Improved Order Heptasophs: Condition as of June 25, 1898. Report filed June 30, 1898. Iron Hall of Baltimore City: Condition as of July 1, 1898. Report filed Aug. 13, 1898. Shield of Honor: Condition as of Aug. 19, 1898. Report filed Aug. 20, 1898. Fraternal Legion of Baltimore: Condition as of Aug. 24, 1898. Report filed Aug. 29, 1898. Order of Columbus: Condition as of Aug. 29, 1898. Report filed Aug. 31, 1898. Ancient Order of United Workmen (Maryland Jurisdiction): Condition as of Aug. 31, 1898. Report filed Sept. 7, 1898. Order of the Golden Chain (Period from Jan. 1, 1898, to July 16, 1898): Condition as of Sept. 14, 1898. Report filed Sept. 20, 1898. Maryland Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Sept. 30, 1898. Report filed Oct. 24, 1898. Peabody Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed Mar. 1, 1899. Baltimore Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed Mar. 7, 1899. Firemen's Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed Mar. 13, 1899. Home Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed Mar. 23, 1899. American Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed Mar. 29, 1899. Old Town Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed April 6, 1899. Baltimore Equitable Society: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. German-American Fire Insurance Report filed April 15, 1899. Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed April 20, 1899. German Fire Insurance Company: Condition as of Jan. 1, 1899. Report filed April 29, 1899 LEGISLATION. In my preceding report I briefly outlined such legislation as I had endeavored to have enacted as amendments to the Insurance Laws of this State; again I am compelled to urge upon you the absolute necessity for a thorough revision of these laws. I recommend that a commission be appointed by you, including the Counsel of this Department and the Insurance Commissioner, who shall prepare for submission to the next General Assembly such a revision as above indicated. The defects of the present law are glaring; it requires but little experience and examination to be persuaded of the necessity of this revision. I am convinced if the Legislature would take action in this direction insurance legislation would result that would afford greater protection to the citizens of this State and facilitate the transaction of business in this Department. OVERHEAD WRITING IN MARYLAND. Under date of September 6, 1898, this Department circularized as follows all companies authorized to transact business in this State: "Complaint is being made to this Department that unlicensed insurance companies are doing business in this State, and thereby depriving the State of revenue which it should receive and obtaining profits of business which should go to companies that comply with the insurance laws. There is ample provision in the insurance laws of this State for the punishment of unlicensed agents and companies if they are detected." I am constantly calling the attention of the public to this insecure and fraudulent character of insurance. I believe this notice has resulted in diminishing to some extent this imposition upon our citizens. It is the determination of this Department not to relax any effort in endeavoring to prevent overhead wiring in this State by detecting all persons who violate the law in this respect. RESIDENT AGENT'S LAW. Under date of November 3, 1898, this Department issued the following circular: "Although there is no Resident Agent's Law in the Statutes of this State, yet there is ample provision for the collection of taxes on all premiums collected, as contained in Section 126, etc. "Information is from time to time being received by this Department where the home offices are writing business and collecting premiums direct, the same not being received through their agents, "In some instances I have made demand for said taxes and received same, but desire to inform you that I cannot continue this procedure. In the event this letter is applicable to your company, I request you to include all premiums received or secured in this State, or from residents thereof, in annual statement under oath filed with this Department. Failure to comply with this request, and upon satisfactory information by this Department of such violation, I am compelled to examine the books and records of your company, collect the expense of examination, and revoke the license of an offending company." There is no diversity of opinion as to the demoralization in the practice by any company of writing over the head of the agent. The agent is interested in the risks in his field, and is entitled to his share of the premiums, and good agents are often lost to the companies by this disregard of their rights. Many of the States have legislated on this matter, not so much in the interest of the agent, but due to the fact that they lose the tax, and are further bounden to protect law-abiding companies which make an honest return on all premiums collected, and do not seek to evade the law. FINANCES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The receipts of the Department for the year 1898 were $181,734.28, of which $157,692.58 was derived from taxes and licenses, $24,041.70 from fees. The gross receipts were $12,814.73 in excess of the previous year, and to this extent greater than ever before in the history of this Department. The surplus revenue occurring to the State, over and above the entire expenditures on account of the Department, was $169, 184.75. In order to indicate to you a comparative statement of net receipts forwarded to the State Treasurer during my administration of this Department, I take as a basis the receipts of the last year (1895) of my predecessor, so that the annual increment can be appreciated, and the fact remains that increase upon increase has been derived in each successive yearly remittance: The Commissioner desires and asks the co-operation of all good citizens in his efforts to enforce the laws. They can aid him greatly by insuring only with authorized agents and brokers in authorized companies, and by furnishing him information of violations. Respectfully submitted, F. ALBERT KURTZ, Insurance Commissioner of Maryland. The following Companies are authorized to transact busi. ness in Maryland: MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES OF MARYLAND. Citizens Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Cecil County... Cecil County Frederick County Mutual Fire Insurance Company... Frederick County Maryland Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Calvert County. Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Frederick County Baltimore Baltimore County Harford County Kent County .Montgomery County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. ......Somerset and Worcester Counties Patapsco Mutual Fire Insurance Company. .............. .Washington County Washington County FIRE AND FIRE-MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES OF OTHER STATES. .Hartford, Conn .Watertown, N. Y .Boston, Mass .Newark, N. J .New York, N. Y .Philadelphia, Pa .St. Louis, Mo .San Francisco, Cal .Glens Falls, N. Y |