The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-19
One Change Would Revise
Terms on Crop Insurance
and Observation-Disclosures
Would Form Governing
Board For Study Of Appli-
cations BY Farmers

Fargo, n. d., May 10. -P-M ino,
amendments to the state hail insur.
ance law arc necessary To further
improve the operation of the depart.
mcnt as benefit to farmers, Martin
S. Hagen, manager of the state hal
insurance department, told county
auditors in convention here today.
Anon: changes proposed are a
crops are insured and withdrawn
and new provisions regarding tn,
insurance of land held by the Bank
of North Dakota, state school lands
non-taXablc county lands, homestead
and Indian lands The department,
has prepared bills covering the var
ious changes which its cxpcrienc.
has Indicated would be advisable
Hagen said, and will present them
at the next legislative session.
Would Have Board
Another provision would constitut,
the governor, attorney general and
insurance commissioners as board
Of three which would be authorized
to refuse to grant insurance for one
or more years to persons with whom
the department has encountered SER
ious difficulty in making adjust
mcnts of claims for indemnity by
reason Of the unreasonable attitude
of the claimants.
Hagen also would have Il provision
in the law permitting county com
IN issioncrs to reduce the number Of
acres shown as listed for hail indcm
nifty when proof is made that the
number Of acres cropped was actually
smaller than the acreage listed The
insurance commissioner also woulC
be authorized to abate hail indemnity
taxes which may. be wrongfully
levied and to refund such taxes in
cases where they are wrongfully col.
lcctcd
The bill passed at the last legis-
lativc session providing for separate
sale of hail taxes and providing foi
n refund by the hail department il
cases where the title to the lane
passes to someone else on mortgage
foreclosure will prove to be rea
benefit, Hagen said. He explained
that It's effect is to make hail tan
certificates sound investment ans
guarantee their sale along with Other
taxes. The prospect of being unable
to sell the hail indemnity taxes
caused some worry to the depart
ment, Hagen said. but the situation
was amply handled by the new law.
Attacks Benefit Bureau
Pointing out that progress otter
is obtained through working ou
honest differences Of opinion, Hagcr
said that various attacks made or
the hail insurance department hav.
resulted in benefit to it by calling
attention to new ideas. State hal
insurance, Hagen said, now is looked
upon by farmers and business mer
as an indispensable institution ben
efitin those who feel the need of hal
insurance to crops.
The plan of districting the stat,
for the purpose of levying assess
ments proportionate to the loss ha.
worked out we'll, Hagen said. He aver
red that mo one could at this tim,
wish to 20 back to the former system
! and when the present manager shall
| a year from now, decline reappoint
/ ment the department shall hav
! reached the foundation both as al
institution in itself and in the mind
of the people that shall be nearl,
impossible to destroy.
mo doubt 1927 is the last year tn,
flat tax shall need be levied and tn,
! surplus within the fund reach 81,
600, 900, the limit set by law. 1t i.
gratifying to be able to report tina
the cash balance Of the department
+, is at the present time $2,670.OO0 ant
the taxes are being paid in goo,
shape