The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04
GENERAL INSURANCE LAW
Hearing Before the House District
Committee.
.IN
NN4
4 Proposition 10 Tax Brokers and
Solicitors Advocated by the Chair
Mrs. BeIvR Lockwood Objects In
BEHALF of the Mutual Companies.

The Subcommittee Cd Judiciary OF the
House District Committee yesterday gave
hearing on the bill providing fc: gen
eral insurance law for the District. The
bill was prepared by the District Commits
sioners after conference with the Board Of
Underwriters.
+. ii. Smith, Chairman OF the Board OF
Underwriters. appeared for the bill. He
said while nearly every State had a gem
cral law regulating every class of insur-
anee, the District of Columbia had at the
present time no general law on the scS-
ject, thus making it easy for irresponsible
companies to come here and do business,
and any person, no matter what his occu-
PATTON. had full permission TO act as broker
or solicitor aud to obtain commissions
thcrefrom.
Mr.. Smith said il was now custom FOR
nearly every real estate agent TO advertise
insurance as a part OF his business and
clerks in the departments and in stores also
control different lines OF insurance, which
they peddle about among the companies
and agents and place the risk witt The one
giving the largest commission. re bill
under consideration, Mr.. Smith said, would
correct this evil, because 1t requires every
agent 10 pay license of $50 per annum
and also 1t license of $50 per annum from
brokers who place insurance which they
control with companies or agents, Mr..
Smith said the proposition TO appoint n
superintendent OF insurance, which the bill
authorized, was a good one. He reviewed
the bill at length and said il was q III asure
that ought TO be passed.
Mrs. BelVa Lockwood, representing a
small mutual benefit association. said the
bill did not make clear the position of
such company under the proposed law.
She was opposed 10 that section of the bill
which required every solicitor TO pay
license fee Of SO. She thought solicitors
who do business among the poor people
should pay only small fec, about SO.
General Birney criticised the bill as
being drawn In the interest of the insur-
ance companies, and IL seemed TO him
the interests Of tho policyholdors had been
overlooked. He favored a general insur-
ance law, and suggested 4 number Of
amendments and changes in the bill. He
said foreign companies ought Ia be -
quired 10 deposit in the District Supreme
Court funds 10 secure the payment Of
claims here. A; the request of Chairman
Jenkins, General Birney agreed to submit
his amendments In writing to the sub
committee.
Noble d. Laruer while not opposing he
bill as whole, urged that Insurance COM
raDies In the District he placed on the
same footing Is iasurance companies in the
different States.
H. L. Sullivan argued against the tax on
brokers He thought the tax should be
borne b. The companies and not by the
brokers and solicitors. Mr.. sullivan said
q large tax would place all The business in
! few trust companies.
Henry Wells said man In the depart
menis should not do Insurance. business
without a license.
Mr.. Deehle made = few remarks in favor
of the bill.
Chairman jenkins said he regretted that
the Insurance men could not SET together