The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-02

e ies-A tu& g 6AA aQ6l4S&G L can IT. L
voted against the bank deposit guaran-
tyrlaw at tina last session. and this is
hurting me- realize fully now, how
ever, that the legislature is going to
pass such law, and that there is no
use opposipgSit. II elected twill be I'D,
good law"
I. Q. Pickering of Olathe, one of
the leading lawyers of the state who
= a candidate for associate justice ON
the Democratic ticket, is sending out
letters in behalfsef- Ibis candidacy, in
which he urges the people to support
aim So that thu supreme court will
not be eomposed entirely of men of
the same political : party Judge
PlckerIng has been a resident of
tieed law for 80 years.
NJ. F. Amrine. editor of the coun-
ell Grove Guard, and candidate. for
member Of the legislature in Morris
county. was in Topeka today and
speaking of political conditions said
i believe that things are looking
very favorable. Taft and Stubs
VIII carry the state by big majorities.
The hardest fight for the Republicans
VIII be. to control the legislature for
Bristow. because there are SO many
local conditions entering into the
legislative fights that the broader
state issues are sometimes lost sight
or believe, however. that there is
very little danger of the Democrats
getting the legislature
After leaving Wichita, the special
train bearing Governor Hughes of
New YORK will make stops at the fol-
Chillicothe, Mo-: Yates Center,
Neodesha, Independence, Coffeyvilie
Chetopa, Mineral, Cherokee and Pitts
burg.
NJ. F. Belisle, the Democratic candi-
date for superintendent of insurance,
has issued platform for his candi-
dacy. in which he proposes to make
certain reforms In the manner OF con-
dncting the office. provided the legis-
lature will help. Mr. Belisle says thai
the figures of the life and fire insur-
ance companies for their profits in
Kansas show that they can stand a
little more regulation, and says:
knowing that there is a widespread
interest in this branch of insurance
and feeling that efforts along the prop
| er lines will make a large saving to ths
people of Kansas, without disturbing
any agent or jeopardizing any COM
pany, propose making an effort to get
| the present laws relating to taxation.
| rates and reserve on fire insurance re-
pealed and have laws passed on the
| following basis: @
| 'First-In place of the present sys-
| tenn of taxation. which, while it pro-
| duceS a large revenue to the state, Is
really a direct tax on every man who
/ buys a policy, would endeavor to
| have the law made so that every COM
pany would be charged only the pro
| rata of expense necessary to properly
carry on the department so far as it
relates to fire insurance.
| 'Second-1n place of the present un-
scientific, unsatisfactory method of
rating by an individual bureau which
\ is constant source of annoyance TO
everyone including the company and
| the rating bureau and which is the
cause of much dispute and acrimoni-
Gus discussion. I would endeavor 10
Ihave the law give me the power to APP
point a trained board of experts who
would make the classification and who
would have the power to obtain from
the companies transacting business in
Kansas their experience along the lines
| of classification made, and from the
! data so obtained derive net premiums
which would be adequate to pay the
losses under such ciassiications and
STs those net sates I would add a
| margin for expense and this net rate
| so loaded with this expense margin
would be the minimum rate below
which no company would be per-
minimum rate being to maintain
soIvency in the companies. SO that
| every loss could be paid promptly and
| fully
| This board of experts, should my
plan prevail will furnish the people
/ of the state of Kansas, proper rules
| for construction and will furnish the
Erules of penalizatior so that every per-
| son in the state of Kansas who so de-
| sires may be fully informed as to why
| the rate is fixed on his property.
| Third: AS to reserve, instead of
/ the present unscientific and arbitrary
| method of obtaining reserves based
| on the gross premiums received, it
would be my purpose to have the law
/ so made that the reserve would be on
| the net premium, thus relieving to
| the company. Immediately. the ex-
/ pense element of its premium and re-
/ lieving the company of the burden of
/ carrying excessive and unnecessary
reserve.
Il think it is plain to anyone who
/ will study this that my purpose is to
make a very material reduction in the
| cost of insurance in our state. / am
| aware of the fact that the charges
have outlined are radical, but some
| one must at some time bring about
! just such 8 change as / have outlined
| and as Kansas has been in the habit
| of doing things it is up to Kansas
| and myself to try to bring this change
| about and in my own opinion and the
| opinion of experts with whom 1 have
| consulted. the reduction of cost to
| the people of the state or Kansas will
| be at least fifty per cent and that
without injuring any company. or
| depriving any agent of his COM
mission"