The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-12
A new OFFICIAL.
Insurance Agents Want a State
Fire Marshal.
His Duty Would Be to Investi-
gate Losses.
AVOID CONTROVERSIES
Would Decide Whether Claims
Are Just.
PrnnaSaI fn Rn GuhmRffod I'm %h0
AVOID CONTROVERSIES
Proposal to Be Submitted to the
Next Legislature.

The local FIRE insurance agents of
Kansas are preparing to make fight
before the next Legislature for the pas
sage Of law creating the office of state
fire marshal whose duty it shall be to
inquire into the causes and determine.
if possible, the origin of fires which
cause disputes and litigation concerning
fire insurance policies
The local fire insurance agents OF the
state, not in Kansas alone. but in other
states as well, are always in a disturbed
state concerning fires in which the COM
panies which they represent are the
losers
Controversies arise and they are often
times prolonged and bitter, the DISPOSE
ton of the companies. being to evade i'm
position, which in some instances they
are subjected to by the pressure for set
Elements of claims which in the opinion
of the agents are not just and are due
to other than natural causes
In this manner the agents business
is frequently injured because of the fact
that it becomes known that he is in the
habit of attempting, as the patrons de-
terrnine it, of evading settlements on
just and reasonable basis Whlle the
motives which prompted the action OF
agent might pc OF the highest JUST
ness character, yet he is at all times
subject to denunciation because OF a pre-
JUDGE which was created by some sllght
controversy.
For this and many other important
reasons which the local agents can as
sign, they desire to have representation
in the state government to when queS-
lions of this character may be referred
and by the official settled.
The agents point out the fact that the
SUPERINTENDENT of insurance has neither
the power or the time to engage in this
adjustment work. and they are therefore
in their opinion, justified in asking for
state fire marshal.
The plan is to have some expert fire
loss adjuster and detective" appointed
to this new position and to have the law
so framed that his judgment in settle
ment of controversies be final; that there
be no appeal from his decisions, unless
through the channels of a suit to recov-
er sums claimed to be due by reason OF
fire losses.
The association does not contemplate
the removal Of the American privilege
of any man to sue and be sued but the
local agent want and very much de-
sire to have this new position created
so that controversies as are likely tore
vert against the success of the local
agents business be settled under the
sanction of the state by the fire marshal,
representing the state.
It is the plan of the agents to have the
powers of the fire marshal so framed, by
law, that he may suggest and enforce
the settlement with patrons who have
suffered losses upon an equitable basis.
This fact is no where admitted by the
local agents because none desire to an
tagonize the policy of the company
which frequently 'sQueezes' the man
who has had a loss.
The agents claim this fire marshal
plan would dispose of volumes of trou-
BILE and make the way for insurance so
licitors easier
The plan originated in Wichita and the
local agents association there has asked
agents in other cities to cooperate.