The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-01-23

Hon. ]. A. o. Preus, state insurance
commissioner, was one of the speak
ers before the triple convention this
afternoon. Among other things he
said:
THE people of Minnesota are be-
ing taxed excessively on account OF
fires. The average per capita loss
on account of fires in the United
States is about $3.50. In England
we find the per capita tax to be
forty-fve cents, Ireland forty-four
cents, Norway twenty-five cents.
France ninety-two cents, Germany
ninteen cents. and the general per
capita loss of Europe is usually esti-
mated at about thirty-three cents.
The per capita losses on account OF
fires in the u. s. are approximately
about eight times as great as they
are i'm Europe. In United States we
burn from two hundred million to
two hundred and fifty million dollars
worth of property every year. An
almost equal amount Is expended for
fire prevention and protection.
"Our people lose, therefore, an
nually an amount approaching the
half billion dollar mark, without TAX
ing into consideration the loss OF
time and business caused by fires.
Our fires are due largely to careless
ness, over-insurance and arson. Six
ty-five per cent of our fires can be
said to be due to carelessness. Our
people are careless in their personal
habits and also In the methods OF
building. irresponsible fire-insurance
agents are willing to place almost
any amount of insurance upon prop
erty in order that they may get the
commissions on the business. Over.
insurance is the result and incendiar.
ism is frequently the consequence.
Compaien In Progress.
"a campaign for fire prevention
has been going on in this state for
the past two and three years and is
having its effect. The loss ratio Is
decreasing in the state. Our people,
however will not do their utmost
in this regard unless they can see
that their own pocket-books are az.
fected in reduction In insurance pre-.
miums. No man will properly i'm
prove and protecthis buildings unless
his insurance rate Is going to be low.
cred thereby, provided the property Is
fully covered by insurance.
I'm the state of Minnesota we have
what is known as the Minnesota and
Dakota Inspection company. This Is
an independent rating bureau which
makes the rates for insurance COM
panies and sells the rates to the COM
panies. All stock companies sub.
scribe to these rates and by an un-
Outstanding between themselves ad.
here to them. In this We have In
Minnesota what might TO all practical
purposes be called a combination to
fix rates. embracing all Of our stock
companies. This Is important be-
cause, OF the one billion four hundred
million Of fire Insurance In force, all
except forty.two million Of which II
carried by the general and class
mutual and about three hundred and
thirty-three million which is carried
by the rates made by the ratins-bur
is carried by the stock companies.
Should Have Right 70 Appeal.
An individual considering himself
Disseminated against, or oppressed
by the rates made by the ratng-bur.
eau should have the right to appeal
to the state insurance commissioners
or some other state official to havo
his grievances aired and his rate cor
rected II wrong. The legislature Of
Minnesota has no greater problem
before II. than that Of seeing to e
that our people are given this kind
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