The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-01
GUILTY OF
A FELONY
Insurance Companies So Charged
Who Transact Business
WITHOUT A STATE LICENSE
The Penalty for This Offense Is Sc
we're, and It Would Seem That In
dividuaIs Would Not Incur the
Risk Which They Take.

Helena, Nov. 30.-State Auditor J.
II. Calderhead and his assistants are
taking steps to expose the insurance
companies who are endeavOring to do
business in Montana without having
gone to the trouble of procuring the
necessary license. Several days ago
there was published an interview
with Deputy State Auditor Oliver M.
Holmes in which it was stated that
one Montana firm insured in ten diff
ferent companies had learned, upon
inquiry, at the auditors Office that
only one of them was legally able to
transact business in the state.
Since that time the auditors Office
has been flooded with letters from
every part of the state inquiring in
to the standing of as many different
companies. 1t has been found that a
surprisingly large number of insur-
ance companies having no right to
carry policies in Montana have ac-
copied risks.
For the benefit of those who are
carrying insurance policies or who
may in the future take out insurance,
we will give to the public the names
of the companies that we have ascer-
tanned are endeavorng to transact
business in this state without secur-
ing authority under the law" said
Deputy Auditor Holmes. Those we
have secured are:
"Millers' National Insurance COM
panv of Chicago. Michigan Millers'
Mutual Fire Insurance company OF
Lansing, Standard Insurance compa-
ny of New York, imperial Insurance
company of London. Standard Insur-
ance company of London, Metropoli-
tan LlOyds of Chicago Northwestern
Lloyds of Chicago, National Fire
Lloyds of Chicago. American Fire I'm
derwriters of Chicago, North River
Insurance company of New York,
Nassau Fire Insurance company OF
Brooklyn. Globe & Rutgers Fire m
surancc company of New York, Stuy-
vesant Fire Insurance company or
New York National Fire and Marine
Insurance company OF Elizabeth, N.
J.. Union Fire Insurance company OF
Chicago and the Mercantile Fire In
surance company Of Chicago.
9Th names OF other companies
that are illegally transactng bust
ness in the state will be given to the
press as they are secured.
1--WE win not at this time give the
names of the agents representing
these companies. but will do so at
future date if the companies are not
brought properly under the supervls-
ion of the insurance department OF
this office and receive proper author
ity to transact business in this state
as prescribed by our reasonable and
lenient insurance laws.
In our efforts 70 smoke out com
panies that are illegally doing bust
ness in the state. we are attempting
10 protect the interests of those VINO
carry insurance. the companies that
enter the state properly. coming UNI
der our supervision, contributing
their fees to the state funds and re-
ceiving proper authority. and the reg
ularly established Insurance agents
of the state who represent these le-
gitimatc companies.
1T comes as a surprise to find that
some Of the agencies in the state
that have always been in good stand
ing with their communities and with
this office, are imposing on the credu-
lty of their insurance clients and
writing them in companies that are
rot authorized to do business in the
state. In these cases the imposition
on the pOlcE nOuer cannot be ldlu
to the ignorance of the law on the
part of the insurance agents as they
are thoroughly familiar with every
statutory eXactiOn.
Under section of AN act to pro-
vide for the licensing of insurance
companies etc. approved March 4,
1897. any person, agent, officer Or
trustee OF any insurance company not
authorized to transact business in
the state, who solicits. procures. re-
eeives or forwards applications for
insurance or delivers policies for any
such companies. or who may adjust
any loss or in any manner either di-
rectly Or indirectly aid in the trans
action of any insurance with any such
company. must on conviction be
deemed guilty Of a felony.
"As the penalty for this offense is
severe. it would not seem that ind-
viduals would care to run the risk Of
having to pay it for the sake Of secur-
ing the small compensation that
comes to them FOR each infraction Of
the law. And l will say that the pros