The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21
COMPACT RULES DROPPED
The insurance Combine PraC-
tically Ends Its Brief
Career.
A CHANCE FOR THE PATROL.
Intercourse Rule Is Re-
Scinded.

The Board of Fire Underwriters of the
Pacific gave up the fight yesterday and
practically went out of business. To be
sure it still remains in existence, though
in moribund condition, having failed to
carry out the objects for which it was in
corporated few months ago. Now there
is free fight for insurance policies among
all companies without distinction to past
differences. 1t makes no matter whether
a company is out of the board, it is given
a share in business of compact managers,
and the same thing holds good in the new
relations between board concerns in divid-
ing large risks with their whilom rivals.
The pipe of peace was smoked yesterday
afternoon by managers, who, while friend
ly enough personally, had been cutting
one another's business in halves. Liter
ally the pipe took the form of Havana
cigars to which the former business enc
mics treated each other as they chatted
over suspension of rules and prospects of
forming local board for mutual protec-
ton.
The compact met in the morning and
suspended rules and rates everywhere on
the Pacific Coast except where there are
local boards. So far as could be learned
from agents there are only four cities
where this action will have no effect
Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and San Diego.
Elsewhere on the coast a standard of rates is
abolished and the war will go merrily on.
A committee consisting of Frederick G.
Voss, William Macdonald and Nat T.
James was appointed to organize a local
board if possible and report at the next
meeting. The compact hopes that if it &C
tually dissolves its place may be taken by
l. IN
the vital matter of agreeing on rates.
Managers who have fought the compact
say they will join the local board provided
it is founded on principles satisfactory to
them, as it is to their interest to maintain
rates at a paying figure.
The non-intercourse rule, which prohib
tied board companies from having any
thing to do with the Independent corpora
tions, was not suspended yesterday as ex-
pected. 1t is a constitutional rule, and
being such cannot be amended or re-
scinded without a weeks notice to all
members of the compact. In the present
case notices were not sent out until April
II, and consequently no action could be
taken at yesterdays meeting. The ques-
ton of either suspending or absolutely re-
scinding the non-iEtercourse clause will be
discussed on April "a, at which session it is
believed the union will go to pieces.
Arthur E. Magill, the most important
factor of the non-board opposition, stated
he will have no dealings with the compact
until the non-intercourse rule is rescinded
abrolutely. With that troublesome feature
out of the way he will consider the pro-
posed local board with view to member
ship.
The other non-board managers are of the
same mind, and they say that the compact
will join hands with them before another
week passes.
They viii go farther in regsrd to support
ing the Fire Patrol, for if the non-inter-
course law is dropped they will unite to
support that worthy institution by paying
their pro rata OF expense for its main
tenance.
J. d. Maxwell, who lost several agencies
in the recent fight through his connection
with the Continental Company, got back
the San Francisco agency of the Royal and
Norwich Union companies yesterday from
Rolla V. Watt.
A. NJ. Cumming was appointed city
agent of the Union of London by General |
Agents Cation, Bell & Co.
Loaiza & Co. were appointed city agents |
for the Atlas of London by III. NJ. Newhall |
& Co.
George W. Mansfield, general agent of the |
Mechanics Company. arrived |
in this city from Milwaukee and has been |
overwhelmed with applications for his
agency in San Francisco in case he should |
make a change.