Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-31


! THE BANQUET AT THE ARLISeroN-sPEEcHrs
AND FuN-A MOVEMENT TO HELP TIE FIRE
MKN's RxLIEF FuSD-ISsuRANcE ZEN HAPPr
NOTWITHSTANDING A BAD YKAR.
Policies were laid aside last night. Fires
and risks were forgotten and the Association Of
Fire Underwriters Of the District Of Columbia
and their friends sat down to the eighth snnual
banquet Of the association. The affak took
place at the Arlington Hotel and was in all re-
spects the most successful in the history Of the
association. Upwards of 200 covers were laid,
| and the table was q marvel of artistic arrange
ment President Richard W. Tyler presided
Commissioner Douglass sat on his right and
Toastmaster Simon Wolf on his left.
The menu was too elaborate to discuss here,
although the guests found it quite interesting
at the hotel. and took heavy risks at large rates.
After the coffee came the cigars apd speeches.
President Tyler made the opening address, In
which he said it was source Of qualification to
him to see so many present. From their beam
ing faces it was evident that the past year had
been prosperous one, although 1t had been
disastrous one for the fire insurance business.
The losses had been excessive and the time was
near at hand when it would be necessary to
raise the rates on certain class of risks in the
District Of Columbia.
The regular toasts followed. Mr. George C.
Hazelton, the attorney for the District. re-
| sponded to "The President of the United
States" We're he allowed to speak in the order
OF merit, he said. his first duty would be to pay
homage to the banquet which was the finest he
ever attended. He would be willing to COM
promise all claims he might have on the presi-
dency for one such banquet. And yet he said
there were mon whose only aim in life was to be
mt nvA ha1 haA -sz1 ia l..
whose great ambition was to be the executive
OF this great nation. If he had only been a
little more generous to his political opponents
he would undoubtedly have succeeded. But
now he was no more He had gone to the great
unknown, leaving behind him a name of
splendid achievements. He was one of the best
Of all American development.
The American people were a peculiar race
and always looked on the sensible side of things.
They were united. Why. during that great con-
test which lasted three months twelve millions
of voters went to the polls to declare who should
be their representative. and when the result
was made known they acquesced and President
elect Grover Cleveland was indeed the choice
of the nation. [Applause.I We all acquiesced
in it because it was the voice of the American
people that had spoken. and we believe that our
interests will be as safe under him as if he were
a republican.
MR.. VOLTS REMARKS.
allotted to Mr.. Simon Wolf He said that there
was today in the economies of the American
government no question of such burning i'm
pOrtance as fire insurance. 1t was only ques-
ton of short time before Congress would be
called upon to legislate in this matter. The
majority OF the people did not understand the
first principles of fire insurance. Some believed
that all that was necessary was to take out a
policy for 900 on a house, pay the rate and
If it we're damaged $500 by fire they received
the entire $4,000. This ignorance due. he
said, to the underwriters. who do not under
stand the ethics Of the business. There had
been great evolution in underwriting during
the past few years In Washington. since the old
Firemens and Franklin companies wrote
policies for one and two-story buildings.
Washington was stretching itself Instead of
one and two-story buildings we have eight and
ten-story buildings with elevators and electric
wires. This made the risk greater, and he
warned all that the rate would have to be raised
in this city before long.
MR.. DAVIS TALKS FOR CONGRESS.
In introducing the gentleman who was to re-
spond to the toast The Congress of the United
States Mr.. Wolf said he regretted that neither
Senator Faulkner nor Representative Hemphill
could be present. So while there was Con-
gressmen present he would call upon one who
would make a good representative if we had
suffrage in the District. The man he referred
to was Harry Z. Davis.
"While l have been guilty of great many
things in my life cannot recall one that would
entitle me TO a seat in Congress" said Mr.
Davis. He thanked the POSTMASTER for the
honor he bestowed in calling upon him to re-
spond to such an important toast, and said he
was sorry that Representative Hemphill was not
present. In him the people of this district had
the greatest champion they ever had. and no
true WashingtOnian would ever forget the great
service he had rendered the national capital
Many present knew him. All were familiar
with his works
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS on THE CITY,
Commissioner J. W. Douglass responded in
happy speech, teeming with witticisms. to the
toast The city of Washington" He paid
glowing tribute TO the city, which, he said, was
without doubt the grandcst in all respects of
any city of the world, although 1t was at pres
ent out of condition. A stranger from Phila-
delphia or New York, however, would not
notice the mud and slush. They we're old
friends Of theirs. The city, however, had done
a great deal for the fire insurance men. Dur
ing the past year SO. 900 900 had been spent in
new buildings. and all of these we're more or
less insured, or should be. The year had rolled
around with incredible speed. -, Perhaps he
thought SO because he was Commissioner
whose commission was expiring. He referred
to the fire and police departments which for
efficiency were second to none in the country.
Speaking of firemen brought the matter of
gireers to his mind and he desired to say
that the engineering features OF the District
never were so ably anaged as they were under
the present excellent administration of Capts.
Rossell, Lusk and Fiebeger. lApplause.l
OTHER TALKS.
Mr.. Riley Decide talked Interestingly of the
':Home companies Maj. L. B. Blackford.
with Il record of twenty-five years as an under
writer, spoke of ''The agencies"
Mr.. N. l.. Hewes Of Baltimore responded to
sour guests" He referred especially to the
insurance business in Washington, and said the
city should have scheduled rates, which. he
thought, provided the most equitable and
fairest method Of dealing. The losses for
January in the country were S206, 0O0, 900, and
II this proportion was kept up it would be SO
per cent larger than any previous year and 100
per cent in excess Of any year except 1881 and
1892. Mr.. Hewes is the president Of the WASH
inston branch Of the middle department.
Col VIM. G. Moore called upon to re-
spond to the toast of the "Police and fire de-
partments." The efficiency Of these depart
ments, he said, had never been questioned.
when their size was taken into consideration
If Congress would only transpose the words Of
the good book and say "Let there be police and
hremen" it would be demonstrated that the
age Of miracles had not passed. Both depart
n1ents were sadly in need Of more men.
Mr.. ]. Z. Jones Of The EVENING STAR re-
sponded to the toast Of "The press.''
This ended the regular toasts, and the re-
mainder of the evening was given over to i'm
promptu speaking and fun making.
Mr.. VIM. p. Young read a negro sermon.