The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-28
He SCORES AT LAST.
Senator Waggener VIII Have Insur-
ance Trust Investigated.

Senator Waggener followed the old
adage of try, try again and on the
third trial he succeeded in getting the
senate on record on the insurance
trust question by securing the adop-
ton of his resolution directing the at
torney general to investigate the in
surance trust.
Senator NVaggener introduced two
bills aimed at the insurance trusts,
pools and rate books and the senate
killed both of these and also the
which Senator Waggener offered to
the other insurance bills.
This morning Senator Waggener's
resolution came before the senate. The
resolution is:
Whereas, The governor, in his mes
sage, has called attention to the in
surance trust. and the continuous
violation and evasion of the laws of
the state, and
can get no relief from this legislature,
by extending and charging the pow
ers of the superintendent of insur-
ance.
therefore be it resolved, by the
senate, the house concurring. that the
attorney general be and he is hereby
directed and instructed to forthwith
institute necessary proceedings, and
invoke all existing remedies to break
up and destroy, all pools, agencies,
agreements, and com binationS, OF
every kind, and nature, intended and
designed. 10 ana MAINTAIN UNIFORM
ity of rates, and which tend to pre-
vent free and unrestricted competition
among fire insurance companies.
Resolved, That a copy of this reSo-
luton be delivered to the attorney
general"
Senator Waggener said in support of
the resolution: 1T has been stated that
we have laws at present sufficient t.
and acting upon this the senate has re-
fused to pass any insurance law. /
read from the governors message as
follows:
II wish to call your attention to the
alleged evasions of the laws of 1889 and
1901, partly passed for the purpose of
preventing the organization of trusts or
combines in the insurance business. It
is said that insurance rates have been
increased in the last three or four years
by reason of this evasion from so to rs
per cent. The processes by which these
evasions of the antitrust laws have
accomplished arc well known to those
who have given the subject study. First,
local boards were organized in the
towns and cities, which fixed the rates
on property, but these were shOrt-lived,
owing to the interference of the courts.
Then. what was known. I believe as
the C1arkson rate, was established,
which was also driven out of existence
by the courts. But substantially the
same rates have been restored under
another name, prepared ostensibly by a
private citizen. and are known as the
advisory rates. Insurance rates are en-
tirely too high in this state-relatively
much higher than elsewhere As the
law now stands, the people seem to
have no protection against the cupidity
of insurance companies There is prac-
tically no competition in the business
and no present pretense Of any. The
laws on the subject are evaded and
practically annulled. Mr.. Luling makes
many suggestions which are worthy of
your careful consideration, and par
ticularly commend those which relate to
a law authorizing the superintendent of
insurance to revoke the license of COM
panies and agents who do not comply
with the laws of this state, and the ex-
penditure of a small amount annually
for the publication of lists Of authoriz-
ed and unauthorized companies, which
is successfully done in many states, pro-
tecting the people from imposition on
the part of unauthorized, wildcat in
surance companies doing business in
this state
This is to test the law and to let the
next legislature know what the situa-
ton regarding insurance"
The resolution was adopted, % sena-
tors voting for il.