The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-03
UNDERWRITERS OPPOSED TO
 REGULATION
Leaning Men of Hartford Fire Insurance Companies Tnrn 0ut to Beat
 Iingier Bill
Do not Want a Board With Power to Hear Appeals and Make Jast lnsur. ance Rates - Tingier Says Fire In. surance is a Combination Verse Than Standard Oil.

Hartford. March 3.-Leading men in Hartford's fire insurance compan' 'es vigorous opposed yesterday before the insurance committee bill introduced by Representative Tingier of Rockville providing for an insura ance board of appeals, consisting of merchant, a manufacturer and an insurance official. who should receive complaints as to rates and conditions and from whose decision there should be no appeal Companies not complying with their decision would be debarred from busi- ness in the state The comm 'ssioners would receive $10 a day while in ses- eion and have a clerk at $1 800 a year. The bill, according to Representative Ttngier. was a copy of one introduced two years ago by Senator Judson. In advocating it MT. Tingier sa d that if rates are arbitrarily raised there is no recourse under present law. This bill would prevent any combination rais- ing rates above what they ought to be.
 President J. D. Browne of the Con- necticut Fire Insurance Company con- sidered the bill neither fair nor req sonable. Insurance companies wouldn't have a fair chance before the com mission It was simply a move for a reduction of rates and no legislation more unfriendly than this has any where turned up.
 President William B. Clark of the Aetna said the bill was an intimation that the fire underwriters of the state don't know their business and need conservators. He gave figures to show that the companies are not making unnecessary profits or charging too high rates.
 President D. w C. Skilton of the Phoenix Fire said that under the bill no insurance company could afford to do business in the state. Asked if there really was competition in rates he said yes. more than he wished there was. Anyone desirous to get insurance at less than a ''standard'' rate can get large surplus to meet emergencies. Replying to questions of MT. Tingier he wouldn't admit there was a com bination to keep up rates.
 President A G. McIwaine. Jr.. of the Orient called the bill the most revolutionary ever before any Legisla- ture. It meant that insurance men were either robbers or didn't know their business. In answer to a ques- tioE he said there were companies that offer insurance at less than the com bination. but declined to name them.
 F. F. Small caused stir by char acterizing Representative Tingier as a paid attorney. which MT. Tingier promptly resented. So did L. F. Rob- inson. who represented insurance in- terests. MT. Small said MT. Tingier's remarks showed great ignorance and Representative Forster of Rockville said that instead of insulting anyone MT. Small should conane his remarks to the bill. MT. Small apologized and continued in opposition to the meas ure.
 MT. Tingier claimed there was no competition for good insurance. '"Tark about the Standard Oil as a trust g said he. 'If you don't like it you can get oil of independents. But if y1u dor't like the rates of these companies. you must go without insurance"