Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-12-08

hCSSu endS the true ana economic
method was direct state insurance.
and the following bill, embodying this
view, was presented at the last session
of the Kansas legislature:
HOUSE BILL No. 6S9. introduced by
Mr.. GRAY.
AN ACT.
To establish state Fire Insurance De-
partment, and to authorize provis-
ions for the insurance of property
against loss or damage by fire, light
ming, cyclones and tornadoes.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
State Of Kansas:
Section 1. The fire insurance de-
partment of the state of Kansas is
hereby created, the same to be under
the supervision and control of the state
superintendent of insurance, who is
hereby directed to prepare a plan
whereby any citizen of Kansas may
insure his buildings and personal prop
erty against loss or damage by fire,
lightning, cyclones and tornadoes, in
said department at the necessary cost
of transacting the business and pay
ing the losses.
Not more than three-fourths of the
damage to any property by fire, light
ming, cyclones and tornadoes shall be
paid. The premiums shall be levied
and collected in the same manner as
county and state taxes, and shall be a
lien on all property of the insured as
other taxes are.
Sec. 2. For the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this act, the state
superintendent of insurance may en-
ploy such clerical help, from time to
time, as may be necessary, whose sal
airy shall not exceed one hundred dol
lars per month for each person so en-
ployed. And it is hereby made the
duty of all assessors, county and state
officers, to assist in carrying out the
requirements of this act, under such
regulations as the state superintend-
ent of insurance may prescribe. APP
plications for insurance shall be taken
by the assessors, at the time of listing
property, and without additional COM
pensation. The county commission
ers, or board of three of the county
officers or other citizens selected by
the county commissioners, shall act as
adjusters in case of loss and may, if
required by the state insurance super
intendent, employ expert assistance.
Sec. 8. Premiums collected for such
insurance shall be paid monthly to
the state treasurer, and kept in the
fire insurance fund and paid out for
losses and expenses on vouchers signed
by the county commissioners and ap-
proved by the state superintendent of
insurance. And until sufficient pre-
miums are collected, such sums as may
be needed during the fiscal years OF
1897 and 1898, not to exceed in all one
hundred thousand dollars, may be
transferred from the general fund to
the fire insurance fund to be returned
as soon as the state of the fire insur.
ance fund will permit.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect
upon its publication in the official
state paper.
The following is the report of the
committee:
Mr.. Speaker: Your Committee on
Insurance, to whom was referred
House bill No. 679, An act to establish
a state fire insurance department, and
to authorize provisions for the insur.
ance of property against loss or dam.
age by fire, lightning, cyclone and tor.
nados have had the same under con.
sideration, and instruct me to report
the bill back to the House with the rec
ommendation that it be placed on the
calendar and printed.
J. M. DOYLE, Chairman.
The bill was placed upon the calen
dar but was not reached before ad.
journment..
It was not intended to formulate a
. complete system of insurance for the
SeoSSt Ohiy ~ SoedOiASA Tic ~ Sip1S
that the state should do it, and leave
. all the minor details to the superin
tendent of insurance.
What would it do for Iowa? Dc
away with the necessity for the Ia
mutual societies, and sixty or more
; old liners, with all the expense of of
) ficers, supplies, solicitors and their ex
penses, commissions, advertising
, lobbying, legal expenses, contesting
just claims, etc. 1t would keep every
dollar of your insurance premiums al
home, for no one would be so foolish
t as to pay two dollars to an outside
company for what the state could and
would do better for one. 1t would bs
, absolutely safe. Everyone would car
: ry insurance, while at present large
percentage decline to do so on account
of the excessive cost. 1t would have Z
/ tendency to bring all the property
; and at its just valuation, to the assess
: or's books.
OSaving:-The actual net cost of fire
insurance in Kansas for 1896 was $751;,
500 over and above all actual fire ant
, cyclone losses. In Iowa it was s. $50.