Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-29
WORRYING WAsHBURN.
Reply Of the Committee at Insurance Hen
to Coz. WashtMrit's Letter--They Ldcise
that the Matters In Dispute be Referred
Tn
Chicago Times. 27th,l

Chicago Times 9th.
The letter of Gov. G. g. Washburn, relative
to the insurance losses by the destruction of
the mills at Minneapolis Mimi, which was
addressed to member of the committee APP
pointed by the Chicago underwriters was
printed in full in the Times of the 23d inst.
The committee is composed of s. FL. South
wick, Joseph B. st. John, and John /. Cow
ington. The reply OF the gentlemen to the
Washburn letter has been printed. Want Of
space precludes publication in full in these col
umns. The committee take up Gov. Wash
burns inferential charges and answer them
singly. They emphatically deny the insinua-
lions that they misrepresented the facts to the
companies interested in the loss claims for
mill IA or that they have in any manner en-
deavored to mlsleau unem III forming an opin-
ion of their liability under their respective
policies. The letter concludes as follows:
In this matter we have acted in the best
faith toward Gov. Washburn, and have, in fact,
incur wish to get settlement that would rec
ognize the explosion clause, been urged into rec
ommending sum that but family expresses
the damage done by the explosion, and as we
feel that we have not been met IN anything OF
of the same spirit of fairness or compromise,
we are forced into recommending to the
companies that they await the decision OF The
courts. We are of The opinion, from letters
and resolutions passed at meetings held that
over 100000 of the insurance upon this loss
will refuse to pay total loss under their poll
cies. and that unless they receive such a reduc-
ton upon their policy as will he just and
equitable recognition of their non liability for
the damage done by the explosion, they will
cheerfully await the decision of the courts.
..Opinions have been obtained from a num-
Der of the best attorneys in different parts OF
the United States, and these opinions have all
been that the ompanies are not liable for the
damage by explosion. Under this state of
facts, any company that pays this loss before a
decision of the courts has been had upon the
case is doing an injustice not only tolts 9w n
stockholders but to the cause OF correct under
wiring for all time.
"Gov Washburn by his repeated refusals to
meet the companies in any spirit Of fairness or
| compromise, and by his final threat that he
would take nothing less than the face of the
! policy, has voluntarily released the companies
| from any feeling of mutual concession that
usually obtains In cases where there Is rea-
sonable difference of opinion.
The committee recommends that there
should be decision obtained upon each OF the
several forms of policies. A majority of the
/ companies with whom are in correspondence
favor this plan, and will act unitedly in secur'
| ing such decisions. After these decisions have
been secured it will be time enough for each
company to decide what it will do as an indi
yidual company.
SIN conclusion we wish to call attention, u.
strongly as possible, to the fact that Gov
| Washburn has not, in his proofs of loss, com
piled with the requirement of a single policy
az he has not shown his loss and damage b.
/ fire. 1t is for him to show what has been los
by fire and what has been lost by explosion
separately and distinctly, and not for him t
assume that the companies are liable for tn
joint loss of explosion and fire. Nor is it tn
province of the companies to call attention t.
this separation except in general denial OF tn
correctness of his claim for loss. He claim
that the value he has set in his proofs have no
been questioned. They need not be questione
/ until they are laid before the companies in
proper shape for correct examination an
criticism. Gov. Washburn has uniformly re
fused every overture looking toward correc
ascertainment of the loss, and it is only RICH
q to wait until such time the proper demand
of the companies can be enforced. Your
, respectfully, JOHN I. CoWNGToN,
Jos. B. 81. JOHN.
!, IS. 81. SoUTHwICK,
Committee"