The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-04-20

State of North Dakota: am can
didate for the Office of commissioner of
insurance. I am now serving my third
term in that office, and my candidacy
is submitted on the ground of efficient
service, faithful attention to du4y, and
desire to further assist in placing
the entire struction of insurance on a
more substantial basis in this states
The program have in mind calls for
the enactment of complete and har-
monious insurance code, to take the
place of the the hodge-podge of laws,
many of them more or less contradict
ory, which have been enacted from
time to time since statehood.
The state should have supervision
of insurance rates as we'll as of the
insurance companies authorized to
transact business therein. This ap-
plies with special force to fire insur-
ance rates, but believe it should also
be extended to provide regulation Of
rates charged by surety companies.
Insurance is public necessity, no
less than railroad, telegraph and tele-
phone systems. Even more intimate
| ly than any of these utilities it enters
into the very woof and warp of our
social and industrial fabric, 1t was in
recognition of this fact that the United
States. supreme court recently said
that "the business of fire insurance Is
so far affected with public interest
as to justify legislative regulation OF
rates." If reelected shall renew the
efforts which were inaugurate in the
last legislature to secure supervision
of rates.
i Life insurance is written either on
what is known as the illegal reserve
basis'' op the assessment plan" So
liar as assessment life insurance is
concerned, believe its writing should
be confined exclusively to fraternal
benefit societies, and no adequate
rates. There would not seem to be
any legitimate reason or demand for
assessment life associations, and this
state might we'll follow the example OF
other states in expressly excluding
them from its borders. Certainly the
present lack of definition in that par
ticular should he corrected.
Demands upon the time and atten-
ton of the commissioner OF insurance
in examining disputed claims for in
t'emnity, under politics Of accident
Eand health insurance, has grown
alarmingly. This is due to the vague,
indefinite and misleading character of
these contracts. Standard forms should
be prescribed by the Legislature enact
ment, as in the case of fire insurance
and life insurance.
The state department of insurance is
not merely or primarily a recording
Office. The duties developing upon the
commissioner of insurance are highly
technical, and call for an intimate
knowledge of the insurance laws and
at least reasonable degree of admin.
istrative ability. These qualifications
can be acquired, If at all, only by ex-
perience. In this connection attention
Is called to the fact that in addition to
the steadily increasing amout Of work
developing upon this Office as result
OF the rapid growth of the insurance
business, the responsibility and labors
OF the commissioner of insurance have
been immeasurably enlarged from the
fact that he has been charged with
supervision of the state hail insurance
fund, tho fire marshall fund and the
state bonding fund. 1t is true, tina
the law creating the stats bonding fune
is not in operation at the present, bu
IL is likely to become effective withir
a short time.
The state of North Dakota owes M
nothing. On the contrary am deepl.
indebted to the people of this state
and in that spirt-in the desire to Civ
better service to our people than
has been the possible for me to Civ
in the past-my candidacy is sub
mitted.
WAT u1,r r, ruAVTnD