Evening journal., 1897-06-18
NOTICES.
TO INSURANCE COMPANIES AMI
THEIR AGENTS.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF DTgT .AKV Ape
-I.nnrnl M Innn 1, ID

Laurel, Del, June Is 1897
! desire to adopt this method OF making
an announcement of interest TO the state
and Of Importance to all whom it may
concern.
Upon assuming the duties of this office.
It soon became apparent that a large
number OF agents-prObably several hun
dred-were engaged in the business of life
and other kinds of insurance, without
having complied with the law recurring
license and certificate, and without haN-
ing paid TO the state the fees provided by
statute. one company-not to speak Of
others-is reported TO have more than
fifty agents in the field, actively employ
ed, without authority as required by law.
The Legislature. which cannot be too
highly commended for the zeal and alac-
rity with which II responded to appeals
for aid. promptly effected such mOdilicd-
tions of the law as the commissioner adj
Vised and eliminated every cause OF am
biguOus meaning or doubtful interpreta-
ton
Heretofore a company was admitted by
a certificate OF authority at "a charge OF
two dollars. For every agent "a like cer-
tihcate was required together with a IL
cense. $500, and fifty cents for issuing
the same, aegegating $2l 80 for each and
every agent which / admit was excess
sive, Now company must pay $500 for
certificate and every agent 500 for GER
tihcate $500 for license and so cents for
issuing-total cost to agents, $3.50.
The law reads That every person, who
shall procure or solicit any citizen or resi-
dent of this state TO take out policy on
his or her life or lives of any other per-
son In any company or companies not in
corDorated by the laws OF this state shall
| be deemed foreign life Cor fire, etc }
| Insurance agent within the meaning of
/ this act Every such person must OBJ
| tain from the Insurance Commissioner a
/ certificate Of authority and license as
Again. the person. firm or corporation
! so engaged 'fwithout having first oh
| tained a proper license therefor
| for every such Offense shall be deemed
| guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
yiction thereof. by indictment. besides
being liable for the payment of the tax
be subject to imprisonment for a tern
/ not exceeding two years, or a fine not ex'
ceeding five hundred dollars $500. Ol
moiety to the use of the person who shall
first give Information of the fact where
/ by said forfeiture was incurred
Such i'm part is the law. II is the sworr
duty of the Commissioners to enforce th'
law. And II is the purpose Of this pape
to give fair warming to all it may affect
his duty In this regard.
To that end / shall proceed, on and afte
whom I shall find disregarding the insur
ance law of the state. shall demand o
every company doing business In tn
state a complete list of agents thereil
employed. In case of a refusal to furnis
the same, or finding a company conniv
ing at aaviolation of the statutes. / shal
hold the cOmpany responsible and revok
it's authority to do business in the state.
As regards "a class of transient or dur
nal agents. who fit across our borders
write policies and as suddenly disappea
( beyond our jurisdiction. n we fail 10 hay
them apprchendcd by the proper official;
I shall ask the governor. OF whose sym
pathy and cooperation / am assured, {
make rcQuisitiOn upon the governor Z
the ncighborinr state. for their renditio
,. for trial by our courts. and shall refus
or revoke the authority of any compan
that accepts or profits by their Illicit {
| clandestinc operations.
Ifpon conviction. one-half the fine goo
TO the informer. and ! shall feel gratefl
fer any information which may bring o.
| tenders to justice and promise that a
such will be held strictly confidential
In conclusion l may be allowed TO -
= Drcss the hope OF having the sympathy
a s1irrDort and announcement Of all law
" abiding' citizens I'm what they must cSteel
e n iaudlble effort to abate hagrant aDu'
D. Of the law of the state.
"a EDWARD FOWLER.
Insurance Commissioners.