The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-03

ance companies dong business in the
state have grantee concessions which
will annually rsdGce the prem .ums paid
! by Michigan property owners at least
sS50.C00. makes the total annual reduce
ton made during the past two years
fully 100000 and this gratifying result
is largely due to the efforts of Commits
sioner Campbell. In previous letters
have outlined several changes the COM
m ,ssioner will ask TO have made in the
Insurance laws. Since then he has
drafted bill which is designed to re-
wise all the laws relative to the organi-
cation and management Of mutual fire
insurance companies. This bill pro-
vides for the repeal of separate mutual
acts, the ones to be retired being those
which provide for the Incorporation OF
merchants, manufacturers, limited and
Lloyds' mutuals. experience having
convinced the commissioner that the
state will be far better off without this
class of companies.
No Change in Farmers' Mutuals.
During the past year he has been
called upon to close up a number of
these companies which sought to do
business all over the state and made a
failure of 1t to the great sorrow of those
Of their members who suffered losses
which have not been paid, as well as
the far larger number who had paid
for insurance only to lose what they
had invested In premiums. No change
will be made in the law relative to farm
ers mutuals, no complaints having
been made of them. They are doing a
safe business and will not be molested.
Provision will be made for the reincor-
poration of the other classes of mutuals
under the provisions of the new law,
although these provisions will differ
greatly from those Of the separate laws
The object of the commissioner in max
Ing this REVISION Is to insure greater
safety for the property owner.
Other new bills prepared and noticed
on the subject of insurance provide
that no company shall reinsure with
any company not authorized to do bust
ness in Michigan, the object being to
force this reinsuring with companies
which pay taxes in this state on pre-
miums received; also to provide that In
case any state makes excessive de-
mands upon a Michigan company which
1t has licensed, the commissioner Of this
state shall retaliate upon companies Of
that state which are operating in Mich
igan. The companies will ask that the
law be amended so to provide that they
shall be assessed upon their net re-
ceipts in Michigan, making deductions
for all premiums returned and for pre-
miums paid other companies for rein
surance. The present law prov des for
a tax upon gross receipts, allowing no
deductions whatever. 1t Is understood
that Commissioner Campbell favors an
amendment as a matter Of exact JUS
tice to the companies, the present law
requiring double taxation.
Equal Suffrage Question.
The regular biennial fight over the
equal suffrage question Is a promise OF
the near future, Representative Howell
Of Lenawee having given notice Of a
joint resolution to strike the word male
from the constitutional provision gov
erning the elective franchise. A SINH
lar bill has passed the house In previ-
Gus years, but the senate has ruthlessly
killed it.
While the women have not yet come
to the rescue of the above measure,
they have appeared in behalf of Sena-
tor Collingwood's bills providing that
there be at least one woman member
Of the board Of control Of each state
institution in which females are cared
for. There is a growing sentiment in
favor of this change. Even in the alb
sence of any law requiring it, this senti-
ment has been recognized in one or two
instances in this state with beneficial
results.
During the absence of the legislature
both the senate chamber and repre-
sentative hall will be renovated. The
latter will be treated to a new carpet
ent carpet has been used since 1886,
and the chairs have been in comm ssion
since the present state house was dedi-
Gated, just twenty years ago.
Michigan's Soldier Dead.
Final arrangements have been made
for bringing home for burial the bodies
Of all Michigan soldiers In the late war
who died either in other states or in
Cuba The legislature provided by
Joint resolution last week for the pay
ment of all expenses in this connec-
ton that are not borne by the general
and the governor has ap-
pointed Charles E. Kiplinger of Char
lotte to superintend the work. Mr..
Kiplinger, who was a member Of the
Michigan infantry and
in the Cuban campaign,
will leave for Cuba at once, 1t being
necessary to do the work Of exhuming
during the coming month.
JAMES v. BARRY.