Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1916-04-03
State Fire Marshal.


Ii works in conjunction with local
officials throughout the State, and has
several expert representatives who are
continually at work, either in the in
spection Of buildings, with a view tc
reducing the fire hazard or in investt
eating suspicious fires. with the object
of prosecuting those who may be
guilty of arson or ineendiarism 1t is
continually engaged in educationa.
work along fire prevention lines. a
strong effort is being made &c
bring before the individual prop.
erty owner as well as the officials
the principal causes of fires, so thai
they may be influenced to guarG
against this ever present danger
which a few simple precautions viii
often minimize. This work is already
bearing fruit in reduced losses, and in
reduced fire insurance rates-it is the
great remedy for high rates.
This department is supported by
means of a special tax on the fire in.
surance companies. levied for this one
purpose, hence its establishment
placed no additional burdens on the
State.
Insurance Department.
In order that the magnitude and i'm
portance of this department may be
properly appreciated, desire to direct
your attention to the following facts:
1t has supervision over three thou
sand agents.
1t has supervision over three hun
dred and fifty companies, whose com
bined assets are nearly six thousand
millions of dollars.
The citizens of West Virginia hold
fire insurance policies for four hundred
million dollars, life insurance policies
for one hundred and seventy-five mil
lion dollars, fraternal benefit certifi.
Gates for forty million dollars and mil
lions Of dollars in miscellaneous lines
of insurance.
The premiums collected from West
Virginia by companies of all classes
are nine millions of dollars per year
The losses paid West Virginia citi
zens are four million dollars per year.
The taxes and fees collected by the
Insurance Department are two hundred
and forty thousand dollars per year
which goes into the State Treasury.
All the amounts involved are stead
lily increasing, yet the total expense
is only 100000 per year.
Protecting Policy Holders.
Nearly every citizen is interested
in insurance, either as policyholder or
beneficiary. The provision for de-
pendents made by the wage Garner OF
today, often through the sacrifice OF
comfort and pleasure, will have an i'm
portant influence on the destnies OF
generations yet unborn. This pro
vision may mean the difference be.
tween poverty and plenty, between
education and ignorance, between
crime and good citizenship.
How very important then is this de
partment, which is charged with the
regulation and supervision of insur
ance companies and matters pertain
ing 10 insurance. Not only must the
policyholders of the present genera,
ton be protected from fraudulent
weak and insolvent companies, but
the future must be so guarded that the
generous sacrifice of the familys pro.
tector will be not in yain-when the
claim natures. it must be paid
As it is practical impossibility &c
draw laws with sufficient exactness tc
cover every point that may arise under
the constantly changing conditions in
the field OF insurance, the Insurance
Commissioner has been given large
discretion, which Of course, carries
with it the corresponding responsible
ity that comes with discretionary
powers. The Insurance Department
could be run with little difficulty should
the Commissioner be content to act
merely in clerical capacity-to grant
such licenses as are requested and tc
follow the path of least resistance
generally. In fact, to do more requires
not only knowledge, but a steadfast
desire and determination to approve
only that which is for the public
good. And this is what we have con
sistently striven for, often in the face
OF the venomous opposition and
threats of those whose fraudulent OF
unsafe propositions have not been
approved.
Detecting Weakness.
Our first object is to bar from the
State-to refuse license to-com
p4nies that are not financially respon.
sible or which do not conduct their
business along proper lines. To
identify such companies requires
technical knowledge and experience,
in order to properly analyze the affairs
OF the company and get a clear under,
standing Of its financial condition, con
tracts and methods Of doing business
If a company already licensed be
gins to show signs of weakness OF
improper dealing, knowledge is like.
wise required to detect these signs and
dictate appropriate action for the pro
lection of its West Virginia policy
holders.
The examination Of complaints az
to claim settlements is also an i'm.
portant function; TO obtain for policy.
holders what they are legally and
1stnralIy artftIE1 To and in, otLa,. H.,