the letter and the spirit of the law.
''Third-The assumption that these
reports are public property. accessible !
90 the one who demands to see them, is
based in error. They are in no legal or
Just sense subject to any such espos- |
ure but are privileged matter never |
10 reach the public, except in court OF |
law TO establish their falsity.
''Fourth-The right to rebate in the |
amount OF returns is admitted. but to |
this extent only, Policies written and /
cancelled within the period covered by |
The return should be entered in the |
column of Term Of policy at the term |
they were actually in force. and in the 1
column of Full premium charged the |
amount actually received on the policy /
during its life, instead of the term |
and premium originally written ;but in |
no case must a rebate be claimed in |
case of return premium on a policy |
written prior 30 the period embraced in /
ne IeluiH, nor Wlen credit mas nFPn ]
given thu insured and policy Cancelled 1
on account Of his failure TO pay.
'Fifth-All returns must be verified
by the president or vice president and /
the secretary Of the company, except
as 10 companies from foreign countries
when they must be verified by the pres
Ident and secretary of the American !
board, or trustees, as hereto before re-
qufred in the case of annual state
meuts."
The following cities in Kansas main
tain fire departments to the value of
3. 200 or more and are entitled TO a
OF the reciprocal tax:
Anthony. Argentine. Arkansas City.
AtchssOn, Bellevjlle. Beloit. Caldwell,
Eawker City, Centralia, Cherryvale,
Clay Center, Columbus. Concariia, |
Council Grove. Downs. EmpoTia, Enter
Prise. Eureka, Fort Scott. Garnet. Great
Bend. Harper. Hays City, Heringtoa.
iiiawatha, Hope. Horton. Hutchinson.
Independence. Junction City. Kansas
-Sty, hingman. Larned. Lawrence.
-eavenworth. Manhattan. Minneapolis
Newton Oberl5n. Olathe,
ottawa, Osborne. Oswego. Paola. Par
'nns. Peabody. Pittsburg, Pratt. Salina.
seneca, solomon, Sterling. Strong City. !
TOpeha, Wellington. Wetmore, Weir
lily, Wichita, Winfield.