78TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session CONSIDERATION OF H. R. 3570 { REPORT No. 1278 MARCH 23, 1944.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. SABATH, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. Res. 481] The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 481, report the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution do pass. O 2d Session No. 1279 CONSIDERATION OF H. R. 4257 MARCH 23, 1944.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. SABATH, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. Res. 482] The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House Resolution 482, report the same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution do pass. O 78TH CONGRESS 2d Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT No. 1280 PROVIDING FOR REGULATION OF CERTAIN INSURANCE RATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MARCH 23, 1944.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. RANDOLPH, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 3974] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 3974) to provide for regulation of certain insurance rates in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill, as amended, do pass. The amendments are as follows: On line 19, page 2, after the comma following the word "transportation" insert "boiler and machinery.". On line 25, page 2, after the word "all" insert "risks or". On line 2, page 3, delete the word "classified". On line 8, page 3, delete the words "class of" and between the words "the" and "catastrophe" insert the words "conflagration or". The primary purpose of the bill is to provide a method for establishing in the District of Columbia reasonable fire, lightning, tornado, and windstorm insurance rates by authorizing the Superintendent of Insurance to make appropriate adjustments of such rates. Under existing law the Superintendent has no control over such rates. The District Commissioners have for years sought legislation which would permit some control over such rates. At the present time rates are arrived at by arbitrary and discriminatory methods by the various companies authorized to do such business in the District. Most of the States have laws which permit some form of regulation of rates for risks contemplated by this bill. Section 2 of the bill applies to insurance against loss of or damage to property or any valuable interest therein by or as a consequence of fire, lightning, tornado, and windstorm or any one or more of such hazards, including all supplemental, additional, or extended forms of coverage written in connection with fire insurance. It does not apply to ocean marine, transportation, boiler and machinery, or motorvehicle insurance, nor to insurance covering the property of interstate common carriers, nor to inland marine insurance. Section 3 empowers the Superintendent to investigate and adjust rates on any or all risks or classes of risks he may consider appropriate when he finds that the experience of the companies for a period of not less than 5 years shows that the rates are excessive, inadequate, or unreasonable. In making such determination, the Superintendent is required to give consideration to all factors reasonably attributable to the risks, both within and without the District, and to a reasonable profit. Existing law prohibits discrimination between risks or classes of risks of the same class or hazard in the amount of premiums or rates, or benefits or amount of insurance payable, or in the terms or conditions of a policy, and the Superintendent is given power to order removed unfair discriminations existing between such individual risks or classes of risks. This section continues the present methods of appeal from any action taken by the Superintendent. Section 4 of the bill provides for the establishment by the companies of a rating bureau and requires every insurance company now or hereafter authorized to effect insurance against the risk of loss or damage by hazards within the scope of the bill to be a member of the bureau. The bureau is empowered to establish reasonable agreements and bylaws and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations, but such agreements, bylaws, rules, and regulations are required to be consistent with the bill and to be approved by the Superintendent before becoming effective. Subject to the approval of the Superintendent, the expenses of the operation of the Bureau shall be apportioned among its members in proportion to the premium income on risks in the District. Section 5 of the bill prohibits any company, agent, or broker transacting these kinds of insurance from issuing, delivering, or offering to issue or deliver, or from knowingly permitting the issuance or delivery of any policy of insurance which does not conform to the requirements approved by the Superintendent. This section provides for deviations in such requirements when filed with the rating bureau and the Superintendent, and when approved by the Superintendent. It permits deviations from schedules, rating methods, rules, bylaws, agreements, regulations, and rates when filed with the rating bureau and the Superintendent and when approved by the Superintendent. Each deviation shall be considered on its merits. Section 6 requires the rating bureau to keep a record of all rates, schedules, and proceedings and requires each agent to keep a record of every policy contract issued through his agency. Section 7 authorizes the Superintendent or his deputy to examine all records of the rating bureau, member companies, and agents and to require such statistical reports as he may prescribe, and any other information deemed necessary for the administration of the bill. Section 8 provides that rates, premiums, schedules, rating methods, rules, bylaws, agreements, or regulations shall be filed with and approved by the Superintendent before becoming effective. No form of policy, clause, warranty, rider, or endorsement may be issued without approval of the Superintendent. O 78TH CONGRESS 2d Session } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT No. 1281 AMENDING AN ACT TO FIX SALARIES OF PERSONNEL OF POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA March 23, 1944.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. RANDOLPH, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 4347] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 4347) to amend an act entitled "An Act to fix the salaries of officers and members of the Metropolitan Police force and the Fire Department of the District of Columbia," having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Page 2, line 3, strike out the figure "$3,000" and insert in lieu thereof "$3,600". Page 2, line 6, strike out the figure "$3,000" and insert in lieu thereof "$3,600". The purpose of this bill is to increase the salaries of captains, lieutenants, and sergeants of the fire department to the same basic level as salaries paid officers of similar rank in the Metropolitan Police Department. The bill was submitted by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia with the approval of the Budget Bureau, as shown by the following letter from the Board of Commissioners. Hon. SAM RAYBURN, Speaker, United States House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MARCH 4, 1944. MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have the honor to submit to you herewith a draft of a proposed bill to amend an act entitled "An act to fix the salaries of officers and members of the Metropolitan police force and the Fire Department of the District of Columbia," approved July 1, 1930 (46 Stat. 839). The purpose of the bill is to increase the salaries of captains, lieutenants, and sergeants of the Fire Department to the same basic |