People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-10-13

But the rate would be so low that, as an
economic proposition, he could not af-
ford to let his property 60 without being
insured.
@. 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-
tons have been made, however:
GOV. LEWELLING'S SUGGESTION
Flrst-In his message to the Legislature
in 1885. Governor Lewellng said: why
should not the State, through its Insurance
Department provide a safe and punctuai
insurance for the people? The Insurance
Department might be USED by such people
as choose to use it 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 and
transmit its report to the Insurance De-
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 1t 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 levying and collecting Of
premiums in the same manner as county
taxes.
WEBB MNALL'S SUGGESTION.
-Third--In his annual report for 1898, Su-
perintendent McNall says: 81 would fur
Their recommend that the Legislature pro.
vide for State insurance, the same to be in
control of the Insurance Department.
TO illustrate: When the township trus-
tees assess the property, direct them TO
take applications for the various individu-
ais in their respective townships or cities,
giving the amount Of fire insurance they
desire to carry, the length of time 1.-THE
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
applications 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 col
lected by taxation the same as other taxes y
@. Are there any instances where
State or municipal insurance has been
tried?
A. Yes. ID Germany is maintaining
government accident insurance, and also
a system of annuities for laborers.
(2) Sweden has system Of insur-
ance.
90 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, began
municipal fire insurance, laying aside a
certain proportion Of the profits from
the municipal gas works to be used to
form a fund to set against loss OF munic,
ipal property (see New Time" volume
/ l, page 1861.
60 Paris is considering the advisa'
bility OF creating an Office for municipal
insurance against fire (see New Time,
volume l, page 49,.
CD Berlin, Germany has very salts
factory system Of municipal insurance
that works smoothly and contributes
materially to the city's revenue (Alonzt
Wardall, in a paper read before a con
vention of mutual fire insurance compa
MES at Des Moines, December is, 1870
(S) 1t is not generally known
that the corporation Of London actually
carried on the business Of fire insurance
from 1851 to 1888, but was compelled &c
abandon it through the opposition Of
those interested in private undertakings
who finally obtained mandamus in the
court of kings bench to restrain theil
civic competitor (Walfords Insurance
Cyclopediss volume 8, pages 446-455).