Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-19
Representatives Of the Compan-
les Desire Notifications OF
Iowa Laws
BLANCHARD LAW OBNOXIOUS
But Ono Change in Present Statute,
and That .unimportant, Probable
A Hayes. Tilden Political Quarrel Re-
called by Hearing Before Pardons
committee-eiIl to increase Revenues
Special to Times Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. Misrepresentation
of the fire insurance companies at the
hearing Of the house insurance COM
mittee on the uniform fire insurance
policy yesterday suggested the repeal
OF the Blanchard anti-compact law,
according to the belief Of the auditors
department.. This Is denied by the In.
surance companies. They also sug-
gested other changes in the uniform
policy that the minority at least Of the
insurance commission. and the auditors
apartment are not ready to accept
AT the close of the hearing the uniform
policy was turned over to sub COM
mittee consisting Of Jones, OF Mont
gomery, one of the members of the COM
mission; Sullivan, Moore, Grier and
Jewell.
]. c. Davis. attorney for the North-
western railroad, and the Iowa State
Insurance Company Of Keokuk, APP
Speared before the committee. He re-
duced his suggestions Of changes to
writing. In one he suggests q clause
that will permit two insurance conf
panies to issue joint insurance policy.
This it is claimed in thee auditors de-
partment repeals the Blanchard law
prohibiting combinations to fix insur-
ance rates. 1t is argued that IL two
companies are allowed to issue Joint
policy they must agree on the rate by
which 1t isi to be issued, and by so
doing down goes the Blanchard law.
He also suggested that there be no
waivers allowed except what are in
writing and attached to the Insurance
policy. This 1t is claimed by some
Of the members OF the commission and
the auditors office will really, while
seeming to be fair. allow agents OF
insurance companies to make all sorts
OF representations and misrepreserlta-
.tions verbally to policyholder and
then escape liability because they are
not in writing.
Another change asked by the insur-
ance companies thru Mr.. Davis is an
arbitration clause. This, too, will be
opposed on. the ground that there -
already an optional arbitration law on
the statute books and q compulsory
arbitration clause is denied as 1t would
place In the hands of the insurance
companies power to force an arbitra-
ton in every. case even when the loss
is total and their liability is to the
full face Of the policy apparent.
One change suggested by the insur-
ho adnnfad 81 This
lis that there be separate uniform
policy for ordinary fire companies
from those for the county and state
mutuals, which are organized on
different basis entirely.
A political campaign Of long ago was
recalled yesterday by hearing of the
pardons committees in the case Of Jas
per Mason, convicted Of murder In
Dallas county. 1t was brought out that
Mason killed one Woods after both
had been drinking and because of a
quarrel over whether Hayes or Tilden
should be elected. The killing took
place at the time Of the presidential
campaign Of 1876, and Mason has been
deprived Of his liberty ever since. An
interesting fact was that D. w. Wood
in, prominent attorney Of this city.
who defended Woods, spoke in his be-
half All opposition in Dallas county
has been removed and it is probable
the pardon will be granted. 1t 10 be-
Elieved now that If Mason could have
testified in his own behalf he would
have been convicted of second degree
murder only.
3. = l.
A bill that will 60 far toward add
ing to the income Of the state IL 1t be-
comes a law was introduced by Sena-
tor Ericsson. . 1t requires all corpora
TONS whether Iowa corporations or
those engaging in business in Iowa, to
report to the secretary Of state an
nually, and to pay a fee, which fee
ranges from IS to $25, according to the
size OF the company. This is q modest
fee as compared with other states, as
California, Missouri and Texas, in
some places the fee running up to 500.
There are hundreds Of corporations in
Iowa that are able to pay large sums
annually for the protection Of the law
and now they escape entirely. It would
also be a means of wedding out the
abandoned companies.
A bill by Senator Stookey carries
out a recommendation of the educa-
tional department that the board of ex
a,niners give credit to the graduates of
the state normal school, the state col
leges and institutions of higher learn
ing, in the granting Of certificates. The
law now virtually discriminates
against our own state institutions.
Some Of the Des Moines newspapers
having signified that they do not want
to print the emergency laws at the rate
hitherto fixed. and the house having
refused to increase the pay to over 20
cents an inch. Senator Lambert has
introduced a bill to provide that where
newspaper for any reason fails to
publish an emergency bill the secretary
of state may designate some other
newspaper in which to have 1t pub
lished. This will prevent the danger Of
entire failure of some bills near the
close of the session.
River Traffic to Open Early.
Snecial tn Times r enlh1icap