Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-10-13

But the rate would be so low that, as an
economic proposition, he could not az
ford to let his property 60 without being
insured.
O. How would such insurance be car
ried on?
A. That is a matter Of detail that the
Legislature would have to meet when
the people have decided that they want
State insurance. The following sugges-
tions have been made, however:
GOV. LBWBLLING'S SUGGESTION
First-In his message to the Legislature
In 1895, Governor Lewellng said: why
should not the State, through its Insurance
Department provide safe ana punctual
Insurance for the people? The Insurance
Department might be USED by Such people
as choose to use 1t for the purpose OF mu-
tual insurance. 1t could be done without
any cost to the State. A bureau in the de-
partment could be readily supported OUT OF
the fees and the County Clerks and town
ship trustees could act as local agents. A
Justice of the peace in the immediate To-
cality could investigate every loss ana
partment, which would make an assess
ment, as fraternal societies do in case OF
death, and transmit the proceeds at once"
BILL INTRODUCED IN 1897.
Second-A bill was introduced in the last
Legislature providing for State insurance
and making It the duty OF assessors to take
applications for Insurance when listing
property, and making the Board Of County
commissioners a Board of Adjusters, and
providing for the levyng and collecting Of
premiums In the same manner as county
taxes. -
WEBB M'NALLS SUGGESTION
Third--In his annual report for 1898, su-
perintendent McNall says: Il would tur-
Their recommend that the Legislature pro-
vide for State insurance, the same to be In
control Of the Insurance Department,
ITO Illustrate: When the township trus-
tees assess the property, direct them TO
take applications for the various indiyldu-
ais In their respective townships or cities,
giving the amount Of fire Insurance they
desire to carry the length OF TINE Nne
classification and rates having been pre-
pared prior to this time by the insurance
Department, based upon the statistics in
this office of the fire insurance companies
doing business in the state during the last
preceding year, etc), at all other times the
Implications could be made to the County
Clerk. Money can be appropriated from the
general fund to be placed in an insurance
fund until such time as the amount col
lected is sufficient to pay the running eX-
penses, including losses incurred, and then
same can be returned, the money to be coli
lected by taxatlon the same as other taxes
O. Are there any instances where
State or municipal insurance has been
tried?
A. Yes. ID Germany is maintaining
| BON6TUIubuI dCCluCAJ oANOB ohA "'pN
system of annuities for laborers.
(2) Sweden has system of insur-
ance.
(3) The canton Of Zurich, in Switzer'
land maintains fire insurance.
(4) In 1891 Southport, England, adopt
ed a system Of insuring its property IT.
self to the extent OF one-half (see New
Time" volume l, page 1867.
90 In 1896 Bradford, England, begar
municipal fire insurance, laying aside
certain proportion Of the profits from
the municipal gas works to be used t
form fund to set against loss Of munic
ipal property (see New Time" volum
l, page 1861
(6) Paris is considering the advisa
bility Of creating an Office for municipa
insurance against fire (see New Time,
volume l, page 46).
"a Berlin, Germany has very salts
factory system Of municipal insuranc
that works smoothly and contribute
materially to the city's revenue (Alonz
Wardall, in a paper read before a con
vention Of mutual fire insurance compa
MES at Des Moines, December IL, 1897
80 1t is not generally know
that the corporation Of London actual,
carried on the business Of fire INSURANCE
from 1851 to 1888 but was compelled Il
abandon It through the opposition o
those interested in private undertakings
who finally obtained a mandamus in tn
court of kings bench to restrain thei
civic competitor (Walford's InsGranc
Cyclopedia, volume 3, pages 446-465).