The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-04
NORTH CAROLINA INSURANCE
LAWS.

rTOIH LIE INSURANCE f1STd Iu OI Atio
ia we axe the account given below of
the proceedings Of the annual onv
ton Of state insurance commissioners
held in Indianapolis last week. 1t Will
be seen that Commissioner Young, Ct
this state, took quite a prominent part
in the proceedings and that the legis-
lation of this state regarding insurance
is beginning to attract a good deal or
attention from other states of late. To
Mr.. M. S. Willard, Of our city, who was
| one of New Hanover's representatives
in the legislature in the sessions of 1898
and 1900, is due the chief credit for our
states excellent insurance laws. If
we are not greatly mistaken the laws
on our statute books for the protec-
ton Of property owners who hold fire
insurance policies and those for the
detection and punishment Of incendia-
| ries amounted to very little before Nj.
! Willard, who is an experienced insu-
rance man., took the matter up as rep
resentative from this county and eng:-
neered through the legislature the
| Wholesome insurance laws we now have.
The North Carolina insurance law;
have created such an impression upon
the legislators Of other states that they
have been copied almost verbatim IN
the s~tatut of several of the states OF
the union.
From the Insurance Herald we eli,
the following account of the proceed
ings of the convention of insurance
commissioners:
The following resolution offered By
Insurance Commissioner Folk of Ten
nessee, relative to fraudulent insurance
companies was adopted:
Be it resolved that the report of tn.
special committee on legislation before
congress be accepted, and it is recon-
mended that the national convention
of insurance commissioners renews its
recommendation to congress for the en-
actment Of national legislation, specif-
cally denying wildcat or fraudulent
insurance concerns the use of the mails.
for the reasons which were embraced
in the resolution adopted at Baltimore
in 1903, which reasons have heretofore
been presented to congress.
Be it further resolved, That the pres
ident of this convention again appoint
a special committee of five whose duty
~ SAoAl NC " LosS III lid &c QUILL 1SS-
/ islation.
Be it further resolved, That the pres
ident of this convention shall be OK
officio a member Of this committee.
THE Fire Marshal Law the top.c
assigned to Insurance Commissioner
Young, Of North Carolina to discuss,
was very favorably received. He sail
in part:
TT is generally acknowledged in our
state at this time that there is no law
upon our statute books that is more
popula or that has done more to make
| popular the work of the insurance de-
partment. There are now twenty-four
persons in the state prison serving out
sentences imposed during the present
administration of this law, besides 9TH
ers working on the public roads of the
different counties. There have been
more convictions, many of whom have
serve out their terms.
"Of couse there have been many
more prosecutions n trials in whicl
no convictions were obtained, but it
does not necessarily follow that no
good was accomplished, for in many
cases the commissioner is satisfied that
more good was accomplished in some
communities by vigorous prosecutions
in which no convictions were obtained
than in other communities where a
verdict of guilty was rendered. Search
ing Investigations have done much good
even where sufficient evidence could not
be obtained to Justify a Prosecution.
"a great and probably the greatest
benef OF this law comes from its de-
terrent effect. The crime of arson has
decreased in the state since It is under
stood that each and every suspicious
fire will be investigated and vigo.-
Gus prosecution instituted wherever the
circumstances will Justify it.
It do not thing that I can emphasize
too much the importance Of including
under this law the inspection of prem
ises, where there is not some other law
in the state providing this It is
strange, but nevertheless a a C that
while more is to be accomplished by
taking the props precautions against
the starting of fires than by efforts TO
put them out after they have once
started yet communities that are will
ling to spend thousands of dollars in
keeping up a good and efficient fire de-
! parement are generally found to be