The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-03
INSURANCE MEN HEARD
They Discuss a New Bill Before a
House Committee.
The Question OF License for Local
Agents Ar.saed-Cbuirntnn smith,
OF the B"strd of UNDERWRITERS.
speaks ih FavO- Of the Measure.
BeINa Lockwood Enters Protest.

The Subcommittee on Judiciary Of the
House District Committee gave a hearing
this morning on the bill to regulate insur-
ance in the District. F. H. Smith Chair
man Of the Board of Underwriters. appear
ed for the bill He said nearly every State
had a general law on insurance, which op-
Grated to the benefit OF the community.
Fhere was no general insurance law in the
District, and there ought 10 be one because
at present irresponsible companies could
come here and do business He said in his
opinion there was no city in the country
where writing insurance was conducted IN
Ter such great difficulties as in Washing
ton. The bill under consideration, he said,
was substantially the same as amended
and reported by the Senate Committee last
year. Under the bill, Mr. Smith said. no
company. agent. broker, OF solicitor would
be permitted to conduct an insurance bust
ness without a license from the Superin
tendent Of Insurance. who, under the bill
IS TO be appointed By the District Com
missioners- No company under the bill.
except In certain eases. can have a license
unless il has a paid up capital OF SlG5. 600.
biu His statement was listened 10 with
interest
Mrs. Belva lockwood representing. as she
said small beneficial association. ap-
peared in opposition 10 that section OF the
bill requiring all solicitors TO be licensed
The language or the ninth section. she
said was not clear and should be amended
she had no objection 20 the bill as "a whole
General Biruey made an argument ia IA
he said. was infinitely better than the one
on the same subject reported by the SEN
ate last year. He analysed the bill and
pointed out the sections that should be
amended He also suggested several sec
lions that would meet objection that might
be raised 10y the opposition. The bill he
said was carefully drawn In the interest OF
the insurance companies. and IL seemed TO
him that the interests Of the policy hold
ers had been overlooked He would have
the bill amended so that the policy hold
ers rights would be protected as much so
as the insurance companies.
AT the suggestion OF Chairman jenkins
General Birney said he would put i'm writ
ing his amendments and submit them 10
the committee
Noble D. L3rner wanted the insurance
companies placed on the same footing as
the Insurance companies in Pennsylvania
or New York. Under the proposed law. nc
said, the home COMPANIES were discrimi-
mated against
r. + sullivan argued against that sec
ton of the bill requiring agents to pay $50
license Zee. He thought the tax should De
placed on the insurance companies He
intimated that the bill was i'm the interest
OF the big insurance companies. and trust
companies. The idea OF the bill ne said
was 10 make it impossible for the poor
agent 10 DC business.
Henry Wells, OF the Board OF Under
writers, said he was opposed 10 allowing
ren in the departments 10 do insurance
business without a license. He did not
want the poor insurance agent driven out
of business Mr.. Decide made brief
argument in favor rf the bill
Chairman Jenkins said the people OF the
District often complained that Congress
gave Them no consideration but il seemed
impossible FOR the people 90 get together.
The hearing this morning developed the
fact that the insurance companies couldn't
agree on what they wanted. IL seemed to
be case Of dog eat dog"
Without reaching any understanding the
committee adjourned