The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-30

and made recommendations for future
actions. The topics discussed were:
Overhead Writing." and Rating"
and Specification" and "Commis-
sions.'' Brokerage Sole Agencies
and "Co-operation. Rating and classi-
fication were discussed from the proper
absolute necessity of the classification
and comparison of the experience of
companies in the matter of losses in Or
der to ascertain equitable rates He said
the right to predicate uniform rates up
on such data being prohibited by statute
in some states. the result is that rates
are higher in such states than in others
where this prohibition does not exist
Legislation, he said that increases ex-
penses by excessive taxation and by pre-
venting cooperation necessarily in
creaSeS the rate of insurance. He con-
tended that equitable rating which can
cooperation is of more importance to
the policy holder than to the company
Rates too high and rates too low, he
said, are equally unjust to the insuring
public, as they hold.
Among his recommendations were the
following:
A conference with the association of
insurance commissioners, offering them
cooperation and assistance in securing
uniform and equitable legislation, means
for securing a better observance of the
law against overhead writing; a mater
iaI restriction of brokerage; the taking
of a advance ground in the matter OF
sole agencies.
Secretary Treasurer Frank Holmes of
Chicago then made his annual report as
Since the last annual meeting the as
sociation has made substantial pro-
gress. States and territories are not
only organized with a complete list of
oIncerS, with their own constitution and
bylaws, but almost all of them are in
healthy growth with active and far
reaching influence in the support of
right principles in opposition to bad
practices in fire underwriting.
Il believe that the companies as a
whole are bending their energies to the
sole agency plan. this reform which will
benefit the insuring public, companies
and agents alike may be considered the
dominant influence for 1899 and 1900.
This association has passed the expert
mental stage, and has outgroWn the
present constitution and bylaws. A new
constitution, bylaws and platform of
principles should be prepared
A. H. Robinson, of Louisville, KY,
chairman Of the executive committee,
submitted his report which in part
said:
''Our welfare and that of our COM
panies is identical. This we have re-
allied for many rears, but it does not
seem to have been so construed by the
companies. hence we should not have
found it necessary to organize for mu-
tual protection.
1.-THE disregard of our territorial
rights. the indifference for our welfare
in multiplying competition, the recOg-
milton of the brokers' inroads upon our
business, all born of an indomitable
greed, are in evidence and as active par
ticipants in this movement we wish to
take this occasion to say that so long
as these conditions exist so long do we
expect to use our endeavOr to defeat
them-not altogether from a mercenary
standpoint, but because we are satisfied
that the business will never improve
until these Objectionable practices have
sighted policy to multiply agents for
the purpose of increasing volume in re-
ceipts; it not only lessons the respect
of agents for the companies welfare,
creating indifference in the selection
and protection of risks, but so divides the
business to force good men out or
necessitate increase in commission to
properly compensate them for their
services.
saThe main issue now before this as
sociation is the question of sole agency,
and we must admit it to be a knotty
problem to adjust without friction and
in equity to all parties in interest 1t
will be settled, and some plan must be
evolved that will reach this end This
association has put it's stamp of dis
approval upon the practice, and could
possibly remove it by harsh measures,
but a spirit of compromise and conceS-
sion should prevail in all our legisla-
tion.
ut remains largely with you gentle
unfavorable competition on the part of
your companies shall continue to exist
This association should reiterate its po-
sition taken at Buffalo on this question
and go further-single agencies every
where-no exceptions. 1t is all bosh to
say that a company shall have so many
agencies in one place and so many in an
other, according to size. This should,
and will regulate itself in another way
the larger the place, the fewer companies
agents will have to represent"
On account of the absence of Chair
man Jackson of the grievance commit
tee the report of that committee was
read by Thomas H. Geer, of Cleveland.
The report showed a large increase in
number of complaints filed and indica-
ted the desire on the part of company
mana gers to assist in redressing wrongs
done agents. The report called attention
to the value of state associations in ad-
justing local differences A recess was
then taken until afternoon.