The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1910-07-08
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT
UNDER kENNlsH AND BLAKE HAS
BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

- !
One of the departments of the state
government which shows great in
crease in receipts as we'll as efficiency
in management under the present ad-
ministration is the department Of in-
surance. This is one of the most inn
portant of the executive departments
of the state government. The depart
ment collects the insurance taxes and
regulates insurance companies doing
business in the state. 1t turned over
to the state this year almost 5000, 900
in collections.
At the expiration of the term Of
Mr.. V%andiver, the last Democratic in
cumbent, Governor Hadley persuaded
John Kennish to accept the position
of insurance commissioner. Mr.. Ken
nish held the office for eight months.
In hat time many reforms were in
a%ugurated, resulting in saving a con-
siderable aggregate heretofore con-
sumed in expenses or lost to the state.
Last November Frank Blake was
made superintendent of insurance,
Mr.. Kennish having resigned.
Methods established by Mr.. Blake
have ~safeguarded the interests of the
people of the state and incidentally
reduced the expenses of conducting
the department over SO, 900 per year.
He has collected in revenue from in
surance taxes and brokers' licenses
about 1000 a week than did
w. d. Vandiver under Folks admins
tration. This means $50, 900 increased
revenue for the state for one years
occupancy of the office by a Republic
an commissioner.
Governor Hadley was fortunate in
the selection of Mr.. Blake to head
the insurance department. He was an
assistant attorney general unde Had
ley, and during hisFf four years serv-
ice in that office the insurance opin-
ions were written by him. Naturally
he was qualified to interpret insur-
ance law. Coupled with Mr.. B]ake's
positive nature this familiarity with
insurance laws makes him an ideal
commissioner. When he took the Of
flee he found numerous promoters en-
gagged in selling stocks in new insur-
AN Nv A~i - liz mas
been able, under the law, he has made
these promoters declare, in stock SUBJ
scription contracts, just what they
were getting out of the sale of stocks.
Since the order was made none of the
companies thus promoted have been
admitted to do busiess in the state
and investors have been warned. It
took nerve to %promulgate such an
order, but Frank Blake has nerve. II
he thinks q thing is unfair it is so
declared without regard to personal
consequences. Mr.. Blake is fearless
In the discharge of his duties and has
set a high standard for insurance
companies doing business in Missouri.
Both Kennish and Blake having been
trained in the same school of indie
pendence the conduct of the insur-
ance department under Governor Had
ley's administration has been emf.
nently satisfactory to those who de-
sire a fair deal in all things.
Approximately 400 life and fire in
,urance companies are licensed by
the department to do business in this
state besides more than eighty fra
ternal insurance companies. 1t Is the
commissioners business to see that
no unfair rates are charged for either
life or fire insurance and to compel
the companies to give the people a
square deal in all things. This is the
function of the insurance department.
Since the Republicans have had
charge of the office the fire insurance
companies have reduced the rates in
the state at least ten percent, and this
has saved the people, within the last
two years, over $1,000, 900. When 1t
Is considered that the money expend.
ed by property owners for protection
reaches a vast sum the saving accom-.
plished by Messrs. Kennish and Blake
has been phenomenal. The depart
ment has been so conducted\th max.
mum efficiency has been rendered at
4 minimum cost. These are the things
that tell in the administration Of the
affairs O. : great state like Missouri
and 60 to make up the sum total Of
good, fair government.