The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-29
JULIAN BELIEVES CITIES TOO SEVERE should Not Tax Fire Insurance
 So High MAKES THE RATES SoAr State Treasurer Seed Got County Teachers Paid by nstructing
 Tax Collectors to Honor
 the Warrants.

Frank N. Julian, commissioner of in- surance for the state, sends out a note of warning to those towns and cities which levy heavy municipal license on fire insurance companies, fearful that many of them are going to kill tn 9 goose that lays the golden eggs. -~le burden is in reality a tax on the policy holder, he argues, which the people pay. Relief from the $200,000 year taxed in this way would bring about large reduction in the fire rates in the state, thinks Mir. Julian.
 'I regret to see this disposition to bear down on the fire companies espe- cially and the insurance companies generally" said MT. Julian. Tt means putting off of the day of reduced rates as the companies are forced to keep rates up to prevent loss. If I could get either of the three big cities of the state to take off the $30, GOO which they demand of the fire companies I am sure could bring about a reduction in rates that would amount to $1oo.ooc. And there is a lot of bouncomb about fire insurance trust methods. Those companies out side the association charge the same rates those inside do indicating that there is no real trouble about the trust feature"
 Blanks are being sent out by Lorrie Rice, fire marshal, for the December fire reports. Fire and police chiefs and sheriffs are urged to hurry them in as quickly as possible after the first of the month. Mir. Julian is also let- ting it be known that the United In- surance company of Chicago. said to to be selling stock In the state. Is not authorized to do so.
 Seed Hedged on Deficit.
 Walter D. Seed, state treasurer. is delighted with his hedge on the de- felt, resulting in the payment of teachers before the holidays for their December services. Seeing that he strong box he intructed the teachers to present the warrants to the tax col lectors, who were instructed to pay out of fund scollected, the warrant being the same as cash in returns. Only one county had not enough money on hand to meet the bills, this being Geneva, and money was hurried there in time. Mir. Seed is on trip over the state on business for the state and private matters and will be gone 8 week. He has not formally announced that he will run for governor, but there Is no doubt that he will. His formal state xulII F. IA ffr,cr of the state committee in January.
 Going After Insurance Fees.
 Believing that at least $l000Oo year in insurance premiums Is lost to Alabama by the pracetice of overhead writing by insurance companies, Frank N. Julian. in- surance commissioner, Is going to make a desperate effort to stop It. hard job though he knows 1t is. Cotton lines are carried under blanket policies by marine companies. and Alabama agents get no part of 1t, neither does the state. Mu- tuals write lot of heavy lines, including mercantile and hotel risks, and pay no fees for so doing. This is against the laws of the state and solicitors will be urged to break It up if there is any way. Under the Alabama law, when insur- ance is written outside an authorized company, the insured must report 1t to the insurance department. with l per cent on the gross premiums paid. In case of loss the adjuster must also make re- port, with one-half of l per cent on losses paid Heavy penalty is laid to any ad- just2r who fails to make such report, in addition to which he will be barred for | all time from adjusting Alabama losses.
 Coupons Burned-Notes. Cancelled bond coupons of original val ue of $69OO were burned by the chief clerk to the state treasurer on Tuesday, State Examiner H. Y. Brooke having counted and checked the list beforehand.
 The DeLoach Manufacturing company. capital s500O, has been incorporated at Bridgeport to make stoves and ranges. The Ohio-Alabama Land company, with capital of s75,000. to develop Baldwin county lands, is also reported
 Application for rehearing in the case of w. A Shriver vs. John Craft from the Mobile circuit court, is up for re- hearing. It was affirmed recently by the supreme court fixing a verdict of dam ages for failure to finish building on time.
 J. B. Freeman has been appointed jury commissioner of Limestone county, in place of w. M Bradley, who refused to qualify.
 The year 1909 was a good one for the Western of Alabama, which had no wreck of any moment and was without the serious errors the railroads are al ways anxious to avoid.
 With the opening of Lee street to the station about January 10, it Is under stood that work will begin on an exten- sion of the Exchange hotel to that thor oughfare.