The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26
NEW INSURANCE LAWS,
OF THE ACTS PASSED
BY LAST LEGISLATURE.

er-People Startled by Explosion Of a
Metoer-A New Railroad scheme-To
Inspect Northern Asylums fol-. the Blind
and Deaf Mute.
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raleigh, N. c., March %.
Al the late session OF the legisla-
ture the following insurance acts be-
came laws:
An act to increase revenue and regu-
late insurance. This Is a resident fire
insurance agents bill. which is a
copy oc the new Georgia law on that
subteC. except two sections, which
are as follows:
Section 2. That for the purpose Of
carrying out the foregoing section, it
shall be unlawful for any agent, COM
missioner, or otherwise, of said Cum
panieS to sign any blank contract. or
policy Of fire insurance, and upon on
viction thereof shall be fined for each
) Offense not less than 800 nor more
than $500, one-half to the informer and
Cne-half to the benefit and use of the
state.
Section Z. Any person acting as ad-
JuSter on Il contract made otherwise
than authorized by the laws of this
: state, or by any insurance p or
persons not regularly licensed to do
business in the state, or who shall ad-
just or aid in the adjustment, either
directly or indirectly, Of a loss by fire
on property located in this state in
CURED IN a contract not authorized
by the laws Of this state, shall be
deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor, and
shall upon conviction be fined not less
than 500 nor more than $500, or i'm
prisOned not less than six months or
more than two years, or both in the
discretion OF the court.
An act to regulate fire insurance
rates in North Carolina:
Section /. That all fire companies in
North Carolina and doing business in
this state shall not charge a higher
rate on farm property than is charged
in the state of Virginia. That any
company violating this act shall be
fined 800 and taxed with the costs.
Sec. 2. That this act shall be in force
from and after it's ratification.
An act to exempt fraternal benevO-
lent orders from taxation:
Section /. That no insurance taxes
shall be levied upon the Masonic, odd
Fellows, Royal Arcanum, knights OF
Pythias, Progressive EndowmentGuild,
Royal Benefit Society, International
Fraternal Alliance, Knights Templar,
Masons' Life Indemnity Company,
Improved Order Of HeptasOphs or
Knights OF Honor, or other benevolent
dSSOtIdIlOIlS WHICH, ollly levy al dSStSS-
ment upon their members and make no
profit therefrOm, n have been incer-
poratcd under the laws of this state
and do not solicit business through
agents.
Sec. 2. That this act shall be in force
from and after it's ratification.
The legislature also passed acts to
Incorporate the Commonwealth Fire
Insurance Company, of Wilmington,
TO do a fire and tornado insurance bus
mess. either as q stock or mutual COM
pany, as the stockholders or
may decide; the New Bern Mutual
Fire Insurance Company, of New Bern,
and the Underwriters, of GoldsbOrO, to
do a fire insurance business on $40, goo
capital.
The Carolina Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, of Charlotte, was created a
stock company with 500, 600 capital,
and the name was changed to the Pied
mont Fire Insurance Company.
The revenue act of the session, as
ratified, says:
Section so. That the fees for license
issued to any fire or accident insur-
ance company to do business in this
state shall be 5000 per annum, and that
the fee for license on life insurance
companies shall be $3.50 per annum.
All insurance companies shall pay a
tax of co per centum on the amount
OF their gross receipts in this state:
Provided, that If any general agent
shall exhibit to the secretary of state
a sworn statement that at least one
quarter Of the entire assets of his prln-
cipal are invested in and are lain
tanned in any or all of the following
securities-viZ, bonds Of this state or
Of any county or city in this state, or
bonds and mortgages on real property
in this State-the tax shall be only one
per centum thereon. No county or cor
| poration shall be allowed to impose
any additional tax, license or fee. Ihe
license fees and taxes imposed in this
section shall be paid to the secretary
of state.
A s25, 900 deposit bill failed, and the
effort to establish an insurance depart
ment was again defeated.
The following military commissions
; were issued today: E. G. Harrell, of
Raleigh, quartermaster general; How
ard Aston, OF Littleton, judge advo-
cate general; e. NJ. Danforth, third
assistant engineer Of wilmington d.
vision OF naval reserves; H. II. Miller
ensign and H. H. McIlhenny lieuten-
ant and Jas. c.. Graham second lieu
tenant Of the same; r. S. Primrose.
lieutenant: T. C. Daniels, lieutenant.
junior grade. and w. T. Hill, ensign.
Of the New Bern division OF the naval
: reserves. The last is a new division.
The state auditor today received a
letter from a Minnesota man.. asking
whether a northern or western man
could live here among the southern
people; that Minnesota had had con-
tinuous winter since last October that
the snow is three feet deep and that a
farmer cannot make enough to keep
| him warm and decently clothed.
A special venire of seventy-ive was
summoned today in the murder trial
of John D. Groves, set for hearing to-
morrow. Groves killed Henry Wall
near F~Orestville.
; A meteor exploded near Salisbury
yesterday and the explosion shook the
houses at Salisbury and frightened
many persons. The noise was heard
! over a large extent of country .
! The news hat j. b. Milliken is to
he the United States marshal of the
Western district disposes of one batch
of office eekerS.
1t is now stated that DR.. s. P.
Wright. we'll known as a close per-
sonal friend of Governor Russell. is
likely to be made the mayor of VIII
miDCfOn