Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-02-10
MANY IOWA MEASURES
Bills Introduced on Almost
Every Imaginable Subject.
TWO INSURANCE MEASURES.
One Bill Before the Legislature Seeks
to Eliminate Abuses in the Examina-
ton of Companies-I1ouse Commit
tee Considering Railroad Bills.

in the introduction of bills and their
reference to the various committees
Bills have been introduced on almost
every imaginable subject and a num-
Der of them are of considerable inn
portance.
The bills relating to railroads have
attracted the attention of the compa-
MES and their representatives have
been in the city the past week to ap-
pear before the committees to which
these bills have been referred, The
committee of the house on railroads
has before it for consideration four
bills to which it is understood the
companies offer objections. These
bills are: Requiring the companies
to issue passes to stock shippers with
each shipment of one carload or over;
providing that each company shall be
required in case person owns land
on both sides of the railway to make
and keep in good repair cattle guards
and causeways or other adequate
means of crossing the same at such
reasonable places as may be designat-
ed by the owner" providing that rail-
road companies shall put underground
crossing in at any point designated by
the owner of farm Of eighty acres or
over, in case the grade will permit it;
providing that all railroads must con-
meet their lines Eat all towns wherein
two or more railroads terminate"
The railroad attorneys say that the
state legislature can not compel
them to issue passes with stock ship
ments which go outside the state.
These bills were to be considered
by the house committee last week,
but by request of the railroad repre-
sentatives consideration was contin-
ued until this week
Two Insurance Measures.
Other important measures are the
bills introduced last Thursday in re-
gard to insurance matters. These bills
are in line with the suggestions in
Governor Cummins' annual message
and were prepared by the state aud
itor and submitted to a joint meeting
Of the insurance committees, held on
Wednesday last
One bill is for an act providing for
the examination of insurance compa-
MES and requires that the state aud
itor shall examine into affairs Of any
insurance company authorized to do
business In the state of Iowa. such
examinations to be not less frequent
than once in two years. Such exami-
nation shall include inspection Of
books, etc., and the auditor is author
lied to administer oaths. The aud
itor shall appoint an insurance exam
liner, who shall be a competent actu-
airy, at an annual salary of $4,000,
who shall give bond of $4,000, and,
while conducting examinations, shall
Lave all the powers of the state aud
'itor in respect thereto. His whole
time shall be under the control of the
state auditor. When necessary. two
assistants may be appointed at sal
aries of $500 per day, with no further
compensation than actual and neces-
sary expenses while away from hoIae
in the performance of their duties.
These expenses, together with COM
pensation of examiners for time spent,
shall be paid out Of the state treasury
and shall be collected from the COM
panies examined, and in case they re-
fuse to pay. their certificate may be
revoked. II a company is found to be
insolvent or unsound or engaged in
illegitimate or unauthorized business
their certificate to do business In
Iowa may be revoked, and, If an Iowa
company, the auditor shall apply to
the attorney general, who shall ask
for an appointment of a receiver
Transfer Of stock In any company
made pending an examination shall
not release party making transfer
for liability for losses occurring pre-
vious to transfer Any officer or agent
of company knowing that their Ger.
tificate has been revoked or that the
company Is insolvent or engaged in
illegitimate or unauthorized business,
soliciting business or receiving appli-
cations, shall be liable for punish
ment in accordance with section 1914
Of the code. II any Iowa company
shall refuse to be examined an appli.
cation for receiver shall be made.
Examinations Of the companies out
side of the state shall be made by or
der of the executive council.
The second bill Is to provide for the
consolidation. of life insurance COM
panies or the reinsurance of the risks
Of such companies by other companies
authorized to do business within the
state. No company organized under
the laws Of Iowa to do the business of
life, accident or health insurance may
consolidate or re-insure the whole or
part Of their risks with other CON-
panies, except not to exceed one-half
OF a single risk, without permission.
Any company desiring to consolidate
or re-insure must present their pro-
posed plan to the state auditor for
approval or modification and he shall
fix time for hearing. In case Of an