The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-07
sold OUT TO A
RIVAL CONCERN
A Los ANGELES INSURANCE AGENT
SUDDENLY FORSAKES THE
COMPACT.
ANOTHER LOSS TO THE UNION
THE HOME COMPANY SECURES THE
BUSINESS OF THE AMERICAN
CENTRAL.

In the insurance troubles the scene of
action has been temporarily moved from
this city to Los Angeles, where a clear
victory over the board companies has been
gained by non-union manager.
A southern agent representing the Ameri-
can Central Insurance Company of St.
Louis sold out his business to the Home
Company, of which Arthur E. Magill is
general manager for the Pacific Coast.
The price paid by the Home Company is
said to be $4,000, which fact indicates that
the business of the Los Angeles agent is
quite large and OF sufficient Importance to
have decided influence on the local fight.
The American Central Company, whose
Pacific Coast general manager is Charles
Christensen, belongs to the Board of Fire
Underwriters, while the Home is one of
the strong companies not in the compact.
The former has paid-up capital of 5000, 900,
while the latter's capital is So, 900, 00O and
the business of each stands in similar
ratio. With this much in view, some local
managers have concluded that the union
agent succumbed to the non-board COM
pany in the fight that knows no quarter
with regard to rates.
Manager Christensen of the American
Central Company went to Los Angeles
yesterday ioi tne purpose OF MAKING
prompt investigation. His agent in that
city has large number of friends, brought
considerable business to his concern and,
as a matter of course, could turn the pat
ronage to another company. The assistant
manager here admitted that the Los An
geles agent had sold out to a non-board
company, but was of the opinion that he
did not get quite as much as 5000. Fur
Their than that he would admit nothing.
Rumor has it among the managers that
the American Central's Southern agent
was not satisfied with his prospects under
the fierce opposition of such powerful
companies as the Phoenix and Home under
Magill's management, the Continental and
others which are out of the compact and
that he decided to take time by the fore
lock and sell out to one of his rivals.
Members of the Board OF Fire Under
writers would not discuss this latest turn
in the present strained relations between
them and their opponents.
But some of the independent agents and
managers hold that it is one of many
events now occurring which will eyentu-
ally disrupt the board.
Another difficulty that has arisen
through the Sun Company's cutting rates
in Oakland against the German American,
both board companies, was discussed by
the board yesterday. The Suns Oakland
agent sold out his business to the German
American Tor $1,000. When the Sun man
ager learned what had taken place and
saw his business slipping away he began to
cut rates in violation of rule prohibiting
board members from cutting against one
another. AS the result of the meeting the
Sun manager will have to appear to-day to
defend his action on charge of deliber-
ately violating rule of the compact.
"A belief prevails among several man
ayers that in case the board should break
mp the managers of British companies will
form combine of their own and hold no
intercourse with American or German
companies, but the British managers
would not admit that such course was
contemplated.