Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-17
The Morning Session.

The organization of Texas local fire
underwriters was called to order at IL
O'Clock this morning by President Cross.
The delegates were much refreshed by
their early drive and ready for business.
The report of the resolutions committee
was read and debated by sections, one
resolution at time. The first resolution
read is as follows:
Whereas large number of insurance
companies doing business in Texas, through
their general and special agents, formulated
a pledge and demanded its acceptance and
ADOPTION by their local agents, and
Whereas we consider said proposed OBJ
legation in form most Objectionable and IN
principle subversive of personal and indi-
vidual rights and privileges, and believing
that the enforcement OF such pledge rs
framed will tend to disrupt the friendly re-
latlonS existing and necessary 10 exist be-
tween principal and agent and prove dis
astrous 10 their business, and
Whereas, further, it is the opinion of emf
nent counsel that parties to this obligation,
upon the part of such companies. are liable
to prosecution under the laws of our state.
Resolved, that we respectfully ask said
companies to rescind the action they have
taken in this matter, and if they conclude
that they are compelled to adopt vigorous
measures to meet existing competitive
methods, that this be done in some measure
Oh lfle ana feelings
those who have so long been the faithful
guardians of their interests.
This cause heated :ebate. Capt. Nor
row of Waco was opposed to it He pic
tured in tlowery language the time when
the city was laid waste by fire, and that it
was built up BY the companies money who
now asked signatures TO the 10 per cent
clause. He thought it was justice to the
companies to sign the pledge.
Mr. Zintgraff of Denison was III favor of
the pledge, and opposed the resolution
Mr.. Monrosecof Waco was in favor of the
resolution. He would not sign away his
rights and manhood. The companies were
not in the business for pleasure, and when
they found they We're losing money they
caShed their chips and quit the game. This
pledge was not TO save money. Ii COM
panies did not want to pay more than Ia per
cent, do so, but not put in pledge so drastic.
Mr.. Scudder of San Antonio was in favor
of the resolution. He believed the pledge
should be withdrawn. He considered it Il
violation of law, and legal advice had so
advised him, and he would not sign IT, If
the companies did not wish to pay more,
well and good, but don't compel the sign
ing of the pledge. He was not in favor
of it.
Mr.. Pollard of Houston wanted to hit the
general agents a lick, and was sorry they
were not here. He would not sign the
pledge, and under advice of Capt. j. c.
Hutchinson, he refused and wired his COM
panies that by signing it he would be a
party to violation OF law, and party to
the suit filed by the attorney general.
Mr. McLavy of Bastrop would quit the
business before he would sign. The world
is wide and the insurance business not the
only one by which to live.
The idea expressed by the speakers was
not that they wanted TO get more than 10
tt,ar,, ht.rr 1N,,%
posed to binding themselves not to accept
more.
Capt Morrow believed that it,was not the
proper time to discuss 10 per cent. What
he might say in the future no one knew.
He might possibly be against it then, but
he considered that it would be detrimental
to the organization to agitate it now
The question was called for and adopted
by an almost unanimous vote.
The second resolution was adopted as
follows: Resolved, that in the opinion of
this organization the practice on the part of
some companies and general agents to write
over their counters on risks in the agency
field, is an evil that should not be counter
anced by this organization, and we there
fore beg to call the attention of such COM
panies and general agents to this growing
evil, which, if persisted in, will force US to
decline further representation of such COM
panies or general agents in this organiza-
ton.
Resolved. that the executive committee
be and is hereby instructed to have the full
proceedings of this organization printed at
once, and copy of same sent to every home
Office of the companies doing business in
Texas: also to the general and special
agents working the Texas field for their
companies: also to every local fire insurance
agent in Texas.
Resolved, further, that every local fire
insurance agent in the state be and is
hereby urgently invited to join this organi-
cation without delay.
Adopted.
Whereas. the attention of this organiza-
ton is called to the fact that certain wild
cat and mutual companies through unau-
thorized solicitors who visit the state at
different periods in a secret and hurried
manner are by certain fancy promises en-
deavoring to get merchants and business
men owning large properties to place their
insurance in said companies, contrary to
law.
Resolved, that this organization calls the
attention of its members to the necessity of
keeping sharp lookout for said unauthor-
lied and criminal solicitors and to take
steps to arrest them under the provisions of
the state law.
Resolved. that this organization, through
its executive committee, take all necessary
steps to prosecute said unauthorized solicit
tors and companies whenever their attention
is called to any particular case by any one of
the members of this organization.
This was adopted.
Resolved that it is the sense of this Or
ganization that we should not accept any
company in our agency that is transferred
from one of our competitors on account of
his refusal to sign the Is per cent commits
sion contract
This was adopted by rising vote
Resolved, kthat vote Of thanks of this
organization is hereby rendered to the citi-
zens of Waco for the cordiality with which
they have met US on every hand, the beauty
of their fair city being only equalled by the