The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1900-09-06

law comes in the character OF a public
clamor. based upon Z false idea. and II
IS never safe to yield to a clamor of
any sort Such measures always react
with terrific force
Similar bills have been introduced
in the Iowa legislature Al nearly every
session for years. but a painstaking
investigation of the subject has hereto
fore saved the people of this state from
what I believe would prove a calam-
ity. and 1 doubt not the same result
would have followed the bill this year
as heretofore had time permitted more
deliberation
Nor is this all The insurance com
missioners of every state. L think.
where such laws exist have repeated
iy called attention to their unfortunate
effects. The insurance commissioner OF
Ohio. in 1895. in his annual report.
uses this language Il fear that the
heavy loss ratio in this state be
traced to some of the obnoxious legis-
lation enacted with reference to insur-
ance companies In further explana-
ton of his views. he copies into his
port letter which he wrote to an OH
cial of another state making inquiry
the effect of the valued policy
law in Ohio. In the course of his let
ter, he says: TO say that fires have
steadily increased since the enactment
of this obnoxious law is TO put 1t mild
ly- In my judgment. no man ought to
receive from the insurance company q
dollar more than his actual loss
The legislature of Ohio ought
| to have repealed the law years ago.
The rates have steadily in
| creased since the enactment OF this
| law, clearly showing that the honest
| people in the end are compelled to pay
| for the dishonest losses. The existence
| of this law in Ohio has in my 5udg-
| ment. been the cause of the destruc-
!, ton OF hundreds of thousands of dol
/ bel tn
innocent persons"
The insurance commissioner OF Wis
| consin, criticising this law In his
| port OF 1895. says: The very founda-
| tion principles of fire Insurance ara
| opposed to such a law. Fire insur-
| ance is indemnity; it should never be
| gain 1T is intended only to make
| good the actual loss sustained and to-
| make a company liable in case of total
| loss for the full face of the policy ir-
| respective of the value of the property.
| has been the means of increasing the
| number of fires. and has compelled
| the payment of thousands of dollars.
| thus increasing the rates to the honest
| man"
In 1894 the superintendent of fnsur-
] ancs IN Missouri, after describing the
| law and it's effect. says: This is sim
ply incentive to perjury and arson
| Neither the insurance company nor the
| insured should be permitted to enter
into such contracts. The law
should require that every person
should help to insure his own prop
erty.'
The insurance commissioner OF
| Michigan, in 1888 warning the leeis-
| 1ature against unhealthy legislation,
| says: Among the most obnoxious %
these acts. on the statute books 81;
some of the states, the one attempting
to do up the business. by what il
| known the valued policy law stands
| ,In Of 4ev
tive folly. 1t should be in all cases en-
titled An act to encourage incendiar-
ism and facilitate the business of SELL
ing out to insurance companies at in
fated prices
Similar quotations might be multi
piled almost indefinitely. Insurance
commissioners are certainly well quail
fed to speak. and their uttcrances
should be accepted made In behalf
| of policy-holders, rather than in the
interest of policy writer's.
The proposition to amend the con-
StitutiOn to provide for biennial
instead of annual elections, seems to
be conceded all hands certain OF
adoption. This will result in the 18th
General Assembly, being composed OF
the same men who constituted the
28th General Assembly and the pres
ent Chief Executive will be continued
in ONCE pending that session. II upon
| further investigation it shall be
| deemed Wis6 70 TS-cnacL Inls Dill. II
will not he necessary to pass it over x
| veto, for IT will be promptly signed.
simply avail myself OF my prerogative
and re-subnit the bill to the same men
| who originally passed 1T, that they.
pending the delay, may make such in
dividual investigation as may be-
deemed expedient. and thereafter take
such action shall to them seem
wise and for the best interest of the
people of this commonwealth
LESLIE NJ SHAW
May 5th, 1900. Governor of Iowa.
The Importance of the subject is my
| apology for the length OF this article.
| I believe, however, it is worth the
space and hope it is now clear to your
| many readers
INSURANCE AGENT
August Goth; 1900
| Rag-Time Aroused ne
| At the first performance OF Sousa q