An agent is a person, firm or corporation authorized in writing by a company to solicit or countersign or issue policies of insurance in its behalf. No person, firm or corporation is permitted to act as agent in this State of an insurance company until each person and every member of a firm and each officer of a corporation has filed an application with the Insurance Commissioner to be registered as an agent and until there has been issued by the Commissioner a certificate showing that the company has complied with the requirements of law and that the person, firm or corporation named has been duly appointed its agent. Companies, their agents, insurance brokers and all other persons are prohibited from making any incomplete comparison of policies for the purpose of inducing any person insured in any company to surrender his insurance therein and to take out a policy in another company insuring against similar risks. An insurance agent is made personally liable on all contracts of insurance or suretyship unlawfully made by or through him for or in behalf of any company or association not authorized to do business in this State.

It is unlawful for attorneys, officers, clerks, servants, and employes, or persons otherwise hired or engaged, to receive compensation for life insurance placed, sold, or solicited for the benefit of, or on the lives of their clients, servants or employes.

An insurance broker is a person, not an officer or agent of the company interested, who for compensation, acts or aids in any manner in obtaining insurance for a person other than himself. A person, firm or corporation may obtain a certificate or license from the Insurance Commissioner to act as an insurance broker by making proper application upon blanks furnished by him for that purpose and answering such interrogatories as he may require. The fee for license as an insurance broker is ten dollars in the case of an individual and twenty-five dollars in case the license is issued to a company or copartnership.

Companies, their agents and insurance brokers are prohibited from paying, allowing or giving, and prospective policy-holders are prohibited from receiving as an inducement to insurance any rebate of premiums payable or any other valuable consideration or inducement whatever, not specified in the policy contract. Only corporations chartered to engage in the insurance and real estate business can be licensed as agents and brokers.

The law for the licensing of life or accident companies doing business upon the assessment plan was repealed, and such companies or associations cannot hereafter be authorized to transact business in this State except such as were doing business in this State at the time the law was repealed. It is made the duty of the Insurance Commissioner to examine into the condition of companies of this State at least once every three years, and for such purpose he is given free access to all books and papers and is authorized to summon and examine any person, under oath, which he or any of his examiners may administer, in order to ascertain all the facts relative to the condition and affairs of the company.

The Insurance Commissioner is authorized to proceed against and take possession of any insolvent or delinquent company, order or association transacting any class of insurance, whenever (a) it is insolvent, or (b) has refused to submit its books, papers, accounts, or affairs to the reasonable inspection of the Insurance Commissioner, or his deputy or examiner; or (c) has neglected or refused to observe an order of the Commissioner to make good within the time

prescribed by law any deficiency, whenever its capital, if it be a stock corporation, or its reserve, if it be a mutual corporation, shall have become impaired; or (d) has, by contract of reinsurance or otherwise, transferred or attempted to transfer substantially its entire property or business, or entered into any transaction the effect of which is to merge substantially its entire property or business in the property or business of any other corporation, association, society, or order, without having first obtained the written approval of the Insurance Commissioner; or (e) is found, after an examination, to be in such condition that its further transaction of business will be hazardous to its policy-holders, or to its creditors, or to the public; or (f) has wilfully violated its charter or any law of the Commonwealth; or (g) whenever any officer thereof has refused to be examined under oath touching its affairs, the Insurance Commissioner must apply through the Attorney General to the court of common pleas of Dauphin County or to the court of any County in which the principal office of the corporation is located for an order directing the corporation to show cause why the Insurance Commissioner should not take possession of its property and conduct its business, and for such other relief as the nature of the case and the interests of its policy-holders or the public may require. Upon dissolution the Insurance Commissioner takes possession and appoints a special deputy to liquidate its affairs.

Joint stock fire and marine and casualty insurance companies will be prohibited from doing any business when their capital is found to be impaired 20 per cent after providing for all liability and reinsurance reserves. When the capital of a company has been found, upon examination, to be so impaired, the Commissioner gives notice to the company to make good its capital within sixty days, and if this is not done, he must require the company to cease doing new business and may institute proceedings for dissolution. Companies receiving notice of impairment of capital must, within sixty days, call upon stockholders for such amounts as will make its capital equal to the amounts fixed by the company's charter. Stockholders refusing to pay the amount called for, upon notice personally given or by advertisement in such time and manner as the Commissioner may approve, are required to return the original certificate of stock held, and in lieu thereof receive new certificates for such number of shares as the stockholders may be entitled to in the proportion that the ascertained value of the funds of the company may be found to bear to the original capital. The Commissioner may permit the reduction of capital in proportion to the extent of impairment, but a capital cannot be reduced to an amount less than that required by the law for the organization of the company.

Policies of fire insurance covering property in this State must be approved and countersigned by licensed agents who are residents of Pennsylvania.

In the case of life insurance companies, the Commissioner is required to ascertain the net value of its policies in force on the basis of the American Experience Table of Mortality with interest at not more than 31⁄2 per cent. and to require a reserve to be held sufficient to protect the same. Should the reserves of a life insurance company become impaired, the Commissioner may take possession of the company and appoint a special deputy to conduct its affairs or institute proceedings for its dissolution.

By the Act of May 17, 1921, P. L. 682, provision has been made for the incorporation of companies to make insurances.

Purposes for Which Companies May be Incorporated.

(a) Stock or mutual life insurance companies may be incorporated for any or all of the following purposes:

(1) To insure the lives of persons, and every insurance appertaining thereto; to grant and dispose of annuities; and to insure against personal injury, disablement, or death resulting from traveling or general accidents, and against disablement resulting from sickness, and every insurance appertaining thereto.

(b) Stock fire insurance companies may be incorporated for any or all of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision; stock marine insurance companies may be incorporated for any or all of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (3); and stock fire and marine insurance companies may be incorporated for any or all of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).

For making insurances-

(1) On dwelling houses, stores, and all kinds of buildings, and household furniture and other property,-against loss or damage, including loss of use or occupancy, by fire, lightning, and explosion, whether fire ensue or not, except explosion on risks specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (e), and by tornadoes, cyclones, windstorms, earthquakes, hail, frost, sleet, snow, or flood; against loss or damage by water to any goods or premises, arising from the breakage or leakage of sprinklers, pumps or other apparatus erected for extinguishing fires, and of water pipes; against accidental injury to such sprinklers, pumps, or other apparatus; against loss or damage caused by the caving in of the surface of the earth above coal mines; and against loss or damage caused by bombardment, invasion, insurrection, riot, civil war, or commotion, and military or usurped power; and to effect reinsurance of any risk provided for in this clause.

(2) Upon vessels, boats, cargoes, goods, merchandise, freight and other property,against loss or damage by all or any risks of lake, river, canal, and inland navigation and transportation; upon automobiles, airplanes, seaplanes, dirigibles, or other aircraft, whether stationary or in operation or in transit, against loss or damage by fire, explosion, transportation, collision, or by burglary, larceny, or theft; not including, in any case, insurances against loss by reason of bodily injury to the person; and to effect reinsurance in any risk provided for in this clause.

(3) Upon vessels, freight, goods, wares, merchandise, specie, bullion, jewels, profits, commissions, bank notes, bills of exchange, and other evidence of debt, bottomry and respondentia interests, and every insurance appertaining to or connected with marine risks, and risks of transportation and navigation; and to effect reinsurance of any risk provided for in this clause.

(c) Stock casualty insurance companies may be incorporated for any or all of the following purposes:

fying banks, bankers, brokers, financial or moneyed associations, or financial or moneyed corporations, against the loss of any bills of exchange, notes, drafts, acceptances of drafts, bonds, securities, evidences of debt, deeds, mortgages, documents, currency, and money except against loss caused by marine risks or risks of transportation or navigation. Also guaranteeing any Federal Land Bank against loss by reason of defective title or incumbrances on real property on which any such Federal Land Bank may make a loan secured by a mortgage.

(2) To insure against injury, disablement or death resulting from traveling or general accident, and against disablement resulting from sickness, and every insurance appertaining thereto, including a funeral benefit to an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars.

(3) To insure glass against breakage.

(4) To insure any one against loss or damage resulting from accident to, or injury, fatal or non-fatal, suffered by an employe or other person, for which the person insured is liable; or against loss or damage to property caused by horses, or by any vehicle drawn by animal power, for which loss or damage the person insured is liable.

(5) To insure steam boilers, pipes, flywheels, engines, and machinery connected therewith or operated thereby, against loss caused by explosion or accident; and against loss of or damage to life, person or property resulting therefrom; and against loss of use and occupancy caused thereby; and to make inspection of, and issue certificates of inspection upon, such boilers, pipes, flywheels, engines, and machinery.

(6) To insure against loss by burglary or larceny or theft or forgery.

(7) To carry on the business of credit insurance or guaranty, either by agreeing to purchase uncollectible debts or otherwise; and to insure against loss or damage from the failure of persons indebted to the insured to meet their liabilties.

(8) To insure any goods or premises against loss or damage by water caused by the breakage or leakage of sprinklers, pumps, or other apparatus, erected for extinguishing fires, and of water pipes; and against accidental injury, from causes other than fire or lightning to such sprinklers, pumps, water pipes, or other apparatus; and against damage from use or occupancy of premises by reason of such breakage or leakage.

(9) To insure against loss or damage to elevators or other property, except loss or damage by fire, caused by the maintenance, operation, or use of elevators and machinery; loss or legal liability for damage to property resulting from such operation, maintenance, or use of elevators.

(10) To insure horses, cattle, and other live stock.

(11) To insure against loss or damage to automobiles and airplanes, seaplanes, dirigibles, or other aircraft (except loss or damage by fire or while being transported in any conveyance by land or water), including loss by legal liability for damage to property resulting from the maintenance and use of automobiles and airplanes, seaplanes, dirigibles, or other aircraft.

(d) Mutual insurance companies of any kind, other than life insurance companies, may be incorporated for the following purposes:

(1) To make contracts of insurance, or to reinsure and accept reinsurance, for any and all kinds of insurance, other than life insurance, which are not prohibited by stat

ist; to see that all the provisions of the mining law are observed and strictly carried out; to keep in his office a record of all examinations of mines, showing the condition in which he finds them; to keep a record of all serious ac eldents showing the nature and causes thereof, and the number of deaths resulting therefrom; and to make an annual report to the Secretary of Mines.

STATE ANTHRACITE MINE CAVE
COMMISSION.

This Commission, created under Act of May 27, 1921, P. L. 1192, shall consist of a chairman and two other members, one of whom shall be a practical mining engineer, and all of whom shall be citizens and residents of the anthracite producing counties of the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Governor and to hold office during his pleasure, and shall establish headquarters in the anthracite region as it may determine.

DEPARTMENT OF PROPERTY AND SUPPLIES.

This Department created in 1923 succeeds the former Departments of Public Grounds and Buildings, and of Public Printing and Binding, and is charged with performance of the duties of the former Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Commission, General George Gordon Meade Statue Commission, the Robert Morris Monument Commission, the General Galusha Pennypacker Monument Commission and the Camp Curtin Park Commission.

Grounds and Buildings.

The Department is required to supervise, clean and keep in proper repair the State Capitol Building, Executive Mansion and the State Arsenal. It also has charge of the public grounds and buildings in connection with these buildings.

In order to police the public grounds and buildings properly the Department is authorized to employ sergeants of police and police officers in such number and at such compensation as the Executive Board approves. These sergeants and officers are known as the Capitol Police.

In the event that the space in the Capitol buildings is inadequate to house the offices of the various departments, boards and commissions, the Department of Property and Supplies is authorized to lease appropriate accommodations outside of the Capitol buildings. It is also authorized to lease appropriate accommodations outside of Harrisburg for any departments, boards and commissions which are authorized by the Executive Board to establish branch offices outside of the Capital city. All leases of property outside of Harrisburg must have the approval of the Board of Commissioners of Public Grounds and Buildings before they are valid.

In addition to supervision of all repairs to State Buildings, the Department of Property and Supplies has supervision over new construction of all State buildings; and for the purpose of giving such supervision it is required to employ and with the Governor's approval fix the compensation of such superintendents of construction as may be necessary.

usha Pennypacker Monument at Philadelphia. It is also required to maintain and care for the Curtin Monument at Harrisburg. After any such monuments have been erected, it is the duty of the Department to see that they are properly maintained, acting as advised by the several advisory monument commissions which will be described hereafter.

The Department of Property and Supplies also has charge of the Commonwealth's Fire Fund. This fund was established a number of years ago for the purpose of making possible the prompt restoration of any State property destroyed by fire, with the exception of buildings under the supervision of the Armory Whenever loss or damage Board of the State. by fire or other casualty occurs and damages such State property the same must be reported to the Department of Property and Supplies which is required to make an examination thereof and in its discretion, subject only to the approval of the Governor, authorize the rebuilding, restoration or replacement of the property damaged or destroyed. For this purpose the Department is required to have plans and specifications prepared and contracts executed and to supervise the work. The work is will be restored substantially as it was prior to be done in such a way that the property to the fire or other casualty. The cost of all such work is certified to the Auditor General who is directed to issue his warrant against the Insurance Fund and thereupon the State Treasurer is required to pay for the same.

Standards and Purchases.

The Department of Property and Supplies is the Commonwealth's Purchasing Agent. Purchases must be made through this Department by all departments and independent administrative boards and commissions, except that the Health Department is permitted to purchase, directly, medicines and medical and surgical supplies required by it, and furniture, materials and supplies for the State Tuberculosis Sanatoria maintained by the Department, and except further, that the Department of Highways has the right to purchase directly materials, supplies and equipment necessary for the construction and repair of highways. Departmental administrative boards and commissions other than the boards of trustees of State institutions must also have all their purchases made by the Department of Property and Supplies. Boards of trustees of State institutions are not required to purchase through the Department of Property and Supplies, but may do so if they desire. The only restriction upon the powers of the boards of trustees as to purchasing is that after the Department of Property and Supplies shall have established standard specifications for any article required by any such institution such article must be purchased according to such specification, unless the institution shall forward to the Department at the time the purchase is made the modified specification, the price paid thereunder, the reason for the modification and whenever practical a sample of the article purchased under the modified specification for analysis in adopting standard specifications for articles, materials and supplies used by the administrative departments, boards and commissions and by State institutions. The Department of Property and Supplies is required to consult the head of the department, board or commission and to procure the approval of such head,

All materials, furniture and supplies must be purchased by contract in the manner provided in Section 2105 of the Administrative Code.

Materials, furniture and supplies are purchased by the Department of Property and Supplies in two ways. There is an annual ap

in purchasing materials, furniture and supplies distributed by it to the several departments, boards and commissions. All materials, furniture and supplies purchased out of this appropriation are distributed on requisition of the

various departments, boards and commissions. By the terms of the 1923 Appropriation Act and also under Section 709 (f) of the Ad. ministrative Code the lump sum appropriation to the Department of Property and Supplies is allocated by the Executive Board to the several departments, boards and commissions which are allowed to requisition materials and supplies in excess of their respective allocations only after the Executive Board approves such excess requisitions.

Many of the departments, boards and commissions have funds which they are authorized by law to employ for the purchase of materials and supplies. In all such cases the Administrative Code provides that the actual purchasing shall be done by the Department of Property and Supplies as Agent even though the bills are paid out of the funds of, or appropriations to, the departments, boards or commissions for which the materials or supplies are purchased.

In addition to the purchase of furniture, materials and supplies for the State government the Department of Property and Supplies is charged with the duty of disposing of unserviceable personal property which the various departments, boards and commissions are required to turn over to the Department from time to time. Sales of unserviceable personal property, except in the case of perishable property, must be advertised in not more than five newspapers of the Commonwealth once a week for three weeks, such advertisement stating the time, place and condition of any such sale.

The Department is also required to collect and furnish on request market prices and such information as will be serviceable in purchasing supplies to any department, board or commission or any institution receiving State aid. All Fidelity Bonds for State officers are procured by the Department of Property and Supplies.

Publications.

prescribed by Section 2106 of the Administrative Code.

The 1923 Legislature authorized the purchase by the Commonwealth of the copyright and control of Smull's Legislative Hand Book. This publication will hereafter be a direct State publication under the name "Pennsylvania State Manual."

In addition to the duty of seeing that the State's printing is done, the Department of Property and Supplies has the duty of disposing of all waste paper, documents and other materials of like character that have been accumulated and are no longer needed.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC
GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS.

This Board consists of the Governor, the Auditor General and the State Treasurer. Its powers are derived exclusively from the provisions of the Administrative Code which abolished a Board of the same name which had existed for many years and created in its stead a new Board having no powers other than those enumerated in the Code.

The Board has the power to assign rooms in the State Capitol to the Governor, the General Assembly and the officers and committees thereof, the Supreme and Superior Courts and the judges and officers thereof, and as far as possible to the several administrative departments, boards and commissions. It also assigns any rooms outside of the Capitol Building which shall have been leased by the Department of Property and Supplies to accom-modate the several administrative departments, boards and commissions and before any lease can be executed for office quarters or other accommodations outside of the Capital city the same must be approved by the Board.

All contracts for furnishings, materials, furniture or supplies or for State printing must be approved by all of the members of this Board, although in acting contracts upon such the Governor, the Auditor General and the State Treasurer do not act as a Board but in their respective official capacities as Governor, Auditor General and State Treasurer. Under the Constitution contracts of this character are

The Department of Property and Supplies is authorized to edit for publication all reports, bulletins and other publications of the various departments, boards and commissions of the State government. So far as concerns the quantity of any publication to be printed the old system is retained only with regard to publications to be printed for the use of the General Assembly. Even with regard to these publications their size and character is determined

by the Department of Property and Supplies with the approval of the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

Publications to be printed for the use of the various executive agencies of the State government are subject to the approval of the Governor as to the need for the same, their size, character, quantity and method of distribution. Subject to the Governor's approval, the Department of Property and Supplies determines these matters, except that in the case of reports made by the several departments, boards and commissions the department, board or commission making the report must be consulted with regard to the need, size, character, quantity and method of distribution of the same. Publications to be printed for the use of the judicial department are determined by the Department of Property and Supplies with the approval of the Governor and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The Governor and the Department of Property and Supplies do not participate in determining the need for such publications.

Printing is done upon requisition of the department, board or commission desiring it. Contracts for printing are awarded in the manner

named.