Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-12
Auxiliary Plan
For Investigation
Of Applicants for
Insurance Licenses

For some time 1t has been evil
dent that there is an increasing
tendency for each individual to be-
come his own insurance agent" said
Spencer on Friday. This result has
been affected somewhat by the in
surance carriers themselves, more
particularly in the case Of some life
insurance companies.
THE effect of licensing every in
dividua1 in the State to transact in
surance Is obvious. If the result were
beneficial, then every man might
reasonably be his own physician, at
torney or spiritual advisor with
equal advantage to the State.
1.-THE volume of acquisitions has
already increased to such an extent
that some States including Connecti-
cut. Maryland, Massachusetts, Mich
igan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
are endeavoring to perfect systems
based upon examination and quail
fication of applicants; in some cases
legislative action has been initiated.
1T has been suggested that some
auxiliary method of investigation be
inaugurated in Maine as a tenta-
tive procedure which is fully ex-
planned in the appended statement.
Accordingly, the insurance de-
Il
plan for preliminary investigation
Of all applicants for fire and cas-
ualty licenses to take effect from the
18th day of April 1924, and to con-
tinue at the pleasure Of the commits
sioner.
1T is hereby stipulated that as a
tentative plan, to continue during
the pleasure of the insurance depart
ment, a committee, consisting of II
licensed insurance agents, one of
whom shall be president and the re-
mainder members of the Maine AS
ISOLATION Of Insurance Agents, one
representing each county in the
State. shall investigate gratuitously
the character and qualifications of
all applicants for fire and casualty
licenses in Maine. This organiza-
ton shall be known as the advisory
committee.
1T is further agreed that the
names and addresses of all applicants
from each country shall be forward
cd to each county investigator as
soon as possible after they have been
filed with the insurance department.
Ten days after transmission by the
department will be allowed for ex-
animation and report at the ex-
piration Of which the department in
the absence of a report may exercise
its statutory prerogative in the mat
ter of appointment or rejection.
1T is further agreed that every
report submitted shall be returned
accompanied by the recommended
lions of the investigator. In either
alternative the insurance commits
sioner shall not be understood to
have relinquished the statutory right
to make special or additional inves-
tigation and may act according to
his own convictions"
1T Is further agreed that in the
event that a report from a county
investigator is incomplete or unsat-
isfactory, the commissioner may re-
quire further information from the
investigator or request from the
chairman an expression of opinion
on the case under consideration from
the majority Of the full committee.
att is expressly agreed that appli-
cations for renewals or extensions Of
licenses heretofore granted by the
department shall not be referred to
the committee for investigation, UNI
less for express purpose of investi-
eating the conduct or competency
Of an agent already licensed by the
department"