The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-02
The Underwriters and the Fire Depart
Jnent.


For several weeks a misunderstanding has
existed between the members OF the ERE
DEPARTMENT and the Underwriters Of this
city, which promises TO be productive o.
results which may become alike disastrous
to both interests.
1t is alleged by members of the Fire De-
partment that the losses to the Association,
by delays and payments in deprecated paper
will bankrupt the Associaton; that they
have paid from the fund belonging to the
widows and orphans OF deceased tiremen,
two hundred thousand dollars in losses. 10
stop this loss and enable the Department
to continue its efficient existence, the
passage of bill was procured through
the last Legislature, providing that
all taxes then levied IL pom insurance com
panies should be applied to payment of the
| Fire Department.. The fremen claim that
the provisions Of this bill were known to
and approved by the insurance companies,
and that they were assured that such bill
would be entirely satisfactory to the under
writers, and knowing the Fire Department
relied upon the funds to be collected from
insurance companies, procured the prOmul-
cation of an act which prevents the french
from receiving dollar from this source.
The iiremen claim that they must stop e1-
tinguishing fires unless they are paid, and
whilst they look to the city for their pay
they blame the insurance companies as the
cause Of non payment, and seek to place the
responsibility upon the underwriters for
any results that follow.
The underwriters claim that the licenses
and taxes imposed upon them by State and
city have been mi inst and unequal, and to
remedy this inequality and injustice appeal
was made to the Legislature; that act No.
81 simply explained previous law. which
exempted them f:om all taxation, except
license tax OF $1,000. Man, of the under
writers express a willingness to be taxed
equally with other capital, and acknowledge
that it is unfair to exempt them entirely |
from city taxation.
They claim that a law imposing fair rate
Of taxation would be cheerfnlly complied
with but as this was not done, they pro-
tect their interests by claiming the full pro-
lection of Act 81, and will pay no taxes I'M
til required to do so by law.
A cessation of the sevlces of the Fire De-
Dartment would expose the property of citi-
.ens of the community, insured and unin-
ion, and whilst it is improbable that the
members of the present organization would
Expose the city to such calamity,
t does seem possible that some compromise
honld DE arrived at pending the decision Of
hese questions in the courts, whereby the
Insurance companies would pay into the I
lily Hall such taxes as may be equal and !
prejudice to their inter
SITS in conrt-Or let the underwriters adj
ance the monthly payments due the Fire
department., and take their certificates of I
ime, which may in time be paid in to the t
ity for taxes. q
Prominent members Of the Fire Depart t
lent in conversation deprecate any animos- =,
les between the Department and the I'M I
erwrters, and assert that majority of the S
remen are disposed to act in unison and |
and by mutual conferences upon $
re subjects promote the efficiency of the $
department. and remove any objections that $
lay exist to the present organization. a
Cannot the conservative members of both )
rganizationS adjust their differences har- $
lonionsly: Will they make the trial t