The morning call., 1891-05-22
FIRE ADJUSTERS.
Proposed Change in Their
Charges to Companies.
The Fire Underwriters Association Consider
the Matter at Their Meeting-Leot-
ures Arranged.

The most important event which has oc-
Cured in insurance circles lately was the
action taken by the Fire Underwriters As
ISOLATION On the subject of adjusters' charges
at its meeting last Tuesday night.
At the annual meeting OF the association
special committee, composed of four spe-
cia adjuSterS and four representatives of
companies, was appointed to prepare re-
port on the matter. The report was flu
ished some time ago and submitted to the
various insurance managers and special
agents, with a request that they should send
in their opinion of the proposed changes and
make suggestions of further changes in
their view advisable. A large number OF
replies were received, and with few excep-
tons these approved of the recommenda-
items of the committee.
The question at issue arises from it being
the custom for a company to avail itself OF
the services of a special adjuSter in the ell
ploy of another company whenever such an
arrangement is more convenient than to
send out an adjuster Of its own.
A CASE IN POINT.
For instance, if company has loss at
Chico and learns that a special of another
company is already in Sacramento, it will
apply to the second company for the use of
its special to adjust the Chico loss, instead
of sending its own special all the way from
San Francisco. This reciprocal interchange
OF the services OF specials is, OF course, mu-
tually advantageous.
The changes proposed by the committee
dealt with the charges of the adjuSter and
the contributions TO these charges which
were to be made by the various companies
which made use of his services. Tie exist
L.. Nln,N Ia I'm.
services of q special in the employ OF an
other company shall pay for per diem ex-
penseS and charges from the point at which
he is found to the point where the loss is TO
be adjusted aud back to one Of four central
points.
The committee proposed that company
employing the special Of another company
shall pay his expenses from the point at
which he is employed to the point of the
loss and back to the point at which his ser
vices were engaged.
FOR AND AGAINST.
The supporters of the old rule claim that
provided the special works for two COM
panies, ii is only fair that each company
should bear its fair share Of the total travel
ing expenses. But the advocates of the
change urge that the old rule worked hard
ship in practice, A company, for instance,
mad a loss at Chico and would obtain the
services OF the adjuSter OF another COM
ndtlA WIZ WAS dIitdIN Iii CdCl dulcnlUs 4utl
would be charged for his expenses from
Sacramento TO Chico and back again to the
nearest central point, in this case, San
Francisco.
Frequently, however, the special would
not return to San Francisco at all, but be
sent on by another company to adjust loss
farther up The road, at Red Bluff, for in
stance. This third company would also pay
his fare from Chico TO Red Bluff and back to
the central point, although the special might
in all probability be dispatched still fur
Their. AS some companies send out their
specials for two months at a time, it is
claimed that this system OF charging and
recharging the companies for expenses back
to the central point is unreasonable.
The proposed changes were rejected at
Tuesdays meeting, but new committee
was, on the motion of Mr.. Wetzler, APP
pointed 10 take the matter again under con-
sideratiOn and to make fresh proposals.
The only change of any kind that was
carried was an amendment Of Mr., Kline
that Salt Lake be added to the number of
central points.
ROOMS AND LECTURES.
The association also decided to take
rooms over the Pacific insurance Union and
to furnish them as library, reading and
a meeting room. Arrangements were made
for the delivery Of lectures on practical in
Suranca subjects at the regular monthly
meetings of the association. The first of
the series Will be read by Mr.. Lowe, the
electrician of the Pacific Insurance Union,
who will take as his subject electricity as a
fire hazard, the best methods of insulation
and other means of precsution.
Personal.
Charles D. Haven has returned from a
trip of some months duration through
Southern California and Arizona.
George EastOn left for Portland last Mon
day night to make arrangements for the
Springfield Fire and Marine Company of
Springfield, Mass, entering Oregon.
j. I. Dargan, Vice President of the Sc
cuTity Mortgage and Trust Company, is out
here from Dallas, Tex, to arrange for gen.
eral agent for the Pacific division of the
Fire Association of Philadelphia. Tie pO-
sition was formerly held by c. A. Leighton,
and resigned by him that he might devote
his time exclusively to the Palatine, of which
he has been appointed Pacific Coast General
Manager.
Sixty per cent premium was paid for re-
insurance Of the cargo of the Lord Chan
ming, which is now III days Out from New
castle. n. ). W., the day before yesterday.
She was sighted by the ship Forest Hall in
Longitude 1862 east latitude 80 north. The
Forest Hall also reports meeting some re-
cent wreckage, evidently part of a British
ship, on March ODD.