Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-04-24
FIRE INSURANCE.
Proceedings Of the National Board Of
Underwriters The Question Of
Fire Patents and Gas.
The Subject Of AggreEate RIEds and
their Influences DIscussed-COm.
mittees-Ete., Etc.

I
Y even a smaller attendance than yester
: day. Among documents presented wa
the report OF the committee on th,
origin OF fire patents and gas. Tht
report recommends the encouragement
OF inventors who are studying the bes
means for the prevention or extinPuish
Ing Of fires. The number OF fires from
) incendisrism, the use Of friction
matches, illuminating and other oils
: 1t Is stated, increases yearly. Nearly
: one-third Of all ordinary losses which
are paid arise from incendiarism. Out
OF one Thousand three hundred and
ninety-six fires which occurred in this
city in 1872, four hundred and thirty
nine originated from friction matches,
An increase in cost of insurance in the
judgment Of the committee would drive
many such hazardous articles out of
use. The committee considers the
question OF oils an important one and
worthy OF compulsory legislation, and
recommends that proper form Of law
be prepared which shall fully cover the
necessities Of the case and be presented
to the Legislatures Of all States. In
granting llicies the privilege Of using
lighter products of petroleum should be
ignored in gas machines. The necessity
of insisting that all parts of gas
machines except service pipes shall be
placed at sufficient distance outside
the premises to obviate the chance OF
accident, is considered to be very sp-
parent. The committee, in conclusion,
offered the following
Resolved, Thst it be a rule Of this
board that no permit be granted for
lighting with vapOr and OF like pro-
ducts of petroleum when the generator,
blower or any part Of the apparatus in
the "gas machine" so-called, is located
in or adjoining premises.
The report was accepted and referred
to the executive committee.
Tne report OF the committee of CO.
operation for the west was read, and on
motion Of MIR. Smith, Of Chicago, &C.
cepted and referred to the executive
! committee.
Mr.. George T. Hope, of the Continen-
| tai Of New York, at the request of the
| delegates, addressed the convention on
| the subject of aggregate winds and
| their influences on different cities, 80
that the national board might be en-
abled to more properly protect itself in
taking hazards. Mr.. Hope stated that
he had placed himself in communica-
ton with the bureau OF the signal ser
vice, with view to ascertaining if it
was possible to obtain q tabulated d
schedule Of the velocity Of the wind
over the various cities of the Union,
and was informed they could He there
fore thought the national board should
take some action on the matter, and
consequently offered resolution, which
was unanimously adopted, that COM
mittee Of five be appointed by the ex-
ecutive committee to correspond with
the United States signal service depart
ment upon the subject and to tabulate
the information obtained.
The following committee was elected
for the ensuing year: Stephen Crowell,
ID. A. Heald, John w. Murray, Charles
Platt, A. g Bake, D. r. Smith, B.
Lockwood, l.. B Hall, George p Cram,
Gsorgs L. Chase aud Henry Kellogg !
A long dIscussionstoOk place as to |
whether the Royal insurance company
of London should have more than one |
vote. The agents Of the company
claimed that they had fourteen votes,
inasmuch as no one agent Of q company
has the authority to vote for the other.
The chairman ruled that the Royal in
surance company was entitled to but one
vote, in which he was sustained by an
overwhelming majority. A protest was
entered against the Brewers and NAL |
sLers company voting, which caused !
brief discussion. One of the directors Of !
the company stated that should the |
right Of voting be denied, he would hand |
in his resignation. Notwithstanding
this, the protest was sustained by a
large majority. The question Of the |
Royal insurance company Of London |
was again brought up, and the special !
agent, Mr.. Bedall, was asked to cast his
H.. - IL. vs.E- l.
between his company and the board. |
This he, however, refused to do, on the |
grounds that he had no authority to cast |
a vote for the company, and was
only empowered to vote individually. |
II. A. Oakley was reelected president |
for the ensuing year, and l.. @. Handee |
president. The latter refused to |
serve, and G. l.. Chase was chosen In |
his stead.
The special committee to whom was |
referred various reports, offered the fol- |
lowing recommendation, which was |
adopted: That the treasurer Of the board |
be an er-OtfciO member Of the executive
committee; that the statistical, legisla-
tive and taxation bureaus be made one,
TO be known as the statistical bureau,
and that secretary be appointed to the
management Of the same, and be in
structed to devote all his time to pro-
noting the interests Of said bureau; that
it is deemed unadvisable to make any
reduction in the present schedule of
rates, but that the committee prefer
leaving the matter entirely in the hands
OF the executive committee, with full
power to act; that the rates on buildings
be fixed at two and One-half for three,
and four for five years; that the num-
hor Nfc ~ hn I'd !
be increased at the discretion Of the ex-
ecutive committee;ss that general and
special agents be requested to extend
their cordial and hearty support TO the
national board, and keep it constantly
advised OF all events transpiring at a dis
tance by which it's interests might be af-
feCted; that the expense Of local boards
be dealt with as suggested in the reports
of the executive committee and general
agents.
The recommendation Of the commit
tee that all agents found in any way
violating the rules Of the board be pun
ished by fines caused lively discu- sion.
Finally it was resolved to include the
officers of companies as well as agents
and the proceeds Of such fines to be paid
into the bureau of statistics and fire PRE-
ventiOr, and to be Used toward their
maintenance; that all paid surveyors
be subject to the direction OF the execu-
tive COMMITTEES, to be called upon when
not otherwise employed; that the execu-
tive committee be empowered to make
appointments in the fire department
salvage corps aud water supply, and that
the subject of the form of policy be re-
committed to the executive committee
with full power 10 act.
Mr.. Perry's resolution that a member
Of the national board was fully entitled
to go into any local board was brought
up, and caused considerable discu sion.
The resolution was finally referred to
the executive committee.
On motion OF D. r. Smith, 1t was re-
solved to suggest the propriety of add
ing two more members to their body, |
one to represent Chicago and one Bos-
ton.
On motion Of Mr.. Platt, the executive |
committee was advised to add q men, |
Der from the southern 8 ates ito their |
body. The chairman was, at his re- !
quest, authorized to reconstruct the |
standing committee as soon as practical
BILE.
After granting President Oakley leave |
Of absence, and authorizing him 10 rep |
resent the board while In Europe for the |