The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-31
CHURCH HITS BACK
Insurance Commissioner Replies
to His Predecessor.
Says That Mr.. McNaII Is En-
tirely Wrong.
THAT RELIEF FUND.
Mr.. Church Asserts That He
Collected 1t.
Mr.. McNall Had Nothing to Do
With Fund.
THAT RELIEF FUND.

In an article which appeared IN the
State Journal last Tuesday Webb Nc
Nall criticised certain features of W. v.
Church's last annual report from the
insurance department, and made state
ments which are by Mr.. Church said to
be erroneous and misleading.
In reply Mr.. Church made the follow
ing statements to a State Journal re-
porter:
THE law requires that make my re-
port show the receipts of the department
and in complying with this requirement
the actual figures were published with
no desire to rob my predecessor of any
glory.
I'm this article published in the State
Journal, as the utterances of McNall,
certain statements which there appear
are absolutely wrong, especially with
reference to the collection of the fire
mems relief fund, and the reference to
the cause of the reduction of premium
rates.
Il appreciate the fact that no one de-
nies that there has been a material re-
duction of these rates. McNan says he
turned over to Mr.. Church, by personal
about SIS, 500 of the $2014O.1S of the
firemen's relief fund which Mr.. Church
says he collected
''McNall,'' says Mr.. Chruch, did not
relief fund of 1899, and if he had given
his check on the Central National bank
for a part of this fund, it would have
been utterly worthless for various rea-
sons. one of which is that not one cent
of this $50 140.S1 was ever in the Central
National bank Another very fair rea-
son why McNalPS check would not have
been good for the purpose mentioned. is
that he did not collect dime OF this
fund and of course it could not become
subject to his order. Every dollar OF this
r1,c-earr
ruary, 1900, nearly year after McNall
was out of office. This latter fact Will
explain why he did not collect it, But
who will explain why he says he collect
ed it?
These assertions, as made by McNall
and myself, are fiat contradictions. The
word of neither of us need be accepted.
Checks and drafts for the total amount
of $20,140.81 as sent by the insurance
companies, were deposited at the Mer-
chants National Bank of Topeka, and
placed to the credit of the firemen's re-
lief fund. hereby authorize said bank
to inform any inquirer when, and by
whom, these deposits were made.
ANY one who will make this inquiry
at the bank will learn that McNan did
not collect one cent of this hremen's re-
lief fund.
Now as to the reduction of fire insur-
ance rates. Mr.. McNa1 is quoted as
saying that this reduction was the result
of a rate war started by Frank Thomas,
backed by the Continental Insurance
company. 1n1S rate war was CO1Ilu6o
to the city of Topeka, and it only lasted
about ten days. There was very little
cutting of rates except by the Con-
tinental. The gross premium receipts OF
this company in the city of Topeka, for
the entire year 1899. amounted only to
ST 254, as shown by the company's sworn
statement. The Northwestern National
Insurance company was involved to a
limited extent in the rate war, but the
total premium receipts of this COM
pany, on account of it's Topeka business,
was less than $500 for the entire year.
The total amount saved by the citizens
of Kansas during 1899, on account of the
rate reduction, was $249,
amount of money could be saved by a
ten days rate war, confined to one To-
cality, by two companies whose COM
bined premium receipts for the entire
year was less than $1,000?
1.-The simple fact is, that when the
present administration was inaugurated
a@conference was held with representa-
tiveS of the fire insurance companies do
ing business in Kansas, which resulted
in a revision and reduction of premium
rates by the companies and the saving
of nearly quarter of million dollars
to the people.
ssMcNall says that he suppressed the
rating bureau whileth present admins
tration has fostered it. If this is true
it is unfortunate for the citizens of KAN
sas that he did not do less suppreSSing
and more fostering, for the simple rea-
son that under the alleged fostering
system the people of the state were able
to buy their fire insurance at saving of
a quarter of a million dollars over Nc
Nails suppression prices.