Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-05

l anticipate when the figures are COM
piled, they will show the loss ratio in
Maine to be smaller than the average
for the United States.
UNAUTHORIZED INSURANCE.
Many inquiries have been made.
during the past year, by persons who
have received circulars from unauthor-
lied companies offering to write poll
cfes upon all classes of property at low
rates with large commissions to agents.
Many of these companies are wild
Cats" Of the widest variety, whose
contracts are absolutely worthless. as
some Of our citizens have ascertained
from experience, and none of them can
be reached by action of the courts of
this State fn case of loss.
while the patrons of these concerns
have apparently saved a few dollars in
the purchase of an insurance policy
they have received in many cases a
contract which afforded no protection.
The law provides that AN insurance
agent shall be personally liable on all
contracts of insurance unlawfully made
by or through him, directly or indirect
ly, for or in behalf of any company not
authorized to do business in
this State and any person
in Maine who solicits, receives
or forwards risk or applications for in
surance to any such company, or to
the agents of such company, is liable
to prosecution.
Il deem it my duty, therefore, to
caution the public who desire protec-
ton against insuring in companies not
authorized to transact business in
Maine.
MARINE INSURANCE.
THE marine risks written in Maine
during 1899 about TO SIS, 143, 235: the
premiums received on the same to
$3l3, 800 "a: the losses paid to 1926 29.J0;
and the losses incurred to $214, 174.46,
being an increase over the business OF
the previous year Of $4.068, SOC in the
amount written; an increase of SPA
010.G2 in the premiums received; an in
crease Of $42 sc in the losses paid
and a decrease of $335739 in the losses
incurred.
LIFE INSURANCE.
1.-The life insurance business in
Maine is in a very flourishing cOndi-
ton, having made a phenomenal
growth during the past few years.
The risks written by the level pre-
minimum companies in this State during
1899 amounted to $11. 122 619.65, an in
crease of 81, 760, $50 % over the business
of the year previous.
The premiums collected during the
S209 1927 more than the amount col
lected by this class of companies in
1898
The risks in force in Maine. De-
cember 31st, last, aggregate $62.102.-
449.23, being an increase Of s., 1876. 6O1.S2
over the amount of insurance in force
one year previous. which is one Of the
strongest testimonials of the faith of
our citizens in the benefits and protec-
ton afforded by this class Of corpora
tons. which, during the past year.
paid for losses and claims in Maine
1920. 033 Sian increase of S113. 59951
over the payments Of the previous year
MISCELLANEOUS COMPANIES.
THE miscellaneous companies have
made a very substantial increase in
the volume of their Maine business
during the past year as will be seen by
the table published herewith, showing
the insurance written. the premiums
received. the losses and claims paid
and the insurance in force for each of
the last two years.
INVESTIGATION OF FIRES.
The law Of 1895 oblgirg the mu-
ncipal officers to investigate the cause !
circumstances ana origin Of all fires.
as amended in 1897. by requiring the
insurance commissioner to assist the
municipal officers in their investiga
tons at the expense Of the State. and I
when deemed advisable to personally
investigate all fires of suspicious
origin. with authority to prosecute per-
sons suspected Of incendiarism or ar
son, has resulted in reducing the per
centaee of ''incendi9ry" fires from SCI
per cent. and the unknown from 3254
per cent for the last seven months Of
1895 to 2.1G per cent. and 20.47 per cent. |
respectively for the year ending De-
cember 81. 1899.
The fires of unknown and incendi- !
airy origin compared with the whole
number Of fires in the State for each
of the several years has been as fol-
lows:
Incendiary. Unknown
1895, May 26 to Dec. 81. >Gi15 32.54cc
1896 Observation-Disclosures. Si6ao 3l.59Go
1891 Observation-Disclosures. 1870 27.04o6
1891 Observation-Disclosures. 354cc N.5>cc
1899 Observation-Disclosures. 2.76co 20.47cc
THE "incendiary" and unknown
classes include all the fires Of a sus
picious nature and it is very crafty
ing to be able to report such marked
decrease in fires of questionable origin
Sincn the mont of The Ia rnnllir-