Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-06-29
FIRE INSURANCE.
MEETING OF INSURANCE MEF.
Discussion OF LAncaster's Recent Eirei
A Paid Fire Department Recon-

MEETING OF INSURANCE MEF.
Discussion OF Lancaster's Recent Fires
A Paid Fire Department Recon-
m0ndo<l.
Yesterday afternoon and last evenin.
meetings Of fire insurance agents were
beld in the parlors Of tho Stevens house,
this city. The meeting organized by So.
lecting Henry Powles chairman, and VIM.
Muir secretary.
The following named gentleman were
present
J. H. Mitchell. representing the Niagara
and Star of New York and the Guardian
of London.
of North America aud Pennsylvania Fire
of Philadelphia.
S. E. Ancona. Of the Reading insurance
company.
j. McGlathery, of the Royal, and the
London and Lancashire.
Frank Williams, Of the Phoenix Of New
York.
w. E. Allen, Of the Queen insurance
turers' insurance company Of Boston.
&c. Irwin, of the Phenix insurance
company of Hartford.
corporation, and tho Howard insurance
company Of New York.
]. Grieg, of the Westchester insurance
company Of New York.
T. Kirke White, of the Home insurance
company New York.
Daniel Prentice, of the American insur-
ance company Of Philadelphia, and the
Norwich Union Of London.
&. S. nOllinshead, assistant secretary Of
the Union insurance company of Philadel-
phia.
]. s. Catanach, Of the Hartford insur-
ance company.
Tatnall Paulding, of the Commercial
Union insurance company, and the Fire
insurance association Of London.
w. G. Goodrich, OF the -Etna insurance
company Of Connecticut.
j. ID. Henry, Of the Connecticut fire in
surance company.
ID. Strickler, secretary Of the Farmers
insurance company, York, Pa,
Henry POwles, president of the Mer-
chants insurance company, Newark, New
Jersey.
VIM. Muir, of the National insurance
company New York.
B. +. Washington. Of the Hamburg
Magebur. insurance company.
j. Henry Robertson, manager Of the
Lancashire insurance company, Eng
land.
J. Il. Kelsey, general agent Of the same.
w. +. Steere, Of tho Springfield fire and
marine insurance company.
f. o. Weeks, of the Liverpool and Lon
don and Globe insurance companies.
Besides the above named visitors the
following insurance agents residing in this
city and representing y number Of COM
panies were present: II. Il. Brcneman,
Jere Rife, B. F. Shenk. Watson ii. Miller,
Bausman & Burns, H. S. Cara, J. ii.
Metzler and A. A. Herr.
The business was transacted with closed
doors, but it has been learned that there
was a general discussion of tho numerous
recent fires in this city and of the best
means of lessening their number and re-
ducing the heavy losses sustained by the
companies. The establishment of paid
fire department was advocated, rs was
also an increase in the rates of insurance
and it was suggested that ii more efficient
means were not adopted by the city au-
thOrities to protect property the COM
panies represented should withdraw the
policies issued by them. A committee
was appointed to call upon the mayor and
request his presence Mt the meeting. Ho
could not attend the afternoon session,
but was present during tho evening. An
informal conversation was had, and the
mayor was requested to make q statement
Ofhis views OF the matter under discussion.
This he declined TO do but said he would
checrfully answer any question put to
him. He was then asked az to
the number and strength Of tho
%ho L., Il
OF apparatus owned by each and the
amount OF money appropriated by tho city
80 the several companies, all Of which he
answered. lie was asked what was the
origin Of the fires in this city and answered
that he believed that nine -:enths of them
were of incendiary origin. He was asked
rs to his opinion and the opinion Of citizens
generally on the subject of paid fire de-
partment. He answered that he
favored it and he believed that q
large majority of property owners
favored it, but he doubted whether it
could be carried by y majority vote. In
answer to further questions he said he be-
lieved \ large proportion of the fires could
be traced directly to evils attending the
volunteer fire department.. In nearly all
the companies there are disreputable men,
bers or hangers-On, who are harbOred in
or about the engine houses, where drink
ing, carOusins and other bad practices
prevail, and among this class of
people there are always one or
mere, who for the sake OF having a good
run would not hesitate to apply the torch.
The mayor also animadverted on the evil
practice which has prevailed for some
years among Inscriptions politicians,
who for the purpose of gaining their ends
furnish beer or other Intoxicating liquors
to the young men who frequent the fire
houses, thus tending still further to de-
mOralize them and fit them for pcrpetra-
tiOn of arson or almost any other crime.
After some further conference with the
mayor, a motion was adopted that COM
mittce be appointed to prepare paper for
through tho mayor, tOcity
paper to contain state.
mcnt of the situation rs viewed from an
insurance standpoint, and recommending
to councils tho adoption Of additional
measures for the safety Of property, one of
which is understood to be an entire re-
modelling OF the fire department.
fourth Of July Fireworks.
The festive boys and fireworks dealers
will do we'll to give heed to the mayors
proclamation fOrbidding indulgence in |
certain prohibited explosives and the sale |
thereof. They will do well, too, to note |
the recent act making it penal Offense,
punishable with $500 fine, to sell to any
person under 1G years old any cannon, re-
fol ~, 4