The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-12
RATES OF INSURANCE.
Underwriters Want More Men
on the Fireboat.
CONFERENCE WITH COUNCIL.
An Isersass 81 twenty-five Per Cent
Thrsatsned Unssss the saesaal-
MES Force 10 Maintained.

city council in the firehoas matter, this
time the question Of insurance upon water
front property being the stumbling block.
No sooner had the trouble arising from .
supposed conflict between the city ordin-
ance and the United States marine Law
relative TO the number Of men required 20
be kept on the boat been settled, and the
force cut to Eve men, than the council Was
notified by the underwriters that unless
the former efficiency Of the nreboat be ss-
satlished on or before May 70. The insur-
ance rates upon property within the dis
trict protected wonId Be raised IS per cent.
This vas something OF = staggerer to
those Who had studied and worked % hard
to place the city affairs in . condition TO
meet the financial difficulties, 90 acting
upon the request Of the insurance men to
meet the committee Of the council. they
yesterday afternoon assembled in the
council chambers in the city hall in
hopes Of arriving at some conclusion by
which the trouble could be averted.
The mayor, Aldermen Miller. elise,
Anderson and Compton. and Delegates
voight James, Little. Hurd. K,stler and
Goodhus. Fire Commissioners Meek. Ka-
haley. Jones and Masel. ana also Chief
Hunt. Caps. Burns. d. A. Spencer, Frank
Hanford and +. ]. Conroy, the assistant
manager OF the Pacific Insurance Union.
were present. and gave their views upon
the subject
Delegate James thought that insurance
companies were very prompt to raise IN
surance rates as rule. but we're very slow
to make any reductions whenever better
protection was provided, a. was the case
of the Queen Anne district before and after
the establishment of the engine house
there. and which. he claimed. had not re-
duced the rates . particle.
Mr.. Spencer replied that he thought Mr..
James had the wrong idea, ~ the rates
had been a. low without the IRE protec-
ton, before tho establishment of the
engine-house, ~ they would have been
had it been there, 20 the property-owners
were the gamers ct that time. a. the rates
had not been raised Is they could have
been had the companies 30 desired.
Mr.. James said he had an idea some one
had bean bringing influence to bear or had
said more than they had any business to
say as his explanation of this move. but ~
the matter had come up he supposed it
had to 5e settled In some way.
After an hours debate by the different
members. Mr.. Couroy stated that his tele-
graphic instructions from the head Office
had been very rlain. and he would have to
leave it with the council whether they
would establish the efficiency Of the boat
or have the rates raised. He thereupon
excused himself. IS he had to 60 away
upon the next boat, and took his leave.
Looks like case of firehoat or no fire.
boat" remarked Alderman elise.
I'm case of no fireboat they won't insure
ct ali, dryly remarked Delegate voigt.
The only conclusion arrived at was to
the effect that . proposition would be
made to the insurance company that the
city place three more men on the boat,
thereby making the total number eight,
with one man, in case Of alarm, to act a.
driver OF the hose wagon, but to act as
fireman on the boat after reaching the
place of landing.
A committee of three. consisting of the
mayor, Alderman elise and Delegate
Hur5, was appointed to present this prop
osition and to also lay the matter before
the council.
Several other matters were brought up,
the chief suggesting that the city purch ase
. new repeater for the fire alarm system.
to be what 10 known - . six-circuit re-
peater. This, he explained, would DIM
inish the danger OF finding out where the
system was out Of working order. in case
Of ire during the search, A. the present
repeater 10 only . three-circuit. and in case
anything happened TO the wires at any
point. it cut out one-third Of the city until
the break was repaired.
Fire Commissioner Kahaley also stated
that il was becoming absolutely necessary
that more hose be purchased. as some q,
present in use Was rather old, and when
once il broke. new hose would have to be
on hand to replace it. as it was hard to
make an old hose stand the strain after
one break had occurred.
The committees adjourned ut O'Clock.