The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-04
NEWS or THE INSURANCE WORLD
The Texas Rate Tanglc.

iho 1ehaS kdCe IdnRlcs
The situation in Texas over the fire
rate squahblc remains unchanged. When
me legislature couvenes In special ses-
sion, Governor Campbell will submit the
manic OF new man FOR insurance conf
missioner but as the senate must con-
tlrrn by two-t thirds vote the present In
cumhen', Judge Hawkins. Will likely
continue In office To- the end OF his term
January !. 1911.
The feature of last weeks proceedings
was the hearing OF protests from prop
erty owners against the Increased ipsur-
9nco rntes under the new law held be-
tore the state flre rating board The
protcstants were represented by the
aplest lawyers I'm Texas. Tho burden OF
complaints We're excessive rates, and
petitions were fled for tho repeal OF ihe
sonablo and just rates. or n return to old
rates. The companies will prevent their
side after the others are through. II is
understood that they Will take tho po-
fined.
I'm the meanwhile The companies and
their agents have declined Ia suspend
the collection OF the new rates, as re-
questcd by n majority of the state rating
board, said 10 be a faction controlled by
Governor Campbell. and thus arc giving
need to the threat OF Commissioner HaW-
klns that he would revoke their licenses
II they did not carry out his order. which
was 10 collect the new rates. Ono man
sizes up tho situation by declaring IL
to be "a tange Of politics and business.
and ignorance or tho plans and purposes
OF the new rating law"
Indiana, too. Is having troubles over
the rate question. At indianapolis. suit
Is being tried TO determine whether l29
fire insurance companies may combine to
fix rates. State Attorney General Bng-
ham instituted tho suit and is making a
vigorous fight. Judge Thomas Bates of
Chicago is representing the insurance
companies. \ large number OF witnesses
have been heard, but no one can hazard
A guess as 10 when the case Will be
concluded
Intended Wife, Claim.
The 4. o. u. w. OF Nebraska Is called
upon to settle a peculiar claim, under
$4,000 life policy issued eighteen years
claim for the money is made by Mary
A. Simpson OF Kansas city. as the In
tended wife OF the deceased. The wo
man is married 20 another man. now Il
penitentiary convict in Kansas This be-
ing the case the money will not bc paid
TO her, for the reason that the wife Of
one man cannot be legally the intended
wife OF another.
The history OF the case shows that
Shufen a widower, with no children,
met the woman. who was employed in
a Kansas City restaurant and became
infatuated with her. so much so that ne
had his policy changed naming the
Simpson woman rs beneficiary. The or
der II seems, recognizes an intended
wife as one entitled TO receive the oenc-
ut in case OF death. Investigation has
brought out the fact that the woman
was married and the relatives Of Shufe!t
are contesting tho claim.
Insurance Company Wins.
The circuit court at Portland. Or, has
rendered verdict in favor of the
Mutual Life OF New York. in "a suit
brought by Mary G. Francis. widow Of
cover under "A $4,000 life policy applied
for by her late husband. but which had
never been delivered by tho company.
1906. and later mailed his check In pay
ment OF the first annual premium.
Shortly afterwards Francis met death in
an accident, while tho insurance com
pany was holding UP the application.
pending a report from its inspc ,t:on dc
partmcnt II WAS also brought out at
the trial that Fancis WAS heavy drink
err and would not have been considered
desirable risk for life insurance.
Responsibility Of Bondsmen.
Very few people. IL any. would con-
sent to go on anyones bond If they had
the slightest idea that they would be
called upon TO make good any shortage.
and that is the reason that many OF the
states Will not accept any bond but those
furnished by the regular surety com
panies in n recent decision OF Judge
John O'ConneIl OF the common pleas
| court. Columbus. o.. II was held that
the bondsmcn OF former County Treas
urer Leo Schott arc liable for sl4.07i6i,
| interest on public funds entrusted to his
care and received during his term of
| office from 1894 10 1896 and not ac-
| counted for The bondsmen pleaded the
statute of limitations. but were over
ruled by the court. The ruling III cf-
| feet held that the bondsmen were re-
| spousible for the interest as much as fol
! the principal
Another case is that Of the court a,
! Kanakee which ruled that the statute
| OF limitations did not run against the
| state and held that the surviving bonds
| men of former Auditor Swigcrt, who was
| In office from 1881 TO 1855. were respon-
| sible for s2i 900 of fees collected over
| twenty-five years ago.
| Still another instance OF the kind oc-
| CURED in Syracuse, n. Y. which mas
| lust been brought TO light. where tho
| city treasurer. who held office nearly
| thirty years ago. WAS Il detaUlter. The
| estates Of his three personal bondsmcn
| all OF which had been formally dis
| tributed after their death, have beer
| sued by the city.
Burglary Insurance.
| Burglary insurance. although as yet ir
| it's infancy. Is meeting with much favor
among merchants and others. For
comparatively small premium tho com
pany insuring agrees TO indemnify the
assured for any losses ho might sustain
as result of theft, The value OF such
insurance is forcibly shown In the case
Of New York iewcler, Oscar {, Jackic
WHO was forced inIo voluntary bank