The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-09
RATE BOOK HERE.
Insurance Combination Now
Doing Business.
Bureau Takes Place of One Ex-
ploded by Webb McNall.
TO BE PLACED ON SALE
The Topeka Schedule Not Yet
Issued.
Here Is q Chance For the At
G4I
TO BE PLACED ON SALE
Here Is q Chance For the At
torney General.

The new schedule of rates for Kansas
towns prepared by the insurance COM
panies as an Individual enterprise" is
being sent out by c. E. Eldridge of
Topeka. who has resurrected the Clark
son rate bureau under his own name.
The rates referred to are the reduced
rates about which so much has been
said by the insurance companies When
the subject of reducing rates was dis
cussed by Governor Stanley it was sug-
sested that such a reduction made by
all the companies would amount to
nothing less than a trust and would be
considered a violation Of the Kansas
antitrust law.
1t was also Suggested that the attor-
ney general might prosecute the orig
inators of this combination This was
not due to the fact that people com
planned against the reduction of insur-
ance rates, but the statute expressly
provides that a decrease or an increase
of insurance rates is punishable by
heavy penalties.
should the companies be now permitted
to reduce the rates that in the near III
ture they might take a sudden notion
to boost them up and thereby succeed
in raising them over the present sched-
ules.
If it is legal under the existing law
to reduce rates it is also legal for the
companies to raise the same rates Wneh-
ever they so desire.
The promoters of this plan to secure
reduced rates in Kansas, to evade the
trust law, have frequently announced
that the companies would reduce the
rates as an individual enterprise"
While this claim is theoretically cor
rect it is not sustained by the condl-
lions or substantiated by the facts.
A Topeka insurance man who recent
Iy visited Chicago is authority for the
statement that the Kansas rates are
being made up by the Chicago union
ia a maintained
the purpose of keeping a uniform sys-
tenn of rates in all union companies,
thereby removing the possibility OF
companies are members of this union
and people who patronize insurance
companies pay a similar rate to all
alike. There is no competition per
mitted Go to an insurance office and
ask for the rate on a piece of property
The agent digs up a small book con-
tanning ratings" In this book are
the rates promulgated by the Chicago
union companies, controlling all of the
western states. The agent looks wise
and gives his price. Go to dozen
other men and they will use the same
book and give you the same rate
Now and then an enterprising agent
knocks off his commission, but this does
not frequently occur, because the
union" has stringent regulations
against this method of doing business,
because it amounts to a reduction of
the rate and this means competition
d
ton.
Webb McNa1 destroyed the Clarkson
rate bureau. Mr. H. ClaTkson, who op-
Grated the bureau, asked for an 1nJunc-
ton to restrain McNan from interior
ing with his business. The injunction
was refused by Judge HaZen, who, in
deciding the case, held that the evidence
of Mr.. ClarkSon himself on the witness
stand was sufficient to indicate that the
rate bureau was trust or combina-
ton.
Then the companies abandoned the
CIarksOn book and used rates which
were in general use the same as those
in the bureau but now and then there
chaser of insurance, although the union
attempted to prevent such incidents as
this.
The bureau has been re-esta bHshed
and rate books for Kansas are being
sent out A Journal reporter exam
ined one of them today. 1t is in gen
eral appearance the same as the book
Clarkson formerly issued. 1t is a book
of rates showing the physical condi-
ton of fnsurabIe risks according to the
announcement on the cover. Mr. Ell
bridge announced in communicating
with the companies that the rate books
would be on sale in book stores, but
none can be found in Topeka
The rate book for Topeka has not
been issued. The rates are now being
prepared and the local agents for the
various companies doing business mere
anticipate delivery in a few days Some
of the agents have denied that such
advisory rates are being sent out from
Topeka. but the evidence can be pro-
cured that they are. The books are
being printed as rapidly as possible
and those which have been completed
are being sent out
If the attorney general is really look
ing for trouble with a trust" here is
one ready for his onslaught