The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-14
WHAT LULlNG WANTS.
Thinks There Should Be Some Lnsur-
ance Legislation.

| c. H. Luling state superintendent of
insurance, believes there ought to be
some new insurance legislation by the
next Kansas legislature. He thinks
some of the abuses practiced by some
I insurance companies could be r1ghted,
and the insurance department could do
much more if given more power In
his annual report directed to the gov
ernor, just issued, Mr.. Luling says:
My experience during the year Gov
ering the annexed report has convtnc-
ed me that the insurance laws of Kan
sas need attention by the next legisla-
ture.
THE department is operating. under
1 the general code of laws by which IT
was created in 1871. Since that time
| the business of insurance has developed
into one of the important institutions
of the state. Progress has marked ITS
development, but the laws nave not
| been amended to meet the new condl-
| tons, and the result is that there are
many features of the insurance bust
ness which are now not regulated by
our laws. Regulations of the proper
character for the protection of the in
terestS of the companies, and also Tor
the protection of the interests of the
policy holders, are the measures which
should be considered and made opera
tive.
Among some of the important sub
/ jects which l desire to present to you
and ask your consideration, and also
recommendation for enactment by the
legislature, are the following:
"A law to prevent rebating in life in
tsurance.
a law to require life insurance com
panies to report cancellation of agency
contracts to the insurance department.
"A law requiring solicitors for life IN
surance companies to leave with appl-
cants complete Illustrations and out
line the policy which is desired.
"A law authorizing the superintend-
of companies, and also licenses OF
agents who do not comply with the
laws of Kansas.
"A law governing the general adnls-
sion of all classes of fire, life and mis-
cellaneous companies to transact bust
ness in Kansas.
"A more strict law and greater pen
alties for the violation of the insurance
law by nonresident agents. and, also,
added penalties for the violation of our
laws by agents of unauthorized conf
panies.
THE laws governing fraternaI bene-
f1ciary societies should be amended and
made more specific. The Legislature
should enact a measure which would
prove beneficial in the maintenance OF
Insurance of this character.
There are also some contradictions
and ambiguous provisions in the laws
governing mutual fire insurance COM
panies which should be amended.
ITO protect the organizer and solicit
tor for fraternal beneficiary societies.
think there should be enacted a law
requiring all such individuals to have
license
partment, for which a small fee should
be paid.
greatest revenue producing institution
in the state of Kansas, and, IN my
opinion, an expenditure of small
amount of money annually, following
the system in successful operation in
many other states, for the publication
in newspapers of lists of authorized
and unauthorized insurance companies,
would go long ways towards protect
ing the people of Kansas from the out
RACES of unauthorized, wildcat lnsur-
ance companies Of all classes.
statistics from numerous eastern
states, compiled by representative of
important cities therein, indicate that
a great ma jOrity of fires are due TO
incendiarisn1 for which crime in our
state there is seldom, if ever, prose-
cution. Many of the eastern states
have in force a very successful law
creating a state fire marshal, whose
business it is to investigate fires of
this character and bring the Offenders
to justice. The incendiary fires IN TINS
state annually, where thousands OF dol-
! lars worth of property IS destroyed py
| incendiarieS, and the Dement'S wh1ch
am sure will accrue to the state, lead
me to the conclusion that a hre mar
sas, and I respectfully suggest that you
recommend the enactment OF such a
1 law by the legislature
L hope that you will see fit to pre-
/ sent TO the legislature d ISSoiIAAAASllN-eA
! ton for legislation which Will protect
the people of our state, and at the same
\ time make the insurance department
/ the power for good which it should be.
The state insurance department IS an
| exceedingly good thing for the state.
This is largely due to the law framed
/ by Webb McNall and passed by the
/ Populists at the special session of 1893,
placing a two per cent tax on the bus1-
ness done by outside insurance COM
panies in Kansas.
i The total income of the insurance de-
partment was 1856 28.S3 for the four
months from January 1 to May l, 1904,
while the expense of running the de-
| partment, the salaries and contingent
1 fund, amounts only to s7,7z0 for whole
year. The sources from Whlch the IN
4 come of the department is derived ana
the amounts during the hrst TOUR
months of this year were as follows:
| Agents licenses ......--.-----.$ 1f,194. %
Charter fees ...-.-.......------ 1so-o0
! Annual statement ...------.-- t,s9o.00
State school fund .-.-------- 650-9o
NFiScel1aneoi,s . $3.50
/ ~ ,s.;T,.+ior fees .. 1928. 80
Firemen's relief fund.-..---.- 26,SOO.83
Total ............ s1s6, 72s.14
This is an increase of $16,324.15 over
the total income of last year. There
VIII be comparatively little income dur
ing the balance of the year, however.
! for All the taxes, the fremen's relief
fund, and the agents licenses are paid