New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-17
FIRE UNDERWRITERS IN SESSION.


DISCUSSING RATES AND COMM SSlONS
| ANNUAL MEETING OF HE UNITED UNDERWRITERS
OF AUTHORIZATIONS TO IMPROVE THE BUsl-
NESS CONSIDERED.
A rather dismal record of the progress
made In tho last year IN the efforts TO improve the CON
aiton Of the fire insurance business vas submitted TO the
second annual meeting OF tho United Fire Underwriters
in America held in 30 reel Building yesterday. Tho
meeting was well attended. fully 100 companies being
REPRESENTED The Of the Hartford Conn. com
| panies was conspicuous. The attempts 10 maintain
rates and regulate commissions to brokers have only
been partly successful aud determined effort VIII De
made at tie present meeting to adopt some plan hat
| will promise more substantial results In the future
A. London Snowden president or the Fire Association
Of Philadelphia presided. The Virginia state Fire In
surance Company the American, OF Aew-Iork ana the
spr Garden. OF Philadelphia, were admitted to mem
ber5hlp. president then read his annual address,
which was devoted largely 10 the history OF the steps
taken by the association 10 carry out It's scheme OF dis
trct organizations and regulate tah aud commissions
-Four such associations organized for the Middle
States, two for the Atlantic southern states,
| and one for the Southwestern States. In these
four districts Mr.. snowden said, pledges were sub
mted for the signatures 0f the companies interested
but the result was the same each OF the four districts
naney-a number OF companies whose cooperation was
deemed essential withheld their sgnatuIS to
| THE pledge MANY reasons were assigned by companies
declining cooperation the chief one being that by allow
ing II commission OF 20 per cent on farm property
door opened for double dealing in regard to the
whole question OF commission practically TO de-
strOy the effort to Tx Uniform rate OF commission
This reason, president declared. specious and
unsound inasnch the plan adopted by the assOca-
fixed the general maximum rate OF commission at
per cent leaving the district organizations TO make
exception only in the OF farm properties. with
respect to the other assigned refusing cooper
aAf.1ar ahar-o np
expensive Mr.. snOwden replied that the plan was
very simple and less expensive In its operation than
any plan employed for similar purpose In
IL modelled after the Union OF
the West which had done and still doing much good
work Upon the failure of this movement except to the
extent OF completing formal organization in four dis
trics conferences opened with the National Board
Fire Underwriters for the purpose OF securing united
action regulate the business. There outcome
from these conferences OF the unwngness OF
some OF the companies belonging to the National Board,
particularly the Hartford companies 10 cooperate in the
district organization plan. The president salE
The United Fire Underwriters form its inception.
has earnestly and faithfully endeayored carry the
object which created. IL brought together
a larger number OF Insurance companies than has
before united In one organization and has accomplished,
m sm1 ~ IL has ~ fe d,iriT th u op i r ms
great refOus intended 10 he accomplished under
the proposed district organizations, the aut does not
rest AT our door but must be- charged upon those large
! companies whose managers declined that hearty
| operation which is essential to success"
| VITA regard To legislation, the president noted tho
decrease In tile nHnDer OF bls adverse
terests introduced into the various Legislatures last
winter from the previous winter lie urged however
continued watchfuiness on the part Of all the companies
| Oh this point.
The reports the districts were then sub
mted Henry POwlcs, chairman OF the Second District
Association reported briefly that for lack cooperation
OF many Of the strong companies was thought hest not
to take action i'll the Middle states j. NJ Anderson OF
the tirenens, Of Baltimore: reported that the Third
timOre companies to unite until the Now-IOrk com
pauies had effected their OrgaIllton especially with
regard to rates. W. r. Lyman. Crescent oil New
Orleans, said that after organizing the ruth District
Association It's machinery could not DO put In motion
lie called attention. however 10 tue Tact that state
Boards OF Underwriters had been organized in Texas and
louisiana. "Our main difficulty, he said IN the south
cat OF the personal differences among the man
ayers IN New-lork You bring your quarrels down
district ana prevent the cooperation OF cOhpa-
mics W. l.. Goodwin, OF the Virginia Fire and Marine.
Richmond, said that In that the companies had
association held together only by rope OF sand snd
ct it had maintained rates there for fifteen years We
have come To ask YOU, he said, 10 quarantine
vices i'll NewYOrk II you can help Va with orgailIza-
ton at least don't interfere with hope we will CON
tinue III session several days until thoroughly
dcrstand each other
| y hoffman, president OF the Niagara of New-York
did not want the district reports to fa like wet blanket
tnc meeting. lie pointed ont that in the merupO
ian district full tariff mad been made on naper mills;
had been formulated III shoe iactores and the dry
goods district had been rated and full rates were
tanned risks III that section. The averaged
buildings than double those obtained FOR Similar
other cities Rates also had been xed on brew
cries malt houses aud cigar factories aud the ,sO
catinn now was average ny rates for smear retinsriss
Mr. Notan also referred to the advanced rates which
had been fixed and stores at different
points in the South In Texas these were from 20
! to 10 per above those OF last year.
! Albert BOwker OF Boston, reviewed i'm n sarcastic
strain the backward state VI underwriting interests In
Boston. We are ike the legislator the prohibition
| question" he said q" he in favor prOhbitory laws
but agn their enforcement 80 make tarifls and
believe in them but don't enforce them. daughter
He insisted strrnuousy the Necessity of combination
among companies for the protection the Insured rs
well ~ the companies l.. K Kennedy urged that tue
companies do no business with brokers not licensed hy
The afternoon session was devoted TO n discussion Of
the best methods required 10 improve the business Mr.
NOtmuu offered resolution recommending To the Ma
tonal Bonrd OF Fre Underwriters the adoption OF the
district system a. the effective and most econom
,rai % of covering tho whole country by uroDcr sec
tional divisions aud at the same time stimulating and
urrfecug the organization and maintenance OF local
boards d. A. Head, for the National Board said that
would he willing. he thought to take mp tho district
| work provided the Omitted Fire Underwriters woud
pledge their acti cooperation m the Powcs
wanted whether the young element that to
he enlisted In this work would be tools of the Ma
tlonal Board or would have voice In the
An asOn 10 the old ~ stem OF arbitrary rulings Of
that board cried down. The resolution analy
| adopted. ,--,.,
mum rate OF commissions at 10 per cent except In cities
specially excepted by association The eject of this
would be TO abolish the present allowance OF 20 per cent
on farm property risks The resolution opened mp
tended discussion Of the subject John C. Paige favored
the proposed action likely 10 the cooperation Of
The argo companies that objected 10 the 70 per cent
aIIowsI,ce IN farm risks Mr. Lyman also favored the
! resolution George T. Hope OF tho Continental or New
YORK. predicted that the adopt9n OF any liked rate
end he knew OF companies that Insisted 10 per cent
commissions In York that wors poying 80 per cent
allowing agents than tlcr commission through
presents 0f rum. thanksgiyins turkeys, watches,
clOthes, etc. know OF a company" he sald That
made wager with agent that his business weld not
exceed certain sum-and the agent wont But they
didn't pay over 10 per cent oh mol daughter And
then rcctfy tb dannAbo work they pay their agents
TO do some OF the companies have paid Tor their pow
The meeting adjourned without conclusive action until
to-day.