The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-01
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
ISSUES STATEMENT

Bismarck, N. D., Aug. THAT the
people Of North Dakota every year
pay, in the aggregate, large sums Of
money for insurance that does not
insure" was the opinion expressed by
ms. Com. w. c. Taylor. Attention was
called to efforts which the department
is constantly making to protect the
residents of this state from imposters
who seek to exploit fake insurance
schemes herein. we Il e.
According to Commissioner Taylor,
a glaring example Of this sort OF skull
duggery is afforded by the activities
Of the American Registry Co. of Erie,
Pa. This concern Is running an ad-
Vertisement in quite q number Of
newspapers in North Dakota under
the caption, $4,000 Death Benefits,
and the number of inquiries coming to
the department prove that "it pays
(the company to advertise. For the
modest sum of Sc per year the Ameri-
benef1t of $4,000; a benefit of 81, 200 for
loss Of limb or eyesight; SIS weekly
benefit in case of accident or sickness,
etc. The concern advertises itself as
a reliable insurance company, with
100000 state deposits for the protec-
ton of policy holders and to guaran-
tee the payment of claims.
Now, what are the facts? Commits
sioner Taylor states that the Ameri-
can Registry Co. is not authorized in
North Dakota. and that it is not even
listed in any of the various insurance
publications coming to his office. A
letter Of inquiry addressed to the in
surance commissioner of PENNSYLVANIA
brought the following reply: .
Harrisburg, Pa, July IS, 1914.-Hon.
W. c. Taylor, commissioner Of insur-
n FNnn I0tsrNN - ny p
in receipt Of yours Of the 18th inst. in
reference to the American Registry
Co. Of Erie, and in reply beg to say
that this is not an insurance company
at all, but purports to be an agency
run by a man by the name Of Werner.
" Neither Werner nor the Amer
lean Registry Co. are authorized to
transact business in Pennsylvania, and
do not, so far as we have been able to
state. But he does transact business
throughout the country, principally
through the mails.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Charles Johnson,
insurance Commissioner.
Commissioner Taylor ventures the
opinion that at is a hundred to-one
shot that any man who sends six dol
lars to the American Registry Co.. will
get a neatly printed policy that isn't
worth six cents. In this connection,
however, 1t is gratifying to record the
fact that no less tina a score of pub
fishers submitted the advertising pro-
position to this department, and upon
the strength Of our advices turned 1t
down cold. Many other publishers
OF the proposition and consigned 1t to
the waste PAPER basket.
Insurance Commissioner Taylor also
says another concern that should be
p1Uan q xMyi1A hANth ia a. CO na,l NH,.
tual Hail and Clclone Insurance Co.,
of st. Paul. finn. The company is not
licensed in North Dakota, and this fact
alone is evidence hat 1t is not to be
Bowman are to the effect that the
company refuses to make any kind of
settlement on a number of hail losses
sustained, by policy holders in that
county. These unfortunate people have
practically no reburse, because, even
assuming that the company is respon-
sible, suits for recovery cannot be
maintained in North Dakota for the
reason that the is not author
ICED to transact business herein.
1T is fundamental that legitimate
insurance companies. do not deliberate
ly violate this laws n requirements OF
a state in which they desire to do
business. On the contrary, they apply
for admittance, submit a statement Of
their financial condition, appoint the
commissioner of insurance their attor-
and in all matters abide by the laws
that lave been enacted for the regula-
ton and control of insurance compan-
les and the business transacted by
them. Much trouble, annoyance and
disappointment might be saved If pur-
chases of insurance would sent a note
Of inquiry to this department in ad-
vance. If the soliciting agent is I'M
known to the applicant, he should be
required to show his license. Soliciting
insurance without a license is a mis-
demeanor, punishable by a fine Of not
less h $50 nor more than $500 for
each offense. Mail-order insurance
should be looked upon with suspicion
and submitted to the closest investiga-
tinn " =