The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-04
INSURANCE NEWS.

We have been asked, ssWhat Is the cause of
your fight against the coal oil menu We re-
ply, we have no fight against them, but only
against the unlawful and dangerous con-
duct of their business. So far, and 50 far
only, we oppose them, and we propose to war
against tho illegal storage Of dangerous oils,
and to insist, without ceasing, upon the rigid
enforcement Of the laws relating thereto
until change is had. AS to the cause, it is
simply and solely on account of the property
interests of the community, and in the name
of humanity that we have entered upon the
subject.
THE SECURITY LIFE.-A person by the
name of Hartmann, of New York, has re-
Gently sent the policy-holders Of the Security
d circular to the effect that he was prepared
to collect claims against that company on q
commission Of five per cent on the net reserve
value Of the policy, and that on the receipt Of
one dollar he would prepare power of attor-
ney In his own behalf and send it to the policy
holder for signature, and would remit as soon
as.he had procured a settlement from the Re-
ceiver. The circular was referred to the Re-
eeiver and the following reply returned, which
may be Of interest OF Of service to policy
holders.
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 1877.
Mr.. W. II. Cole:
Dear Siy--As stated in my circular Of the
10th ut., one Of which was mailed to each
policy-holder, can see NJ, possible advantage
TO be obtained by the employment OF q third
party. The right to do SO Is unquestioned,
and It Is not material to me to whom ! pay
the dividend when declared. know nothing
of this man Hartmann, except through such
circulars as you inclose, Of which / am con-
stantly in receipt from parties to whom they
are sent. / have given bond for the faithful
discharge of my, duties Respectfully,
w. I'll. W1CKHAM, Receiver
: New York Mail
Whist bond does Hartmann give? and why
in any case should he be trusted more than
the receiver? Those who send one dollar are
not likely to hear from him again.
We said some days since that 10, 900 lives
and S2G,OO0,0OO of property had been destroy
ed through the agency Of explosive coal oils
in thirty-eight cities. We have been asked in
how long time, and reply in ten years AN
average of 1900 lives and $2,0OO,OOo of prop
erty per annum in thirty-eight cities.
1t Is estimated that between 5000 and 5000
persons lost their lives in the United States
alone, during the year 1876 through the. use
of explosive coal oils, an average of more than
thirteen per dieml
What commentary on the cupidity
prompting the sale of dangerous oils and
upon the short sighted economy Of purchas-
ing it, Have we not in this full vindication
OF our position in regard to this question?
--
Since writing the above, we learn that the
Mayor has knowledge Of propositions now on
the way from st. Louis, looking to the salts
factory settlement of the coal oil storage
question. Nothing is known definitely of the
details Of the propositions, but the Mayor be-
lieves that they will prove of such nature
us to lead to the establishment OF such a
warehouse for the storage of these oils as will
remove the dangers that now exist. He also
says that in any event the law regulating this
matter shall receive full attention and uigor-
Gus enforcement, which is all that can be asked,
and in this work he should be, and will be,
sustained by public sentiment and the CO.
operating influence of all good citizens. 1t
was most gratifying to us to hear, as we did,
our efforts in exposing this crying evil COM
mended by the Mayor.