Evening journal., 1894-10-15
TO BENEFIT FIREMEN.
SUGGESTIONS MADE BY PETER 8.
AYARS LOOKING TO THAT END.

Foreign Insurance Companies Should BE
Taxed in Support of the Fire Depart
ment-Publio Opinion Would Work II
the Law Failed-Food for Thought
"There is no class of men in this city
or state which has my hearty and most
friendly feeling to greater extent than
the tiremen, said Inspector OF Customs
Peter B. Ayars to an EVENING JOURNAL
reporter They are noble set of men
and the equal, If not the superior, of
those of any state in the Union. Per.
haps you are not aware that in this city
the losses by fire are less than in any
other city of its size in the United
States, while the rates of premiums are
less than in the majority of them. Yet
the tiremen here do not receive one cent
from the insurance companies to help
maintain their companies, supply and
keep in repair their apparatus, furnish
their hous or help them il il jured in
pursuance of their duty. la sother
states there is a tax levied on the in
surance companies for the benefit of the
iremen. In philadelphia the local COM
panies not only pay this sum to the re
lief fund, but also contribute to the old
volunteer fire department, as they did
before the introduction OF the paid fire
department There should be something
like this done here
what plan would you suggest to
effect such rssult2" asked the reporter.
"Of course" said Mr.. Ayars, the best
plan would be to have . law passed BY
the State Legislature taxing foreign
Insurance Companies certain percentag G
on business done in the state, this sum
to be turned over annually to the State
tiremen's Relief Association, or divided
among the companies. To effect this the
6remen would have to act unitedly, and
If they do they are strong enough tc
force the representatives TO pass such q
law. But my idea is to create such a
public opinion as will force or induce the
companies themselves to take the desired
step"
DO you mean for the public to boy.
colt such companies as are unwilling tr
contributed" asked the reporter
by no means, was the answer.
LET me illustrate Let US suppose
for instance that the Forty Acres Fire
Insurance Company is a local association.
Its directors announce that hereafter 9
certain percentage of it's surplus will be
annually set aside as reserve fund, tC
be used for the benefit of fremen. Wher
man is injured while discharging his
duty, he shall be paid, say SO Ia week, fol
not over ten weeks; in case of total disa-
bility certain sum, and in case Of death
a fixed amount shall be paid to his widow
or heirs l think the general publ,
would increase the business of that COM
paDy so materially as to oblige othel
companies to meet them with like pro
visions or lose business
This looks well in theory, but would
it work. Would not the other com
panies simply reduce the per centsge oi
premium and still collar the majority Of
the policiss2' was the next query Of the
Knight Of the Faber.
Possibly" replied the genial in
spector, "but l don't really think il
would turn out that way Even II
property owners should for q time bC
tempted by reduced premiums, ths
trend Of public opinion would be toward;
the company setting the good example
and the benefit would accrue to it event
ually. hope the State Firemen's Asso-
citation, and every fireman individually
will take an interest in this and TRY
either through legislative channels, oi
| by public opinion. TO effect this result.