Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-13

NO state has gone to the extreme
as has Iowa in the enactment of the
anti-compact law. 1t not only pre-
vents companies or agents from maxi
ing and entering into any combination
or agreement relating to rates to be
charged for insurance, but it prevents
an agreement as to the amount Of
commission to be allowed or the man
ner Of transacting the fire insurance
business within this state. This would
prevent an agreement to reduce rates.
ut is unjust, unnecessary and thor
oughly unAmerican. assume to say
in all charity that it was passed under
misrepresentation. Had its advocates
examined the facts, they would have
discovered that such laws increase,
rather than decrease rates, as it in
creases the cost of transacting the bus
mess. This has been the experience
In this state, as the average rate for
1905 was greater than the average dur
ing the past fifteen or twenty years. 1t
would have only been necessary to
have compared the average rate of
such states where the companies are
freely permitted to cooperate with
each other and the property owners,
with the average rate of such states
where this Is prohibited, other condi-
tons being equal--to have secured the
most positive and conclusive evidence
that anti compact laws result in in
creased rates. In Arkansas the COM
panies were compelled to retire from
the state, local companies were organ
lied, practical monopoly was cre-
ated, rates advanced, the large insur-
ants found 1t impossible to secure ade-
quate insurance and that which they
did secure was generally of question:
able quality. Anti-compact laws posi-
lively prevent the equalization Of rates
so much desired, and unquestionably
result in Determinations in favor OF
large insurants."
The following officers were elected
by the insurance convention:
President-B. F. Kaufman, of Des
Moines.
Z Vice President-w. F. Grandy of
Sioux City.
Secretary and Treasurer-H. w.
Binder, Of Council Bluffs.
Executive Committee-Above named
officers and j. r. Binford of MARSHALL
town; r. j. Baird Of Des Moines, j. NJ.
Storer Of Burlington, and Milo Whip
pie of Vinton.
Legislative Committee-Frank Bal
luff of Council Bluffs, B. B. Hobbs of
Keokuk, Peter Kiene Of Dubuque. G..
B. Healy Of Sioux City, and Lew An
derson of Cedar Rapids.
Grievance Committee-George II.
Henderson Of Waterloo, William Nc
Lafferty Of Cedar Rapids, J. H. An
drews of Boone, Al Fritz Of Dubuque,
and A. j. Roddy OF Des Moines.
Delegates to the national convention
at Richmond, Va, September 20 and "a.
1s07-B. B. Hobbs, OF Keokuk. Thomas
Brown Of Muscatine. j. J. Carlton Of
Iowa Falls, /. w. Deems of Harlan,
Ralph O'Hara OF Oskaloosa. j.. e.
Bruce Of Atlantic, P. x. Wilmer Of Des
Moines, c. E. Blonde Of Ottunwa, L. c.
Menague Of Fort Dodge, A. L. Paddock
OF Clinton.
The work of the grievance commit
tee will be to adjust the differences be-
tween the agents and the companies
If an agent has some grievance against
his company he will write to the sec
rotary Of the state association, giving
him the details. These will be turned
over to the grievance committee, who
will endeavor to adjust the matter by
mail If they fail then the matter
will be referred to the executive COM
mittee.
While Council Bluffs was given the
1908 convention there appeared to be
general understanding that the 1909
meeting was to be held in Des Moines.
The paid membership at the close OF
the session was 1873.