Middletown transcript., 1897-06-19
To Insurance Companies
and Their Agents.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. 4
STATE OF DELAWARE.
LAUREL. Del, june Il b, 1891


1 LAUREL, Del, june IL h. 1897.
/ ! desire to adept this method
of making an announcement of inter-
es' ~ the Safe and Of Importance to
all whom it may concern.
| Upon assuming the duties Of this
| Office, il soon became apparent that
large number Of agents probably sew
| eral hlndred-were engaged in the
business of life and other kinds of in
surance, without having complied with
the law requiring license and certifi-
cate, and without having 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 employed, with
out authority as required by law.
The Legislature, which cannot be
too highly commended for the zeal and
alacrity with which it responded to ap-
peals for aid, promptly effected such
notifications of the law as the
Commissioner advised and eliminated
every clause of ambiguous meaning or |
doubtful Interpretation.
Heretofore company was admitted |
by certificate of authority at charge
of two dollars. For every agent like
certificate was required together with a
license, S25. 90, and fifty cents for is
suing the same, aggregating $27.50 for
each and every agent, which 1 admit
was excessive. Now company must
pay $500 for certificate and every
agent $500 for certificate, $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 resident of this State to take out a
policy on his OF her life or lives of any
other person in any company or COM
paniss not incorporated by the laws of
this State shall be deemed a foreign life
Tor fire, etc. insurance agent within
the meaning of this act." Every such
person must obtain from the Insurance
Commissioners certificate of author
ity and license as above stated.
Again, the person, firm or corpora
tion SO engaged without having first
obtained proper license therefore
for every such offense shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
thereof, by indictment, be-
sides being liable for the payment of
5he tax, be subject to imprisonment
'or term not exceeding two years, or
fine not exceeding FIVE hundred
lollars (S5O0l, or both at the discre-
ion of the court; one moiety to the
Use of the person who shall first give
Information Of the fact whereby said
orfeiture was incurred"
Such in part is the law. 1t is the
worn duty of the Commissioner to en-
orce the law. And it is the purpose of
his paper to give fair warning to all
Vhom ii, may effect, and announce his
determination to do his duty in this re-
ard.
To that end shall proceed, on and
fter July 1st next, to prosecute every l
gent whom shall find disregarding
he insurance law of the State. shall
emand of every company doing u
usiness in the State complete list of :
gents therein employed. In case of r,
9fusal to furnish the same. or finding
company conniving at violation of
be statutes, shall hold the company
esponsible and revoke its authority to
o business in the State. y
As regards class of transient or
iurnal agents, who fit across our bor-
ers, write policies, and as suddenly
isapsear beyond our Jurisdiction, if
e fail to have them apprehended by
le proper officials, shall ask the Gov
rnor. of whose sympathy and cooper
lion am assured, to make requisi-
on upon the Governor of the neigh
bring State, for their rendition for A
rial by our courts, and shall refuse or
woke the authority Of any company
lat accepts or profits by their illicit
. clandestine operations.
Upon conviction one half the fine
'es to the informer, and l shall feel
rateful for any information which
ay bring offenders to justice, and Le
omise that all such will be held
richly confidential
In conclusion may be allowed to ex- ~
ess the hope Of having the sympathy,
pport and encouragement of all law
iding citizens in what they esteem
laudable effort to abate a fragrant
use of the law of the State. :.
EDWARD FOWLER, NA
Insurance Commissioner.
I.o Esooc< -