The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-06

ship in the association as one OF the
privileges and honors OF my life.
The Utah insurance department. en-
tered upon it's active work on Apru ,.
1909. Previous TO that time the WORK
in the hands of the secretary OF state.
The actual work under Hon James l.
Hammond. and later under c. S. Tlngey'
was performed by deputy in the onlGe:
The deputy In charge OF the work under
the secretary last named was wisely SO"
lected by the governor 10 be the hfsS
insurance commissioner OF the state %!
Utah / extend greeting 10 this ooGy
from George B. Squlrcs. now absent IN
California. IN the hope OF regalning his
health.
Aims of Department.
The commissioner took up the work OF
insurance supervision where 1t was Ieft
of by the secretary of state. with inc
added force and efficiency made possible
by specific law and the existence OF a
specific department with the executive
head, From the first the aim of the
department was twofold. One purpose
was TO assist In putting stop 10 lrreSr
uiar and corrupt practices on the part ol
companies and agents by the working up
Of n strong public sentiment against such
practices and the enforcement of the law
covering them. The other aim was more
positive. to give actual aid and protcc-
tion TO companies, agents and policyhold-
ers alike, TO make and keep insurance the
great and bcnencent thing It's name ana
nature Indicate: to conserve the Saiely
OF the thousands OF persons and the mil
lions of property Insured; to give active
encouragement and support 10 every
measure calculated TO advance the busi-
ness and benefit all Interested In IL
In pursuance OF the first Of these OBJ
jects, the department has waged ana WIN
continue 10 wage relentless war on
evils that sometimes creep into the IN
surance business. Chief Of these may be
named the three related plaques OF in
surance, mlsreprescnting. rcbating ana
twisting" 1 think l can say with au-
thority that the efforts OF the department
viii not cease until these practices are
driven from the state. and those guilty
OF them from the insurance business.
To paraphrase the words of the great
American. Abraham Lincoln, the soil OF
Utah must be made too hot for the foot
OF any man guilty OF any OF these Of
fenses
Like Vampire.
reptile, gliding insidiousy into the good
graccs Of his victim. his mouth uttering
words that keep the promise TO the
ear and break it to the hope" The
his prey into the slumbcr OF false secur-
lty while sucking his financial life-blood
Speaking specifically OF twisting, so
far as l am concerned. lapslng a value
bearing policy in level premium COM
pany and rewriting It In another such
company, or In an assessment assoCia-
ing" and be reprohated by this depart
ment. Nor Will the specious plea avail
that twisting" is not designated by that
name In the law. The intent OF the law
has been interpreted by this and other
departments. and that Interpretation Will
be rgidly followed.
The second object sought by the de-
partment is of vital Importance. The
law intends that no company not OF un-
impeachable character and standing shall
operate In Utah. The test is made so
thorough that any company meeting the
prescribed requirements Is without ques-
ton worthy of the confidence and sup
port of the candidate Tor Insurance. The
weaker and less satisfactory OF the COM
panies including all that could not or
would not come up to the very stringent
requirements OF the Utah law (the most
eXacting. perhaps. in any state), have
been asked to withdraw.
During its short existence, the depart
ment has been commercially active In
the examination OF insurance companies.
The companies with home offices In
Utah have been examined during the
year 1909, as also one with Its home Of
ice in a neighboring state. Such exam
nations will be repeated as often as the
interests OF the insured DEMAND. while
unnecessary expense and annoyance 10
the companies are carefully avoided.
The rulings OF the commissioner In re-
spect to insurance practices have been
broad and yet as strict as occasion de-
manded. And I wish here to express
the thanks OF the department to the at
torney general OF the state, A. r. Barnes.
and his assistant George C. Buckle FOR
dered IN the settlement of questions re-
gardlng departmental procedure: l also
take ths occasion to thank his excel
lency Governor Spry, and c. s. Tingey,
secretary OF state, for their active inter-
est and splendid assistance and encour-
agement 10 the department In its work.
The aim of the commissioner in his rul-
ings has been 10 treat all companies and
associations as nearly alike as possible.
For example, when the law demanded
that the writing OF special contracts
cease. the prohibition was extended to
associations and fraternal or
ders. as well as to old line companies,
When the section became operative de-
clarng suicide not defense after the
first year OF the policy, 1t was made TO
apply TO level premium and assessment
companies alike. / do not know II there
is another state in the Union where both
these classes Of insurance companies in
corporate in their contracts OF life insur-
ance direct statement to the effect that
suicide shall not be used as II ground for
dsputing any claim thereunaer. after the
first year of the contract. am pleased
to say, however, that such is the case
In Utah.
The department is attempting to stop.
or to regulate under the provisions Of the
law. the writing of unauthorized busl-
ness, especially fire Insurance, and the
placing OF insurance through unauthor-
ized agents.
Inquiry Promptly Answered.
Encouragement has been given to the
people or the state TO come 10 the de-
partment for information on insurance
matters AMI statement OF grievances. All
inquiries have been promptly answered,
and in furtherance of insurance edUca-
ton, Statements have been issued by the
at intervals, and published
in the daily papers, which have gener
ously and courteously opened their col
umns for This purpose. These bulletins
are on questions Of interest TO the insur-
ing public. and are issued as often as
occasion warrants.
In conclusion. few words as to need
ed changes in the law. Only such
should be made as are
proved necessary by experience. These
changes. l think. should be In the dlrec
ton of making the department still more
by giving the commissioners
more help in the office and granting eX-
plicit powers where he may now be un-
der the necessity OF exercising discre
tionary power.
l can name only few OF these changes.
As TO additional help; A great deal OF
In the line of doing the neces-
sary work OF Investigating complaints
and the standing OF companies and the
work of agents. makes II necessary that
more help be allowed Then. the Illness
and consequent disability OF the commits
sioner should he provided for by the Gre
ltiOn of the office OF deputy commission