The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-03
Commissioner Drake Tells
of Establishment of
Department.
INTERPRETATIONS OF LAW
Licenses Issued to IA Companies De-
string to Do Business IN District-Ex-
animation of National Insurance
ComPany-DesiTes a Larger Fo-ce.

Mr. Thomas E Drake, Superintendent
Of Insurance, has forwarded to the Dis
trict Commissioners his report of the
operations of his department for the
fiscal year ended June 80 last. Mr.
Drake also appended statement Of
the expenditures necessary for the con
duct OF the Office for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1904
Attention is called 10 the tact that
the work Of the department extended
over only a part of the fiscal year, the
office having been created by Congress
under the act Of March, 1901, 10 go into
effect January l, 1902
Mr.. Drake says that the law was not
clear. or at least not well understood.
and that il became necessary for him
before sending out the qualifying docu-
menJs, to Issue an official ruling bear
ing upon hcerses-
Interpretation Of the Law.
This ruling is quoted in tuu in the
report and lays down the interperta-
ton put upon sections 646. 654 and 655
of the District Code in regard TO in
surance licenses.
Under this ruling all companies is
suing only their own policies pay ii
cense Zee OF SO Local and foreign
companies desiring TO act as agents for
ether companies pay $50. Foreign com
panies represented by a principal or
policy writing agent pay $50 The pTin-
ciDal or policy writing agent pays a
fee of $50. The brokers' license Is $50
The solicitors license IS s. ard the
solicitors license limited 10 one com
Fany Is s..
Companies Licensed
Prom January 1, 70 July l. says Mr.
Drake, "224 insurance companies, asso-
Citations and fraternal orders applied
for admission 10 do business in the Dis
trict OF Columbia. On July l, IA Of
these had been licensed for the prelim-
mary term Of four months, running from
January l. to May l. which latter date
is fixed by law as the anniversary Of all
licenses
During this period, preliminary Ii
eenses were issued as follows. Princi-
pal agents. los, solicitors, ordinary. 155.
solicitors, industrial, 50; brokers, i; the
fees upon which amounted 10 S2.S1l-35-
Total expenses Of the Department dur
ing this period including salaries and
Office furniture. were $2,76S-05. No
taxes have as Yet been collected L IS
estimated that the receipts from these
two sources for 1902 VIII amount 10
81, geo or $50G0e-"
National Life Insurance Company
The report gives detailed information
relative to a number of companies which
failed 10 quanfy under the laws. and a
number Of assessment companies which
have withdrawn from business here lie
states that an examination OF The Ma
tionaI Life Insurance Company l. ;. 4
Is nov taking place.
Nj. Drake offers several suggestions
relative 10 the annual examination Of
certain companies, including the local
fre Insurance companies, but specifies
that II ought 70 be done through the
department without expense 10 the com
panies He would extend the same policy
10 the assessment associations and the
fraternaI orders doing various forms o.
life insurance
Attention is called TO the lack Of pro-
vision IN the law for establishing the
sosvency OF regular life insurance com
pauies and the necessity fOr Issuing an
conclusion, The report says
Clerical Force Too Small
..The work OF the department has been
greatly handicapped for want Of sufi-
cieut clerical help. and this accounts Tor
being behind several months in the is
suance OF licenses 10 companies. agents
ard solicitors During the last session
co., n-auE however law VAS UaEEel
providing for one examiner for the de-
partment, and $500 was appropriated TO-
extra clerk hire. IN addition 10 these
provisions there should be a sUaJisticiaI
and a stenOgTapher, The duties OF which
are explained in the accompanying esi-
mate OF appropriations for the depart
menr during 1893 and 1904 20
Wants Increase Of sa.ary.
In the schedule Of estimates for the
next fiscal year Mr. Drake asks fol
an aggregate Of SI3, 800 for the depart
nent. IN this amount is included the
increase Of the salary of the superin-
tendent from $3.50 70 $500, the salary
OF statisticiau $500. a stenographeE
81 200. and a number Of minor items toI
the conduct Of the business Of the de-
partuent.
The work Of the department has but
fairly begua,' adds Mr. Drake The
effect. however, Of supervision IN the
District Of Columbia has already beer
fayorsbly felt. the best proof OF which
\ is evidenced by not as manv companies
Qualifying in IS02-pTiucipaIly because
they could not-than IN 1901"
Marine Band Concert.