REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE.


TV


NEW LAWS.
Several new laws relating to town mutuals have been enacted
by the legislature now in session. Most of these were either
asked for or approved by the Wisconsin Association of Mutual
Insurance Companies.
The new laws and related parts of the old law are printed in
full hereafter with a brief explanation. The part printed in
italics is new and the other matter is the old law.
Two amendments have been made increasing the amount of
the single policy which a town mutual company may write. By
an amendment to Section 1898 companies may write a policy
equal to one-fourth per cent of the total of insurance in force
instead of one-eighth per cent as heretofore.
The method of amending the articles of organization has been
simplified by permitting the publication of a notice of an amend-
ment proposed to be made at an annual meeting, in a newspaper
instead of mailing notices to each member. This will save the
work and expense incident to mailing notices to a large number
of members; and by having amendments so made only at the an-
nual meeting the interests of members will be safeguarded.
There seems to be an increasing tendency for these companies
to insure property located in cities and villages. At the session
of 1911 section 1931 was amended giving these companies until
Jan. 1913 to amend their articles to specifically include such
cities and  villages in their territory.  Many  companies
failed to comply with this provision and the same section has
again been amended at this session, extending the time for the
amendment of the articles to July 1, 1914. All companies hav-
ing insurance in any city or village not included in their articles,
should see that their articles are amended in accordance with
the above section. Blanks for that purpose may be secured from
this department.
Section 1931 (2) as amended, increases the maximum single
risk that may be placed upon country stores, etc., to $5000 in-
stead of $3500, as before limited. This section has also been
amended permitting town companies to insure automobiles and
motor-driven vehicles when separately mentioned and described
in the policy; provided such insurance has been authorized by
the directors of the company. Another amendment authorizes