New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-29
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
THE RAISING OF INSURANCE RATES.


AMPLE REASON FOR THE ACTION OF TIFF IN
DERwR:TERs.
Tho New-York Tariff Association of Insurance Com
panieS will Lold "A special meeting at II oo"oh '''
morning in order to appoint committee 10 'o"iV'
with Mayor Body in regard the condition oi 'ne
Irooklyn Fire Department and the insurance Ni'u'
ton in that city Officers Of the Insurance companies
say that the Brooklyn papers. In their sensitive pu
In the reputation Of that city. have not prHsch'ea
fairly the Insurance side of the case in DISCUSSING inv
action OF the insurance companies in 'ovah'lnE ,-'
Insurance rates In BTooklrn - per cert. NV III
s,rance men say ;ha, il is not perhaps Srps'"- ""'
the Brooklyn newspapers are srnNluNc '"h''''''o
The statements made by the inS'ranc' compares III
rerrd IN the ncncicncy of the Brooklyn Fir" Depart
nent and concerning the necessity OF rai'lhS '"''1
ance rates sister city. The insurance 'i'''
declare that there can be question q the abSoe
accuracy and truth % what they have Said IN r'SIu
TO the Brooklyn IRE Department. They assert ''''
the evidence Is simply overwhelming ~ l" inc h''"
OF discipline of mompncss of thorough organization
and of complete and satisfactory equipment III INV
Brooklyn Fire Department. They point 10 the gar
Ing faults in the mana cement Of recent fires TO cohnr
what t1;v saw They add that At these fires u mas
been evident TO every observer that the dera'men
was I'm no condition to cope swiftly ana e"c''''"
with The flames: tina; the engines were lat" IN ar
living at the places where the fires existed 'l"' ~
frcmen were not well handled that they did not act
in harmony: that they conducted themselves IN u
clumsy and half-tralncd manner. that Inc ehSlu'S'
the ladders and the other machinery OF inc ucP''|
ment were not in satisfactory condition. ana u'"'
generally the Fire Department had proved III INC
plainest possible that II was not up TO uie poP
standard Of efficiency.
Rro.l,yu citizens themselves cannot deny or DIS
pu,e the evident fact that there have been serious
scandals In recent years in regard to their Ere De
parrment. The rcapponmcnt Of Mr.. Ennis ai'er
he had made clear that he was not the rlghc ma"
in the right place and did not maintain me hre
force Of Brooklyn IT proper standard CT discipline
and efficiency. was ndcfenSitle. the scandals 'As'
had been rife IN the city In regard to the electric
Hrnt enterprises the bad odOr whic1 has Srrouhdcd
The Fire Departmental these things should have
made impossible the continuance OF the department
under the old management There ought to have
been thorough reform and publication. The FIRE
D,rartr1eut OF Rroollyu. it is admitted fN all com
petcnt experts needs a thorough remodeDing All
the drones ought to be east ont. All the weak
places ought to be strtI gtkencd. There ought 10
be an entire change in the management. Inc
fierce should he properly equipped with the best
engines the best ladders, the best watertoWeiS
with every one If the latest and most ap-
proved appliances for cXtinguiShinS fires there
is no doubt that tho public sentiment IN Nc"-horh
and in Broolhyn. outside Of persons who are so
sensitive Us TO tic repJtq"n OF brooklyn that they
Nirijon tIaf The condition Of tn Brooklyn Fire De
raitment is a disgrace thN city, and that the
action Of the insurance COMPANIES III Ne"-iorA WIS
absolutely justified in every respect. $50
There Z. widespread feeling among pub'lc-Npintcd
citizens Of Frooklyn nat their city government +
i'm a deplorablp condition. Ii Is generally admitted
thai Mayor B0oGy has betrayed a remarkable lack
81 ability for ddmnl,uat0n. The muncipd alIhI
istrtoD is at SKIES and SevenS in every department
nn6 every branch: it needs master nina 70 ehu|
II and a master hand ia control II 20 long, rs
Brooklyn remains in the grip Sf tse Mctn , mn
ring" no improvement can % hoptN ior' pW !uNt
such action as taken recently t' thc Insurance
cornnanics in New-IOrk j. Of the greatest import
nrcr since il ought arouse sluggish and lrlharElc
taxpayers in Brooklyn 10 sense % the SITUATION
and 10 the imperative need of extensive REFORMS