The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-10
Local Insurance Men Are On
the War Path.
Don't Like the New Plan to Re-
duce the Rates.
MAKES MORE WORK
Method of Figuring Premiums
Is Cumbersome.
News From the Departments at
the State House.

czovarnor Stanley's scheme to secure
ra5uced fire insurance rates in TINS
state has caused an indignant uprAsA1S
among the insurance men in Topekd-
Tndienatfon meetings have been held
and long protests against the reouctAol4
81 the rates proposed for Topeka nave
been forwarded TO the governing com
,nittee of the Chicago union ana 10 the
managers and principal officers OF lli9
companies interested in Topeka DUST
ness. - +u-o Dro-
,,ositions to one of which is attacneo
more Importance than there Is atlacheo
to the other 80 - +ba+
the union has, in the new scheuule
which is being issued, made a nuihDet
Of changes in the old method OF eSIl-
mating premiums In the new PleIh
sDeriaI provisions are made 1or uh,
tainted houses; openings to roofs ana
into adjoining buildings; Sky1ghIS anu
the insurance agent hlmseL Goes n.y.
really know what ALI has been Done.
The agent does know, however, That
the new theory of estimating premiums
adds a world OF additional lapor 10 me
already OnerOus duties tounu IN IePoI -
and other details of the nre Insurance.
business. and against this they are
complaining. -,
Then there are some of the local
agents who protest against the reduc-
ton Of rates in any line. The new
schedule makes reduction or 10 cents
on frame buildings. The old rate was
80 cents per 500. The new rate is 30
cents on brick buildings the old rate
was 50 cents per $780, The new rate as
% cents.
The local agents an this city recently
called a meeting. Charles >. Elllott
and Frank Thomas were the principal
movers They desired that the agents
have thorough understanding of the
situation which was confronting them
The meeting was in a general way
informal but it was followed by others,
over which D. w. Nellis presided al
though no effort was made to keep
minute record of the proceedings.
The discussions resulted in the forma-
ton of the protests referred to. During
the meetings considerable acrimonious
discussion of the scheme to reduce
rates was INDUCED in. One of the local
agents who has been in the business for
years and who is regarded as one Of the
leading insurance men of the town,
said:
The insurance companies doing bus
tness in the state are complying with all
the laws They are paying heavy fees
and taxes They may make some mon
ey on the investment, but the chances
are unfavorable as a rule, especially in
the cities where no fire protection can
be had
Last year many of them by reason
of controversies with the insurance de-
partment were compelled to pay for ex-
ernOr Stanley has told the companies
that the road agents will be kept in
town If the companies would reduce
rates.
This was done apparently from an
unSelfSh motive but the facts are that
the governor made hard fight against
McNa1 and then paid a lawyer 800
TO bring charges in a court of which he
was the sole judge, then found that
he had made an unpopular move.
He consulted his political advisers, some
of whom are in the insura nee business,
and concocted this scheme to reduce
rates.
This opinion is shared by many
agents in the Topeka field. This gen
tleman continued: I wonder what sort
OF a transaction this is. The governor
brings influence to bear to secure re-
duced rates This influence is a pledge
to keep road agents at home That is
he viii help the companies save money
AZ what is saved be lost again by re-
ducing rates This is properly, by the
politicians, regarded as a very shrewd
move but there is another word in the
dictionary which would be more fit
ting"