The morning call., 1894-02-22
FIRE INSURANCE,
Closing Session by the
Underwriters.
A Paper on The Press as an Adj
juster" Provokes Lively Debate.
An Evening Banquet.

The Fire Underwriters OF the Pacific con-
cluded their annual convention yesterday with
an aIl-day session and a banquet at night.
There was the same large attendance and he
same general interest manifested as on the
preceding day. Mr. Ives presided and called
for papers and discussions on the following
subjects: Demands of the Times" Louis
Welnmann: Bureau Of Investigation" j. l.:
Fuller and Il. 2. Fabj; use and Abuse of
Compacts," T.. w. Carpenter; "Value of sta
tistics," Ben j. Smith; observations" Calvert
Meade. All these papers were purely technical
or of concern 10 insurance men only. Mr.
WeinmanD. on the Demands OF the Times"
had only to caution The companies 10 greater
circumspection in the waving of safeguards
as there is a tendency to do for The purpose OF
meeting competition. The net earnings of the
insurance business have decreased enormously
in the last few years, and This is largely charge
able 10 less care in making the terms OF
contract.
The afternoon session was made lively by
some remarks by V. Carus Drifield on The
Press as an Adjuster." All that the gentleman
said will not be known until the proceedings OF
the meeting are published in FULL but he con-
fessed TO having asserted that the apparent
eagerness OF the press TO present The facts OF
certain recent fire losses 10 the public had e.
suited to embarrassing difficulties to The lnsur-
ance companies. Arguing therefrOm he con-
Guided that the press was not very much OF a
help as an ad1uSter.
Oiber members OF the association were in
cliued 10 debate Mr.. DTiffield's conclusions and
IL was suggested by some that II the press did
sometimes mlsTepresent things 1t might be
because 1t was not allowed to get at the facts
OF the case on account OF the SecretlveDeSs OF
the insurance companies.
AT the close OF the afternoon the california
Knapsack' was read by George L. Grant, TO
The great deleciation OF the meeting. Adjourn
ment was not taken until O'Clock.
In the evening the Fire Underwriters laid
aside rate books and block maps and discussed
the gastronOmic delights of the Maison Richie
az their eighteenth annual banquet. There
was pacific union OF all things good on the
menu card. which most of the members cOnsld-
cred as gir-edged business They were, THREE
fore, anxious 70 take in as large line as they
could carry. As soon as their limit was
re ched new policy was followed and retiring
President Ives announced that his successor,
Rolla V. Watt. would ADDRESS Them.
Mr.. Wait was followed by Scott Wilson, +.
A. Thompson Of Denver, V. C. Drifiield. VIII
| liam Sexton, L. W. Carpenter. ID. j. Staples, II.
NJ. Grant, L. C. Van Ness, Thomas McCatty
and W. j. Caingham. Music was furnlshe d
by the Spanish Students and quartet com
posed of w. b. Hopkins, FRANK Thompson.
Charles Dickman and w. Shanklin.
About 125 guests sat down 10 the tables
which were handsomely decorated with flow
ers. Streamers OF smlax hung from the chan
deliers to each corner OF the room. The tables
were set off with many dainty conceits of the
confectioDers art. Mr.. Ives presided, MIR.
Watt occupying the post OF honor To his right.
The menu was elaborate, while the ylntages
embraced the finest brands OF wine.
None OF the speeches were elaborate They
were mainly OF the quiZzical order, and each
pointed allusiOn to the fancies or pet ideas OF
the more prominent underwriters was heartily
enjoyed. Most of the speakers were very witty
and saliies of laughter greeted each point made.
The affair was most successful and enjoyable
one.