Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-13

have o million surplus and the home company
only few thousand, but In considering the solid
foreign company has We only insure in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, where avery large coniasration
could not occur on account OF the wide streets and
the space between buildings. And then," he con-
tinued !" look at the men who direct these District
COMPANIES They are all known here and Well
unquestioned. Here are our directors, and who
would question their integrity?: Walter s Cox,
Rreslde1f; RsE s. VIM KiDg vice president; william
5 5, Thos III Brown, d: f. Robinson, VIM Calf and Dr.
w. w. Johnston"
THE POTOMAC
The Potomac insurance company Ia chartered
under special act OF Congress, which does not re-
qure any annual or other statements to be pub
lished which, in this respect is different from the
other companies which are Incorporated under the
general act. The officers OF this company how
ever, express their entire willingness at any and
all times to give any Information desired In refer
was taken In the preparation OF the data for the
last census report, which is pretty fun In detail
anu and 1elnG given under oath
pany can be obtained. The officers Of the compa-
ny are: H. NJ Sweeney, president: J. ". Decide,
E. Frey, Il. NJ. sweeney, Thomas Duncan, +. L.
Moore, Thomas Knowles, William F. Wallace, A.
Peter, Louis Mackall jr, and NJ. j. Adler, directors
THE COLOMBIA.
Fire insurance company, was called upon by a
STAR reporter and the following elected:
STAR-"You have probably noticed that a city
paper has had several articles OF late rejecting
on the local insurance companies AS president
OF one OF these companies, what have you to say
in regard to the natter"
Mr. WILLARD.-"I think the attacks on the local
companies have certainly been unwarrantAd and
uncalled for, and 1 believe would certainly have
not oeen made had the paper understood the true
state OF affairs"
sTAR-"That is Just what we want to get at
the true state OF affairs"
Mr.. wILARD.-.Ihe paper stated that there was
no law or supervision over the local companies.
leaving the inference that they might possibly be
wild cat concerns similar to many In the west. I
was glad to see that EE STAR in its Issue OF June
I'd, pointed out the law pertaining to the subject
(see the Revised Statutes for the District OF Col
umbia; under the general act Of incorporation,)
also the penalty In case OF infringment l am
familiar with all local companies, having had my
property insured for over thirty years. and having
GERS and directors OF nearly all OF them. Under
the present system OF taxation and license the
local companies do not have q fair show with the
agencies OF foreign concerns The latter send an
agent here and for the nominal sum OF SIS license
have the same field for insurance as the local com
the capital besides an additional tax FOR license.
Hence an unjust discrimination between the two.
The premiums on insurance policies paid into
foreign companies are sent away TO swell the
capital at the home offices. 1t is not benefit to
our Own city. The District companies insure only
urged against them, that II great conflagratlon
should occur 1t would wind them UP. But this is
hardly possible-for here again We trust to the
onlcerS OF each company, who exercise wise
oversight and judlcious selection over all risks,
taking care that In one square. on one piece
OF property too large an amount shall not be
1t is to be regretted that the attempts to form
board OF underwrlters proved iutie. The failure
was not on the part OF the local companies, but
through the declination OF the foreign companies
to come into the arrangement The cutting OF
rates at present Is Injurious
The following are the offcers OF the Columbia
company: com H. Willsrd president; Mcclure.
J. Fisher Chas. E. Glover, G. H. B. White r ooert
L Fleming, F. B. Mcguire and Henry II. willard.
TIE FIREMEN'a
Mr. @. W. Howard, secretary OF the Firemens
Insurance company OF Washington and George
town, said to STAR reporter: "We have capital
and surplus OF s252. .O00: :besides $4,000 in stock
notes, which makes virtually capital OF s352 Oc0
Every cent OF our capital Is paid up. We can turn
II Into gold dollars in ten days If necessary. We
county: We have never lost In any one year
by fire losses We started forty-six years ago
With viii & capital Of $4,000 increased that capital to
800, 600. and have now a surplus OF $152,0OO II
anybody wants the names or our securities we
will give them with pleasure and any other infor-
ness to make money, OF course. We are not going
10 take any extraordinary Risks. II is to the in-
In 1 so0 az
that we have had in the last thirty years is sum-
Client guarantee to anybody that our policies are
well scattered. The business OF outside companies
Is entirely left to agents, and agents, generally
speaking, are only interested In getting their COM
missions They win take any Insurance they can
get. suppose they have ten times the amount OF
Insurance In proportion to their capital as we
have. We are here in the city, and can examine
our risks ourselves. We do not pay Is per cent
commissions for business. Many OF the agents get
25 per cent commissions. We give the insured the
benefits OF that commission"
The officers of the company are: A Wilson,
president; Thos. Parker, vice president; c. w.
Howard, secretary; directors: A. A. Wilson, ThOs.
Parker, VIM. E. Howard, Jos. Redfern, VIM. j.
Wilson, EG. Davis, Danr Kolb. Frank Hume, F.
A. Lutz, Jr, j. w. Drew, Geo. w. CropIey, Samuel
E. Wheatley, John NJ. Waters