The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-10-02
FIRE INSURANCE.


mutual fire insurance companies of New
York and the Pacific insurance union
eliminated to-day in the announcement
by the mutual companies that they would
sell all classes of property on the Pacific
coast at 10 per cent. below union rates,
and that agencies would be established
in every town on the coast. This action
grows out of an unsuccessful effort on
the part of the three companies to gain
admission to the union, they having been
refused admission on the ground that
they were mutual companies.
SOMETIME ago there was raise of
over 80 per cent. in fire insurance
rates in part of this city. Insurance
from fire in this city is believed to be
high enough if not too high, and the
cinching of Astoria people to increase
the profits of the San Francisco insur-
ance ring again brings to the front
the suggestion that Astoria organize
a mutual insurance company.
The last raise is out of all reason.
Just why it is made is one of those
things difficult to understand. Every
time our Astoria fire department is
improved. the insurance rates go up a
little. As the department is con-
stantly being improved, the rates are
constantly appreciating. One would
think that the better the fire depart
ment, the lower the fire insurance
rates: but this is a case where the
thing works inversely,
As no great improvement has re-
Gently been made in our efficient
local fire service, it would seem that
nothing but desire for further profits
has caused this last cinch.
The insurance agents in the city are
powerless: all they can do is to state
what the compact" fixes in San Fran
cisco.
If the compact" says 25 per cent,
% per cent it is. They argue Those
people will, must insure anyhow, 50
we may as well raise the 7 per cent.
rate to 9, and the 9 per cent. rate to
H."
The only thing that will bring these
insurance people to time is to decline
to do business with them.
The only way to be successful in
this effort is by unity, by standing to-
gether. So fast as the policies are to
be renewed, simply notify the agents
"We won't renew: the premium asked
is too much" By all standing to-
gether the thing can be done.
The matter must be brought to a
halt some time: no time is better than
the present: right now.
A fair profit is admissible in all
businesses: insurance companies are
necessary and nseful, and no one
should grumble if they declare hand
some dividends on their par stock
values.
But they are milking us dry in As
toria.
We are paying big taxes to support
fine fire department. Everything
that science or skill can suggest is
considered none too good: the city
council and the citizeus give money
lavishly to support the department.
That department has good record
for promptly putting ont fire in this
city, and the insurance companies
know that fire risk in this city is
better than in any other city north OF
San Francisco. Facts, statistics, show
this.
Yet. they yearly advance the rates
just because they think they can
do SO with impunity.
Shall this be allowed to go on: shall
We pay treble tax as a protection
against fire, or shall we refuse to be
cinched and takszhe matter in our
own hands?
If we had nothing but hand engine
and lot of leather buckets the insu-
rance rates would be no greater than
they are, with the best fire depart :
ment on the coast.
The insurance companies ignore the
presence or existence of our fire de-
partment. 1t is a factor in the equa-
ton that they profess not to see.
The game is not entirely in their
own hands.
THE AsToRIAN suggests that this
matter be agitated. The question is
how shall We bring these compact
companies to their senses and show
them that Astoria is not gold mine
to have its eyes gouged out.
The only way is to refuse to do
business with them except on more
just and equitable terms.
The insurance companies are moi
masters of the situation, and should
be made to feel it.
LAWSUIT OR LEGACY.
UNCERTAIN are many of the ways
f n