The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-08
CarroII-Price Insurance Bill
Brings Out Flock OF Lobbyists.
But Measure Is Not Only Legis-
Iation Faced by Companies.
FACE STATE CONTROLLED RATE
Another Carroll Bill Paves Way
for State Insurance.
Would Allow Superintendent To
Take Over and Run Business.

For the first time since the present
session of the legislature began the
sacred chamber of the senate was con-
spicuously invaded by 1obbists and new
roll-Price insurance bill was being
discussed on third reading just prior
to it's passage. The lobbyists were well
known Topekans; some of them mem
berS of the Shawnee county bar asso-
citation and they were both in the
senate chamber and in the gallery.
James A. Troutman, formerly can
didate for governor, was on the senate
floor and was heard to remark to a
senator that the Carroll-Price bill has
teeth in it, Among the spectators
in the senate gallery was.Robert Stone,
a former member of the legislature
from Shawnee county.
The Carroll-Price bill that the sem
ate has passed does '-have teeth in it"
1t has teeth strong enough to enable
the insurance superintendent to liter
ally chew up any insurance company
contracts he wants to, and it makes
him a court of last resort by provid
ing no way for the insurance COM
panies to go to bar of justice in
seeking an appeal from his rulings
But, if the insurance companies are
groaning under the prospect of hav-
ing to meet the requirements of such
law, they will probably cry out in
loud shrieks of agony when some of
come out into full view.
State Would Make Rates.
One of these measures has already
been started on the road that leads
to the statute books. 1t is the Car
roll bill providing for the creation of
an insurance commission that will
have the power to make rates for ali
fire, lightning. storm and marine in
surance written in the state. This
| bill was introduced some time ago,
| but it has just come from the insur-
ance committee with the recommended
| ton that it be passed as it was drawn.
| The measure not only will do away
! with the old rating system under
which it is claimed the insurance COM
panies have been given an opportunity
| to find hazards that required rate in
| creases but it will practically confis-
cate whatever data and records the
underwriters have by making them
useless.
| And this is not all that the Carroll
| bill does. 1t is not even small part
of what it does. The measure actu-
ally opens the way for state insurance,
and, coupled with the Carroll-Price
! bill that has already been passed, it
practically gives the state insurance
superintendent power to force every
! company out of the state and to take
| over all the business to run it by and
| for the state.
| State May Garry Policies.
| The bill creating a state insurance
commission provides that if any COM
| pany withdraws from the state then
the state may take over its policies
| and carry them for the benefit of the
policy holders, Senator Carroll says
! 1t provides, he explained, that provi-
| sion be made whereby premiums may
be paid to the state and turned over
to the state treasurer and kept for the
purpose of paying losses that may
| occur.
These features in themselves might
not be so~bad under the present insur.
ance system of Kansas. But if the in
i surance superintendent is given power
to make all companies word their con
tracts as he dictates, think what E
superintendent who might be an advo
cate of state insurance might do L
would be an easy matter for him tt
make it so uncomfortable for the com
| panies that they would waste no timt
in getting out, and, as fast as the!
left, the state would take over theil
business and operate it.
1t certainly looks like busy winter
for the insurance lobbyists and hare
one for the insurance companies.