The Washington times., 1901-08-02
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
The Establishment of the New De-
p partment of Insurance.

Commissioner Mncfarlnnd Consid-
ering Candidates for Superintend-
cnt-secretnry to the school Board
StiII Waiting for His Check.
Commissioner Macfarfand, who has i'm
mediate supervision over the appointment
of a Superintendent Of Insurance for the
District has given considerable attention
to the matter The act of Congress ITO
establish a code Of law for the DistHct
of Columbia" approved March 3. 1901.
provides for the establishment of Il De-
partment of Insurance. The heCommissioners
are authorized and directed to appoint a
Superintendent of Insurance at an annual
| salary of 81 500, and one clerk at an an
nual salary of 1000, 1t is stipulated that
such superintendent and clerk shall de-
vote their services exclusively to the busi-
ness of the department.
| The law creating the new Department
of Insurance vas framed upon the lines
| of the New York and Massachusetts in
surance laws, and is similar to them, ex-
| cept that it is not comprehensive. 1t
stipulates that the Superintendent of In
surance shall have supervision over mat
| ters pertaining to insurance, Insurance
companies, and beneficial orders and as
sociations, subject only to the general
| VI TIE ne
superintendent is to see that all laws
relating to insurance are faithfully ex-
ecuted. He is to keep on file in his office
copies of the charter and declaration Of
organization and other papers of every
| insurance company in the District. In
case of foreign companies, specified de-
posits are to be required. Annual state
ments are to be submitted by the COM
panies. and the superintendent is required
/ each year to make an annual report to the
| Commissioners.
| Commissioner Macfarland announced
yesterday that it bad been determined
| to appoint man for superintendent Of |
the new department who is an acknowl-
edged expert in insurance matters. He |
stated that the position required a man |
OF high abilities who shou.5: have a |
thorough knowledge of insurance law.
and an intimate acquaintance with the |
business methods of insurance companies |
He stated that it would be useless to |
appoint n man without these qualitiea- |
tions. The duties of the position are such |
that the Commissioner Is impressed that |
in justice to the Insurance companies. |
beneficial associations, etc, it is essen |
tlal that the superintendent shall have |
practical knowledge of this character. |
ffehce II has been determined that the |
commissioners, with the aid of prominent |
insurance men, viii find an appointee |
with the necessary qualifications.
Mr.. Macfarland remarked Yesterday |
that the salary was low for the man re- |
CURED He Is of theJ opinion that men
"hom the salary might attract might not |
pe louhu satisfactory, and that 1t will be |
necessary to seek some one already en- |
ployed In Some responsible position and |
induce hin to take up the work of estab-
llshlng the new Department of Insurance |
N frlr
hon apart from the sasury, offers induceN
ments to an ambitions man, and that
such a candidate fori the of3ica xr,,,i -
found.
1t Is understood that the position has I
already been rendered to two insurance |
men, men, VINO, after considering the matter. |
considered. and Il Is hoped that the
proper appointee may be found among
Two or three men who are being ap-
ptpheheI The snd, IN reference 10 the matter.
uhtil January i of next year. AS yet |
there is no appropriation to pay the saIa- |
res ana expenses OF the office, that part
OF the matter having been left for the
action OF Congress when 1t assemblies next
winter.
Andrew B. Duvall. the Attorney for the
District, yesterday sent to the Commits
sioners his opinion concerning the re-
quest of John F. Cook and others for the
abatement of tax on lot ss, Metropolis
View. THE Assistant Assessor" says
the Attorney. notes the fact that my
opinion upon the exemption of this prop
erty, May 26. 1888. was based upon sec
ton 14s. r. S.. d. c.. which provides:
All cemeteries in the District outside
OF the cities of Washington and George
town, the owners of which sell lots or
burial rights iEdiscriminately to those
applying therefor. except those owned
by Incorporated associations. shall be as
sessed and taxed ether property in the
same carts of the District, but all lots
In such cemeteries, when actually sold
Tor burial purposes, shall be exempt from
taxation and he suggests that the mat
ter is controlled by the act of Congress
approved March 3. 1877, which exempts
from taxation:
Cemeteries dedicated and used solely
for burial purposes and without private
income or profit; but If any portion of any
such building house, grounds, or ceme- |
terry so In terms excepted is larger than
is absolutely required and actually used
for its Legitimate purposes and none other,
or is used to secure a rent or income or
for any business purpose. such portion of
the same. or sum equal in value to such |
portion, shall be taxed against the owner
of said building or grounds
The Revised Statutes of the United
States relating to the District of Column |
bia were practically a re-enactment of ex-
isting law as of December l. 1873.
The act of Congress of March 3, 1871
is declared in its concluding section to be
the permanent tax law for the District |
until repealed; its provisions respecting |
the exemption from taxation of ceme-
teries are materially changed in that it |
makes no discrimination between incor-
porated and unincorporated associations. |
In this respect its effect was to repeal
that feature of section 14s. r. s.. D. c.
Il advised. having in view only section |
las, r. s., ID. c., that this cemetery was | .
not entitled to exemption. being an unin- g.
corporated body. This was erroneous be- q.
cause 1t overlooked the repeating effect of .
the later act OF Congress. .
''I now have the honor to advise that, .
in my opinion, the cemetery was and Is | .
exempt from taxation from and after
March 3. 1877, the date Of said act of Con- |
gress."
The question whether the old or the new |
secretary to the Board of Education is
to receive the check for services for the
month of July was not decided yesterday. :
The accounting officers of the District Z
submitted the matter to the Comptroller
of the Treasury and conference of the y
parties interested was held yesterday at
the Treasury Building. After investigat
ing the matter fully the officials of the
District were informed that the Comp
troller would, within few days, send to
them a written decision upon the case.
No intimation was given of what that .
decision would be. L
In the article published yesterday in d
The Times it WAS inadvertently stated