The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-27
State Insurance Commissioner
To Be Asked of Legislature.
He Will Have Jurisdiction Over
All State Agents.
WATCH DOG OF POLICY HOLDER
InnOcents To Be Protected
From Expensive Litigation.
Charge That Too Many Agents
Don't Know Business.

Members of the Kansas legislature
are to be asked to create another Job.
The new office will be state insurance
commissioner, who is to have Jur1sd1c-
ton over all insurance agents-both
life, accident and fire-who write
polices in this state Creation of the
new state department has been urged
by a number Of prominent insurance
men and a bill covering the subject is
to be introduced sometime during the
coming session.
Kansas is now overrun with boards
and commissions and inspectors. Just
at present Kansas inspects almost ev-
erything from the color of a dogs
eyes to the nails III a casket. With
all the regulation, supervision and in
spection, a number of widely known
insurance men are to urge a depart
ment for the licensing of insurance
agents.
1t is claimed that an actual need for
the law exists in this state. A state
insurance commissioner, it is claimed,
would be able to save innocent policy
purchasers thousands of dollars and
stop much expensive litigation in the
courts and many delays in the settle
ment of claims. Many men and wom-
en- buy insurance policies without
knowing just what the policies mean.
But that isn't all. 1t is urged by the
insurance men that many agents sell
they are selling. In their zeal and
enthusiasm, they tell of the provisions
in policies that are found not to exist
when house burns, or a man dies or
is injured in an accident. Consequently,
it is urged, there is a distrust of insur-
ance companies that would not exist if
the sale of policies was properly reg
ulated.
Don't Know Their Business.
1.-The trouble with the present sys-
tenn" said one we'll known insurance
man, lis the fact that too many agents
do not understand the provisions of
the policies They sell a man a policy
that is supposed to provide one thing.
but actually provides something else"
Now the insurance men want a
commissioner whose duty it is to eX-
anime insurance agents and determine
whether they are competent to sell
insurance. If the prospective agent
does not possess a working knowledge
of the insurance game, he will be de-
MED the right to engage in the work.
All agents would be required to pass
examinations and insurance would be
sold only by persons possessing GER
tificateS of authority.
I'VE have laws providing that bar
bers must mix their lather right, that
cheese must be kept in proper condi-
ton, that hotel sheets must be Just so
long, that factory machinery must be
protected in a prescribed manner. that
births and deaths must be recorded
in a certain manner, that fire escapes
must be built in a certain manner and
that a hundred other things must be
DONE" said the insurance man.
There are inspectors and examiners
and supervisors for all of these things.
Now we want a law compelling in
surance agents to know what they are
selling
ioJ, haF I,a
legislature will not place the law I'M
der the present state insurance de-
partment. In certain quarters, at
least, the present insurance depart
ment is not in the highest standing.
So the new bill will provide an in
spector who has an actual practical
experience and training in insurance
work. His experience must have COW
cred the five years Immediately pre-
ceding his appointment