Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-22

BUSINESS MEMS MEETING.-Pur
suaut 10 call a meeting of business mer
end others interested in the advance
ment of Alexandria was held in the
Relief Hook and Ladder Company's
house last night. Messrs. Henry
Strauss, Isaac Eichberg, Park Agnew,
( M. B. Harlow, Charles King, John
/ May, Worth Hulfsh, W. +. Carne and
l.. 81. Thompson were among those
present, and though the assemblage
was small the spirit exhibited IN the
remarks of those who spoke showed
couclusively that they meant business
and were on the aggressive for the I'M
Dr.. yement of the city and the advance
msnt Of its material interests.
Dir. Park Agnew vas called to the
chairand Mr.. l.. H.. Thompson selected
as secretary.
Mr.. King said he had had o confer
ence with MIR. w. A. Smoot, who was
heartily in accord with the movement,
and that the latter had expressed his
regret at being unable to be present on
account of another engagement, but
would attend the next meeting which
he hoped would be on some night next
week; hence MI. King expressed a de-
sire that no formal action be taken at
this meeting in order that matters de-
| handing attention could be considered
at q fuller gathering. General Rosser's
lecture and the entertainment at the
Masonic Temple, Mr.. King suggested,
had doubtless kept numbers OF inter-
ested business men away.
Mr.. Eichberg was the first speaker,
and his subject was the procedure of
the insurance companies now operating
in this State who paid but three-fourths
of the amount for which they insured
and on which they collected premiums.
This rule, he said, was unjust to par
ties who insured, was a crying evil and
one which demanded immediate at
tention. The best procedure, he
thought, was for this association, league
or whatever name it might assume, to
prepare q petition to the Legislature to
have the law changed. Mr.. May, the
Delegate from this city, would earnest
ly urge the matter. The speaker, con-
tinuing, said when he paid his insur-
ance rates ne wanted to be able 20 sleep
and not have the disagreeable thought
in his mind that should his property
and wares be destroyed he would re-
ceiye but three .fourths of their value.
Mr.. King concurred in what Mr..
Eichberg had said and explained the
injustice of the present mode of adjust.
ing losses by fire. He cited instances
to show that the insured we're at the
mercy of underwriters, and that the
complaints against them were just. Fer
instance, he said, policies nowadays
provide for the payment O losses sixty
days after the adjusters have appraised
the losses, and by the wording of this
rule they could keep people out of their
money as long as they pleased.
MIR. Agnew was also in accord with
what had been said. and was in favor
of the enactment of laws which would
guarantee to every policy-holder the
amount for which he is insured. I'm
a adjusters," he remarked, "Were
more properly insurance wreckers."
Mr.. Harlow said he was in favor of
making the insurance agents the ap-
praisers. Let them examine the prop
erty to be insured, take the risks on the
valuation fixed b. them and then make
the companies pay the full amount Of
policies.
Remarks were also made in a CONVEX
sational way by Messrs. Strauss, Carne,
May and others.
The meeting finally adjourned 10
meet at the same place next Wednes-
day night, it being urged by Mr.. Hsr-
low that the association hold weekly
meetings.