Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-29
INEVITABLE Fight
By INSURANCE MEN
Companies to Make Usual Con-
test Tor Privileges Cur.
tailed by State
HARDiNG's BILL A JOKER
Would Have Effect Of Repeating
blanchard Law and Permit Agree
ments by Which Rates Would Be
Maintained - Senate to Consider
Measure to Prevent Determinations.
Special ITO Times-Republican.


Des Moines, Jan. 29.-Another turn
was taken yesterday in the inevitable
fight of the insurance people to undo
some of the work of the past in leg
islation to protect Iowa policy holders.
Representative Harding introduced a
bill to legalize the violation of the
Blanchard anti-compact law. The first
section of the bill provides that
1T shall be lawful for fire insurance
companies authorized to do business in
the state of Iowa to collect statistics.
eliminate as far as possible the fire
apportion uniform rates for dre, light
ming and tornado insurance fairly
among the people Of the state, and
prevent discrimination or favoritism in
the apportionment of the cost of fire,
lightning and tornado insurance to che
public"
The bill authorizes q convention of
representatives OF insurance compan-
les to be held with the head Of the
insurance department and the attorney
general and 1t also authorizes forma-
ton OF local boards for the main
tenance and enforcement of the rates
and rules established" by the compau-
les.
"A short time ago a local daily paper
which maintains commercial depart
ment, published modest news item,
which was evidently furnished by the
insurance interests, the substance Of
which was that the companies had CIV
en- up hope of securing the direct re-
law but would try to circumvent 1t in
some other way. It also stated they
had decided upon making q fight for
retention Of the insurance department
under the present official in charge.
The chief grievance Of the insurance
interests against Mr.. Roe, who had
been for six years at the head of the
insurance department, was with re-
gard to the anti-compact law. Judge
had held demonstrations
a similar statute in Nebraska and the
insurance department there said ne
would not appeal. Then he held the
Iowa anti-compact law illegel and at
once the companies commenced to re-
organize the old local boards" which
were declared to be legal. But Mr.. Roe
insisted upon appealing the case to the
United States supreme court and when
this was done the Iowa law was up
held. The companies now claim that
this anti-compact law is exceedingly
that it has had the effect
of materially decreasing the gross
received from fire insurance
policies and that rates in Iowa are
lower than ever before because of the
inability of the companies to meet and
fix rates.
The bill just introduced would be in
effect a repeal of the Blanchard anti
law, and its introduction Is
taken to mean that the companies are
prepared for a pretty fight all along
the line.
Following close upon the decision Of
the interstate commerce commission
to interfere in the fight be-
tween the cooperative creameries and
the concentrator companies, Senator
Cosson today introduced into the SEN
ate a bill recommended in the gov
ernor's message and indorsed by the
state dairy departm ent to prevent dis
in prices paid for butter
fat in Iowa In the interest Of the con-
centrator creamery companies. It is
made unlawful for any company en-
gagged in buying milk, cream or butter
Eat to create monopoly or destroy
a competitor by purchasing cream or
butterfat at higher rate or price in
one section than is paid by the same
in another section under ex-
actly similar conditions. In short, the
business Of killing of the small and
cooperative creameries by paying
high prices for a time Is to be stopped
If it is possible to do so. Companies
violating this law will be heavily fined
Ind under some circumstances their
charters will be revoked.