The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-21
Immunity Bath" Prepared for
Insurance Companies.
Attorney General Submits Long
List of Questions.
MOVE is IMPORTANT.
Relieve Companies From Prose.
cutiOn if They Answer.
Chas. L. Eldridge Isn't Given
This Opportunity.

An Immunity bath" for rs fire in
surance companies alleged to be par.
ties ties to ose the Insurance trust trust
| by Attorney General Jackson,
when he filed in the Shawnee county
district court an application for per-
mission to require the IS companies
to answer interrogatories in the suit to
| break up the alleged rate-combination
| among Kansas insurance companies.
The immunity bath, however, is not
extended to Charles E. Eldridge of To-
peka, who runs the Eldridge rating
| bureau, which, it is charged, furnishes
the basis for the uniform fire rates of
the trust"
The list of interrogatories was filed
with the application by John Dawson
| assistant attorney general. Judge Dana
will decide whether the insurance
companies must answer after hearing
what the companies have to say. The
| companies have the right to object to
any or all of the questions.
The list of interrogatories presented
with the application comprise "A queS-
! tions, touching the relations of the in
surance companies to the Charles Z.
Eldrdge rating bureau in this city,
which it is claimed furnishes the rat
| ing books upon which all insurance
! companies base their fire insurance
rates.
By answering these questions, the
insurance companies will, under the
| immune from prosecution. The object
of the state is to get evidence to show
that the Eldridge bureau is contrary
| to law.
'It isn't because we have anything
| special against Charley Eldridge," said
Mr.. Dawson, ''but we must get at the
facts about this system of fixing fire
| insurance rates. We do not ask that
Mr.. EIdridge answer any of the ques-
tions, because by so doing he would
render himself exempt from prosecu-
| ton"
If the state adopts the suggestions
| of Insurance Commissioner Charles
| Barnes the state will establish a rat
| ing bureau of its own, and possibly an
appropriation will be made to pur-
chase outright the Eldridge bureau,
| data, maps and charts.
| The interrogatories seek to put the
companies on record as to the way in
which they use the Eldridge rating
books, and also their relations to the
f"Western Union" which is said to be
the headquarters Of the insurance
headquarters in Chicago, and all the
| insurance companies follow its rules
in western business proposed in the
interrogatories:
What are the purposes and practices
of the Western Union in Compact"
states?
In what respect do the practices of
companies belonging to the Western
the pra cticeS of the same companies in
noncompact companies?
If your company is a member of the
Western Union, produce copy of the
book Of rules and instructions fur
nished to your general agent in KAN
sas.
If your company is member Of
! the Western Union, produce copy of
the book of rules and instructions fur
nished to your special agent in Kansas.
If your general and special agents.
]
in Kansas. produce any and all books
of instructions received by you or by
them for your service which are is
sued by the Western Union.
If your company is a member of the
West ern Union, state when, where.
and how often the Western Union has
met for business or other purposes
during the last five years prior to the
filing of this suit.
OF what does the Western Union
consist?
What are the names and addresses
of the officers of the Western Union?
Who are members of the Western
Where is the Headquarters of the
Western Union, and what is its exact
address?
Produce a copy of the bylaws or
constitution, or whatever may be the
written or printed plan of organiza-
ton of the Western Union.
Does your company subscribe for
the publications of Charles f. Eldridge
Wnlcn treat Oh uIe lISuTduCt eSllmaLeS
in Kansas?
Does your company furnish the
Eldridge estimates to its agents in
Kansas?
DO your agents use the Eldridge rate
books and rating sheets in Kansas?
State how your company is advised
of any alterations made in the esti-
mates of rates of fire insurance in
Kansas?
state specifically and in detail your.
mpany's method of making rates in
Kansas upon which it issues fire insur-
ance policies.
What are meant by union companies,
and in what respect do they differ from
nonunion companies?
What rates of commissions do you al
low your agents on business transact
rate varies if your agents or any OF
them solicit or accept business for non
union companies.
What if any, is the variation in rates
of fire insurance charged by union and
nonunion companies in Kansas?
Is your company union or a nom
union company?
If your company has raised its rates
of fire insurance in Kansas in the last
five years, give the dates and percent
ages of advances SO made.
If any circular letters were sent out
by your company to its agents in Kan
sas in the last five years ordering ad-
vances in fire insurance rates, produce
copies of all such letters?
Have you a contract with Charles r.
Eldridge pertaining in any way to in
surance rate-making in Kansas? II
you have such a contract written or
printed, produce a copy at the trial Of
this cause.
State specifically and in detail any