The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-06-07
INSURANCE BILLS
PASSED BY HOUSE
All of Them Agreed TO and
Put Through Without
Amendment.
ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE
Measures Were Introduced at In.
stance of State Insurance
Department.
The Ticket Scalping Evil Causes IN
Appeal to the Legislature-No
- Hope for the Local
Option Bill. N x.


Lansing, Mich, June 4.-The house
devoted an afternoon to the consider
alton of number Of insurance bills
int oduced ut the instance Of the state
insurance department. Eight of these
bills relate to life insurance, being de-
sigaed to curb any tendency to in
dulge in, the questionable methods re-
vealed by the Armstrong investiga-
ton. All of the measures were agreed
to without amendment and passed by
a unanimous vote. They are of more
than ordinary Importance inasmuch as
they change in material particulars
the life insurance laws of the state.
Probably the most important is one
establishing standard provisions and
conditions which shall be embodied in
all life insurance policies hereafter is
sued in Michigan. This bill also speci-
fies number of provisions which
shall not be embodied In policies is
sued in Michigan.
What Other Bills Do.
Other bills prohibit companies from
making contributions for political pur-
poses, prohibit misrepresentation
and the use of estimates in the sale
of life insurance, require an itemized
voucher to accompany every disburse-
ment in excess of 500, prohibit the
payment of any salary or compensa-
ton IN excess of $1,000 to any officer
or mt of a company unless such sal
airy : first authorized by vote OF
the electors. They also make the per-
son soliciting life insurance the agent
of TIC company and not the agent Of
the Insured person, provide that every
pol = shall contain the entire contract
bet con the company and the insured.
anG materially strengthen the anti
rebcte or anti-discriminltion bill so as
to cc2fine the transaction between the
parios to the sale of life Insurance
shea of all stock schemes and other
collateral considerations.
Fire Insurance Measures.
Other insurance department bills
passed by the house permit fire inspr-
ance companies to invest in the same
class Of securities as state banks are
permitted to invest in, and q penalty
clause to the retaliatory fee law and
place the expert employees of the de-
partment on the same basis as en-
ployes Of the state banking depart
ment. The only bill passed affecting
fraternal beneficiary societies Is
one which prohibits any two or more
such societies from amalgamating
unless the members of each are per-
gonally notified by mail of the in
tention so to do and notice thereof
published in FIVE newspapers and the
contract Of amalgamation or reinsur-
ance is first approved by commission
composed of the governor, attorney
general and commissioner Of insur-
ance. This measure Is designed to
protect the interests Of the members
Of these societies and prevent their be-
ing transferred to their great disad-
vantage by officers and directors who
may profit by the transaction.
All Of these insurance bills are now
in the hands Of the senate committee
on insurance. They will be reported
out this week, and there Is little doubt
that all of them will become laws.
They will give Michigan all the new
legislation that is needed on this sub
ject.
Ticket Scalping Evil.
The ticket scalplng evil has assumed
such proportions in Michigan that it
became necessary to appeal to the leg
islature for help This has been fur
nished in the shape Of a bill which
has passed both houses and Is ready
for the governors signature, which it
will receive. The bill applies TO tick
cts for theaters, circuses. athletic
games and all kinds of public amuse-
ments. 1t provides that the price Of
the ticket shall be printed thereon in
conspicuous type, and that no person.
firm or corporation shall sell to a sub
Office or other agency tickets at a
greater price than the advertised price
or than they are sold for at the box
office. In case tickets are sold in lots
at less rate than the general admis
sion charges. o. in case 1t is printed
on the tickets that they are not trans
ferable, it IL made unlawful for the
holders Of srs.n tickets to sell them to
other persona A penalty of fine Of
from S35. to 500 or Imprisonment in
the county j.ll for term of from ten
to sixty day. is provided for violation
Of the law.
Loca: Option Bill Dead.
Although surprisingly large num-
Der OF bilis permitting city and village
authorities to limit the number Of sa-
looms and otherwise regulate the liz.
nor traffic within their respective juris.
dictions have been passed this session,
the general local option bill which was
designed to apply to the state at large
Is admitted by its sponsors to be dead,
with no hope Of resurrection.
Primary Election Bill.
The prospects for the enactment o.