The New York herald., 1867-02-22

| la. OF New Haven f. B Smith. Of Bufnlo: q A Var
Alsn OF Albany; j. b Burnett Jas H. Carter and w
/ CleyeanA 3. T. Atwater, Thomas Goodman and WIN T..
RoIlo on On 'cago; s. Warner White OF Detroit; Il. b.
Bigelow OF San Francisco and T. Webster. Of Hart
The report OF the Committee on the Adjustment, Of
Losses then again taken up for action The amend
| ment proposed by Mr.. sanerlee and Leodined oy MI
Bowker was voted on and adopted and the reccmmsna
alton Of the committee to specific and geNera rsSa
| was referred to the Executive Committee.
INSTRUCTIONS TO A0KSIs- -.
Mr. BssEIL offered series OF resolutions 70 the eecI
that all companies represented the convention issue
pcy wherein there are stored moro than ave barrels of
carOon OIL and one OF benzne nor TO lake any risks on
carbon oil aud two OF Senzine; that no risks taken
on property where portable gas machines are not kept
in building separate and apart from the properly n,
sIred aud that agent take any risks al loss tnan tne
rates OF the local board In the county where the insured
property Is located. The last resolution was asreed TO-
and the others referred TO the Executive COMMITTED
| Mr. HopE Of New York, offered resolution making
null and void all policies property where gasoline is
setting forth this fact be entered into with the company
| taking the risk. Adopted
oS POLICIES.
Mr.. SArrEMxE moved that In every case where the
State imposes for issuing policies the amount Of
such be added the premium demanded Of the in
sured. Referred TO the Executive Committee.
Mr. II. c. RoUsK, Of tho SUN Insurance Company or
stamps used on policies charge the applicant
surance The resolution was laid on the table.
A ten0ered
to the Executive Committee, after which
The convention adjourned si1e d's.
The Lesisiatise Committee ON Insurarce.
The committee appointed By the Assembly TO inquire
into the Of the disastrous fires which lately
occurred in this city met the Metropolitan Hotel yes
terday. 1t consists Of Messrs. Youngove lcharman,
Alexander Frear PenGeld. Lefevre and Blauvelt
The frst gentleman who gave evidence Mr. George
w. Savage OF the Board OF Underwriters He said The
storage OF ndammable goods s great cause OF Tres
there law against the proceeding, but Is rarely ad
minstered the number of fires during the past year
unusually large and the losses than usually heavy
this may to large extent be accounted for by the
veue and quantity of goods stored he did not however
think that the increase in the number Of fires could Al all
be traced 10 the appointment Of tue paid
Fire Department: he was at first quite opposed
~ lie annoirt,ran, b,, ho noY ,houcb, ,ha, :,
was in many respects great mprov on the sc
ganzation: under the department robbery had al
most entirely ceased; he had not heard OF single
instance Of thev ng being charged TO the DEPART
ment: the main fault under the rdgme was, IN his
opinion that the engines not got 10 work quickly
they ought TO be- the general Impression also that
the Chief Engineer Is incompetent: the who occu
pied that position should be thoroughly educated one
and person able to organize the whole system fires IN
buildings used tor the storage Of cotton are often The
work OF ncendare and are caused by their desire to
cover mp their robperes: efficient department. where
by fires could be quickly extngushed wOnldnc doubt
have the tendency to prevent incehdiary tires he did
not think that any legislative enactment would have the
tendency to diminish incendiary fires; but the contem
plated action of merchants and insurance companies
might possibly have the desired effect; the number of
fires arising from spontaneous combustion far greater
than the public have any idea Of do not think the losses
by fire in this city have been greater in proportion than
those In the country: cotton is article Of speruatcn
when any article becomes matter Of speculation, in
FACT Of gambling the risk of Are very much increased;
do not think that in any city in the world there Is
imperfect supervision Of insured premises than in New
York no want Of law, but want Of application thereof
dson q buanss il many large and heavily stocked
stores on Broadway for instance the proprietor docs not
see his heating apparatus once in year there were also
things stored Of character prohibited by law the
sale OF salvage cotton after fires IL not think, any in
cent've 70 ncendiarism, for cotton Is an article that
brings Ms own value; the immediate payment Of claims
after nre which is made by some Offices for
the sake OF popularity s undoubtedly one incentive 70
If some slight things wore oniy properly attended To- in
Chttenden's fire. os Instance. II the healing apparatus
had been examined the fre could have boon prevented
do think II could have been extnguished in shorter
space OF ime supervision Is what Is needed now
practically without H things are carecssy conducted;
and hoes great ignorance also prevails what SUBJ
stances liable TO spontaneous combustion. many
ton; many persons will not believe that building
be SCI on frc by steam pipes Mr.. Savage then pro-
ton which hsd come under his own cbservaton In
answer TO question from Mr. Youngove, the witness
stated his belief that thorough reform was necessary in
further stated that tho insurance OF stock to the
full value -: certainly great incentive TO
opinion that the superintendent of Buildings
or the Firc Marshal ought TO have power to order
changes 70 be made In the construction OF buildings
whore such thought 70 b liable to take fire from
the disposition Of iues or heating apparatus.
surance Company, was next briefly examined This gen.
teman unable 70 give any information and was not
prepared TO fully into the question at issue but would
wish the committee OF the Board Of Underwriters to at
tend before the commission and state their opinions
Ex-senator LAimbecr asked Of tho committee what
object only ascertain n possible the Of the
nres lately taken place in the city he should have moth
msuaeemcut and working OF the Fire Depar,cn. he
should have been happy 10 have stated his views
Mr. Stephen English, editor Of the fns"nnc, Monitor
who has been for eighteen connected with tue ire
departments Of some Of the largest cities In England
pointed out in very practical manner many OF tho
mistakes which made by the fremcn Of this city
when endeavoring extnpush fires lie attributed
OF the large fires 20 the ignorance OF those engaged
in throwing water on burning buildings He suggested
the appointment OF Of the Board Of Underwriters TO
position the Board Of Frc Commissioner.
Mr.. Charles C. Pinckney: President Of The Board OF
Savage had said he believed that serious Losses by fires
might be called epdcmic there are some years when
money easily made by taking risks aud Others when
heavy made he believed thai tho losses last
year larger than in any previous one; Tits Vas
TO some extent accounted ior ~ sue .acl
valuable than al any previous tiine lac con-
sIdered the FIRE telegraph system to b. neccssary to the
perfection OF any IRE department. there Is tack of
water pressure; sometimes Is difficult 10 GET any
WATER he said tha, engines were dccdehv better
than hand engines: never any perfect as
aquesiion about the efficiency Of the Fngincrrinchcf:
there is great difference OF opinion a. 70 tue way 70
which he carries out his duties; believed that The tirs
Department decidedly better than the Old volunteer
one Of which he was FOR many years member.
Joshua Able. Of the Board OF Fire Commissioners,
was examined He stated, in answer 10 questions
from the chairman that he doubted the truth ~ scmc
statements made by Mr. English in the case Of the re
mentioned the engines we're at the hre IN lew
moments after. the FIRE alarm had been given;
more than two hundred fires were discovered and
extinguishcd during 1896 without any alarm having
been given 70 the citizens incendiary fires Of very
frequent occurrence every instance which know of
tho stock was either fully or over insured consider
the Chief Engineer very efficient man; but few fires
occur whore the property is uninsured believed that
the system OF insurance IN Of the great causes
OF hres the Fire Department Of New York Is now more
efficient than ever think that the number Of losses, as
compared with he number OF fires, less than usual
the paid department better than the late volunteer
system the and engines sooner At the scene Of
the ire
Martin B. Brown. who was next examined, differed
with Mr.. Abbe In his statement that the number
OF men In the department was sufficient; would
suggest increase In all companies above Fourteenth
street. in other respects coroboratcd Mr. Abbcs state