The Washington times., 1915-01-11
REPORT IS NEAR IN
PROBE Of DISTRICT
INSURANCE BOARD
District Attorneys Office Soon
to Give Findings to Depart.
ment Of Justice.

Nearing the completion Of its inquiry
into the legal status Of the Underwriters
ANociatlon Of the District. which raised
fire insurance rates in Washington by
from SO to 2CO per cent, the office OF
the United States District Attorney will
submit to the Department pf Justice
shortly it's report upon this investisa-
ton. Details of this sudden attempt to
raise rates were first given publicity in
The Times.
In the pursuit Of its inquiry to deter
mine whether rates are being made In
violation Of the Sherman antitrust law.
the District Attorneys office obtained
the cooperation Of Charles r. Ncsbit,
superintendent Of insurance for this Dis
trict. and from Mr.. Ncsbit's office OBJ
tained much general information about
the rate.,naking methods in vogue else
where.
Investigation Being Pushed.
The investigation is being pushed.
and we arc working on 1t daily said
James y. Archer. jr., In whose charge
United States District Attorney Laskey
has placed the inquiry. "A number of
persons have been interviewed. but the
names of these cannot be disclosed at
this time.
our office cannot properly give out
any information I'm advance OF the re-
port we arc to submit to tho Department
OF Justice. OFFICIALS at that department
asked that the matter be iookcn lnto'
and any report we make must Hrst DC
made to them
| Citizens associations Of the District
have been taking an active interest
| in the progress OF the inquiry: SeVcral
OF them also plan to consider the
question OF fire insurance rates at
carly meetings.
Citizens TO Take Up Matter.
The fact that the Commissioners of
the District and Senator MARITIME were
on the program of the Federation 81
| Citizens' Associations for addresses,
| 1t was stated today, crowded out con
| sideration of fire insurance rates "t
| the Saturday night meeting. !hc
question will be taken up by that
body at its next meeting when ample
| time will be allowed for its full con
| sideration. In the meantime the va
| rious associations are obtaining IN
formation about il.
IL am glad to see the citizens ass0-
Citations taking an interest in TINS
question" said Superintendent Nesbit
today. 1t seems to me ii is properly
| a matter for their rsideration.
"Likcwise ] am glad to see tho lie
gality Of the Underwriters Associa
Non being looked into. SO that. If il Is
illegal, It may be stopped, and. IT II Is
! legal its work may not be hampereu
"The whole question Of rate making
! was "A subject Of kccncst interest a
the National Convsntlon OF insurance
| commissioners held early in Decem
Der in New York. and q report OF theil
adjourned meeting. Just publis heI
contains a discussion OF this subjcc
over the names of such progressive
| missioners as Herman Ekern. o.
| Wisconsin: J. 4. o. Preus, of Mime
| sofa: Samuel McCulloch. OF Pcnnsyl
vania and charles G.. Eevcllc, Of Mis-
| souri,, aud others.
Courts Simplify Problem.
In the course OF the report slsnec
by these commit ssioners Il is stated
that The question OF tire insurance
rate making is one OF constantly In
crcasinG importance. 1t rs siinpiitiet
D. the recent decision of the lnit"'
states supreme Court in the kansa
case, holding that the business of fir
insurance is 80 far affected with pup
, lic interest as to justify legislative reg
ulation Of it's rates 1t Is also comin'
to be recognized that the more import
ant subject OF fire prevention is init
mateIy connected with rate making.
, These commissioners also present scH
eral model bills for such regulation o
rates. No such official regulation
l rates nov exists in the District an
, the insurance superintendent has n
., control over rates.