The Dickinson press., 1911-03-18

BILL Law
A Summary of Insurance Legisl,-
ton as Given by Commissioner
w. c. Taylor. Many me.
ures Are Killed.
The twelfth session of the Legislative
Assembly Of North Dakota will be not
able, among other considerations. 70.
the cheerful manner in which, it
squelched q vast deal Of proposed insur-
ance legislation, concerning the merit
Of any or all Of, which this department
does not feel called upon to express an
opinion. -
Among the measures which went down
to inelorious defeat was bill
for the regulation and control of fra
ternal benefit societies. This bill had
been prepared, BY, and had the endorse
ment Of the National Convention of In
surance Commissioners. the National
Fraternal Cpnasess and. the Associated
Fraternities Of, America. 1t was intro
duced in the Senate by Mr.. Stevens and
by him ably chanpiened before the COM
mittees and on the floor. 1t passed the
Senate but perished in the House. The
same measure was concurrently intro
duced in the legislatures of various
states, but with what success its enact
ment has been urged or may be urged,
this department is not yet Informed.
Another piece of constructive legis-
lation which met with indefinite post
ponement'' was the First Marshal bill.
1t had been supposed that this measure
would have smooth sailing. but opposi-
tion sprang up in certain quarters and
put the bill to. sleep. It seems likely
that Fire Marshal bill will meet with
better success in the next session of the
Legislature.
The bill which occasioned the greatest
amount of comment on the part of the
newspapers and public and the most
strenuous opposition on the part of the
life insurance companies. was Senate
Bill No. 164, by Mr.. Trimble. being "A
Bill for an Act Requiring Life Insurance
Companies Transactine Business in this
State to Invest in This State Percent
age of the Premiums Collected on Poll
cies Written ON the Lives of Citizens of
This State The provisions and pur-
poses of this proposed measure are pretty
we'll understood BY the public and need
not be recited here. Senator Trimble
made desperate fight to secure favor
able consideration for his pet measure,
but the odds against him were over
whelmins 1t was feared that the pro-
visions of his bill were altogether too
drastic. and that they ignored the
welfare of that class whose interests are
paramount the policy-holders.
Another bill which was opposed
though less strenuously than the Trimble
bill-by the life insurance companies
was Senate Bill No. 167, by Mr.. Simp-
son. providing for the non-forfeiture of
premiums on policies of life insurance.
as long as the cash surrender value
allowed on given policy exceeded the
amount Of the premium. This bill
passed the Senate. but received its
quietus in the House.
The House treated with similar dis
courtsey Senate Bill No. .129, also by Mr..
Simpson. which provided that contracts
of insurance made by any company be-
longing to or in any way connected with
any tariff association or such like thing
by whatever name called, shall be con-
strued to add twenty-five per cent to the
face of the policy in addition to the
actual loss of damage suffered. This
bill was generally opposed by the fire
insurance companies. whether Of the
union or non-union class. Senator
Simpson succeeded in forcing its pas
sage through tho Senate. but was un-
able to convince. the House that the
measure was a meritorious one.
A number of bills providing for the
establishing Of county hail insurance
departments were defeated upon the
recommendation Of insurance COM
mittees to which they were referred.
Senate Bill No, 46., by Mr.. Plain. "A
Bill fox an Act Establishing a Hail
Insurance Department and Making the
Commissioner Of Agriculture and Labor
also the Commissioner of Hail Insur-
ance. ran the gauntlet of both Houses
and is now in thshands Of the Governor.
Senate Bill No. $50. by MIR. Simpson,
passed both Houses ives approved BY
the Governor and will take effect on
July 1st, 1911. .AS effect is to extend
the time forsfliae annual statements
from the first Monday inFebruary to
z l. A~k 10 S<~ AZ