The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-01-18
MANY IMPORTANT BILLS ARE
INTRODUCED IN BOTH
HOUSES.
OFFER NEW INSURANCE LAW
'Seven 6ilis to Remedy Insurance
Trouble Before Lawmakers.-Both
HOUSES Fully Organized.-Govern
Manning Delivers Address.
Columbia.

Columbia.
In an effort to induce fire insurance
companies TO resume their policy writ.
ehs In the state, number OF bills
recommended for passage by Governor
manning and the commission, appoint.
'ed some time ago by him 20 investi-
gate the affair. were introduced in the
mouse by David d. Noise, Sumter,
lhey were put In the senote by Mr..
Laney
The bills provide:
First: The repeal of the valued
policy law and substituting in sub
stance shat in case Of total loss the in
surance company shall pay to the in
sured without delay, the amount that
the insurance company admits liabil-
tty for and the insured, If the full
amount OF insurance is not paid by
,the company has his right Of action
In any court OF jurisdiction for the
'dlrereMe between what has been
paid aud the face of the insurance
carried 1t Is further provided that
In the event Of recovery against the
company. the company shall be liza.
ble for all costs and 10 per cent Of
tho amount recovered as attorneys
tees.
Second: There is an elaborate fire
inspection law, providing for the IN.
vestigation Of all fires.
Third: There III bill that seeks
20 have Are insurance agents exam.
ined and placed under bond The
idea IL 70 have careful and competent
agents The bill does not disturb
agents who have been commissioned
for two years.
Fourth: complete building code
ia presaOted to be used in towns and
cities
Fifth: A bill that provides the
manner in which towns and cities
shall impose taxes with view Of
graduating the tax.
Sixth \ bill provides for the SER
vice OF summons OH insurance COM
panie3 through the Insurance Commits.
sioner
Then comes the rate-making bill
The essential features of the all-im
oortan. rate. making bill are:
First: That fire insurance compa-
mics are permitted to maintain bu-
reaus in the state for classification
of property and for making insur-
.ance rates thereon. All agreements
in reference to the companies main.
tanning such bureaus relative to rates
must be filed with the Insurance Com.
missioner and also all rates made by
such bureaus must be filed with the
a. ...,,.~ ~,
public records.
Secoud; The bill provides that the
insurance Commissioner may upon his
own motion or upon written complaint,
refer any rate fixed by the insurance
companies to commission of three
TO determine whether or not the rate
is unreasonable or discriminatory.
The commission after investigation,
if 1t fluids that discrimination exists
Mas power to remove the discrimina.
SiOn or il it finds that the rate in
question is unreasonable the commits.
tsion has power to promulgate O rate
Whicl, in its opinion is not unreason.
sable.
Tho commission is to De made up
OF one member to be selected by the
aiovernor. upon the Recommendation
of the Insurance Commissioner one
upon the recommendation OF the rat.
ing bureau having the largest mem.
Toership among the companies doing
business In South Carolina and the
&hird ts to be Independently selected
by the Governor.
Third: The independent or non
hoard companies are not required to
ale SCHEDULE Of rates, unless upon
complaint from the policyhOlder.
Fourth: Mutual fire insurance com
panies chartered under the laws of
South Carolina, and operating under
the assessment plan are exempt from
che provisions Of the act. There are
other exemptions, as to sprinkler
eisks and railroads.
Richard 7. Manning, governor, in his
annual message to the general Assem-.
bly, OF South Carolina Tuesday at noon
recommended the enactment Of pro.
gram OF progressive legislation and re.
viewed the condition Of the state gov.
.srnment. The address was delivered
by tho governor In the house OF rep
wesentatives before the joint assembly
Insurance by the state Of South
Carolina for warehouses owned under
tho state warehouse system and for