The Washington times., 1918-01-28
GARDINER URGES
CONTROL OF RATES
OE.D.C. INSURANCE
BY BILL PRICE.

Commissioner Gardiner is preparing
bill for submission to Congress pro
yiding for strict official control and
supervision OF life and fire insurance
companies doing business here as a
protection TO the public against in
Justice and inequalities.
He has taken the matter up with
Charles S. Shreve. president of the
Federation OF Citizens Associations.
asking that organization to name a
comn1ittee to draw up provisions Of
the bill it may regard as of concern
to the people OF Washington, and the
request will be considered at an early
meeting OF the association.
Mr.. Gardiner is confident that Con
Eress will back him up in his crusade
for the fullest municipal control Of
insurance in the District: in fact he
has already had assurance from dis
ttnguished Congressman that he may
90 forward with his plans in the GER
ttude that his proposals will have
support.
Investigation Suggested.
1t recently has become known that
prominent Senators and Congress
men not only believe that the Dis
trict should be given modern insur-
ance laws, safeguarding the public in
every way, but that several OF them
are intimating a willingness to start
= Congressional investigation of eX-
isting conditions.
A Congressional investigation was
about to be launched some time ago,
after the publication in The Times OF
q
to increaSe the rates in Washington
by 10 per cent, whenever they belley-
ed the moment propitious.
Action in that direction. however,
was deferred pending the submission
TO District Attorney Laskey. of legal
questions as to whether the insurance
combinations doing business here are
not violating the Sherman antitrust
act Commissioner Gardiner. who has
had wide legal experience with insur-
ance questions before the courts, has
long been satisfied that prosecution
may be brought II thorough investI-
cation IL made. This view does not
pertain to local agents of the various
companies but to the head officials
Of the combinations that control rates
in the District.
District Attorney Laskey has been
making q study OF District insurance
data but has not yet taken action.
II he fails to do SO Congress may
step In.
Representative Ben Johnson, chair
man of the House District Committee,
he's long been dissatisfied with the in
sUrance business in the District and
the fixing OF rates here by men hav-
ing no interest in Washington beyond
the returns they may get TO fatten
dividends. He Is incensed with the
threat to increase fire insurance rates
when the facts show that fire losses
"a Warrington have been compare
lively low. with the premiums high.
Capital People Indignant.
Fire insurance premiums on busi-
ness properties has becoms so burden
some as to cause widespread protest
TO the Commissioners. Mr.. Gardiner
found several instances where Wash
inEton business properties were re-.
qMired to pay within 8 cents per 500
as much In premiums as is asked upon
shipping in the submarine zones.
That the people of Washington are 4
immensely concerned in the insur-
aimee situation is shown by the fact
that right after the recent publica-
ton in The Times OF insurance in |
justices here, together with remarks
by me, receive dover 200 telephone
calls from substantial citizens who
urged me to proceed with measures
OF protection. and highly compliment
ed The Times upon its progressive
policies" said Commissioner Gardi- |
ner today. 81 have also received
many letters on the subject. all OF |
them agreeing that legislative reme- |
dies are badly needed in Washing |
ton"