The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-24
70 INSURANCE COMPANIES AnO
THEM AGENTS.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. l
STATE OF DELAWARE.
LAUREL, DEL, June Is, 1907

| - LAUREL, DEL, June Is, 1907.
Idesire TO adopt this method Of making
an announcement Of interest to the State
aud Of Importance to all whom 1t may
concern,
Upon assuming the duties Of this office
1t soon became apparent that q large num-
Der Of agents-probably several hundred
were engaged In tho business of life and
other kinds OF insurance, without having
complied with the law requiring license
and certificate, and without having paid
to the State the fees provided by state. One
company-not to speak Of others-is no.
ported TO have more than fifty agents II
the field, actively employed, without au :.
thority as required by law.
The Legislature, which cannot DO too
highly ,mmended for tho zeal and alao.
rity with which 1t responded to appeals
for aid, promptly effected such modiffca-
tions of the law as the Commissioner ad-
vised and eliminated every clause of am.
biguous meaning or doubtful interpreta.
tion.
Heretofore company was admitted by
a certificate Of authority at q charge of
two dollars. For every agent like certid.
cate was required, together with license,
SET, and fifty cents for issuing the same,
aggregating $3.50 for each and every
agent, which admit was excessive. Now
q company must pay s25 for certificate and
every agent e. for certificate, s. for license
and 90 cents for issuing-total cost to
agents $780,
The law reads "That every person, who
shall procure or solicit any citizen or resi-
dent of this State to take out q policy on
his or her life or lives of any other person
In any company or companies not incor-
porated by the laws Of this State, shall be
deemed foreign life Tor fire, etc. insur.
ance agent within the meaning of this
act" Every such person must obtain
from the Insurance Commissioner o cer-
titicats of authority and license as above
stated.
Again, the person, firm or corporation
SO engaged without having first obtained
o proper license therefor for every
such offense shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction there
Of by Indictment, besides being liable for
the payment Of the tax, be subject to i'm
prisonment for term not exceeding two
years, or fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars (S500), or both OF the discretion OF
the court; one moiety to the use of the
person who shall first give information of
the fact whereby said forfeiture was in.
Cured"
Such In part Is the law. 1t Is the sworn
duty of the Commissioner to enforce the
law. And 1t is the purpose of this paper
to give fair warning to all whom 1t may
affect, and announce his determination to
do his duty In this regard.
To that end Ishall proceed, on and after
July LIST next to prosecute every agent
whom l shall find disregarding the insur-
ance law of the State. shall demand of
every company doing business in the
State complete list of agents therein en-.
ployed. In case Of refusal to furnish
the same, or finding company conniving
s's ftOA"'Aoh VI viz oVshVupO5t budll uOlu
the company responsible and revoke its
authority to do business in the State.
AS regards class Of transient or diurnal |
agents, who fit across our borders, write
policies, and as suddenly disappear be- |
yond our jurisdiction, If we fail to have
them apprehended by the proper officials,
shall ask the Governor, Of whose SYM
PATTY and cooperation am assured, to
make requisition upon the Governor of
The neghboring State, for their rendition
for trial by our courts and shall refuse or
revoke the authority of any company that
accepts or profits by their Illicit or clandes-
tine operations. HBs3
Upon conviction one half the fine goes
to the informer and / shall feel grateful
Tor any information which may bring Of
lenders to justice, and promise that all
such will be held strictly confidential.
In conclusion l may DO allowed to OK.
press the hope Of having the sympathy,
support and encouragement of all law
abiding citizens in what they must esteem
\ laudable effort to abate fragrant abuse
If the law of the STATE.
EDWARD FOWLER,
Insurance Commissioner.