The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-15
WANT BETTER CONDITIONS.
INSURANCE MEN To CONFER WITH
THE CITY AUTHORITIES.

Not Satisfied With the Way Things
Are and VIII Make Propositions
Looking 10 the Improvement of
COnditiOns-If the City Agrees to
Their Propositions Everything
VIII he All Right-If Not. the
Cent.--The Rice Mill Fire the Sore
Point with the Insurance Com
panIes.
The Southeastern Tariff Association will
make a move on Savannah in a few days
This fact was ascertained by the Morn
ing News from undoubted authority Just
what shape the move will take is not
known yet, but threat to make a heavy
increase in insurance rates if the demands
made by the association are not complied
with, is certain to be one of the main
features Of the move.
1t Is hardly necessary to state that this
is the result of the recent rice mill fire
in Which insurance companies suffered
heavy loss. The executive committee of
the Southeastern Tariff Association met
in Atlanta a few days ago and, as predict
ed in the Morning News at the time would
be the case. the rice mill fire was given
special consideration.
1t is now known that the committee de-
cided upon a line of action to be pursued
in regard to Savannah, but what this line
is has not developed. Insurance men who
were approached on the subject yester-
day were inclined to deny any knowledge
Of any such intention on the part Of the
committee A Of bn
derwriters was held yesterday, and the
purposes Of the committee toward Savan.
nah were discussed.
"A prominent underwater said: "Savan-
nah viii certainly hear from the tariff
association very shortly. Just what line
of action will be pursued I am not at lib
erty to say, but the committee having the
matter in hand will not go about It
rashly. An amicable understanding with
the city authorities for the purpose of
bringing about certain conditions which
the insurance men consider absolutely
necessary to the continuance of their busi-
ness IN Savannah is what is desired. The
nrst object Of the consultation will be to
and out exactly where the trouble lies
and the next VIII be to remedy that trou-
Die. There will be no attempt to dictate
10 uhe city. The insurance people will
make plain business proposition having
IN view the best interests of the city as
we'll as of the insurance companies The
insurance people have always found Sa-
Vannah ready to comply with every rea-
sonable requirement and prompt and ex-
act IN carrying out whate agreements
are entered into. III the reforms asked BY
the insurance men are agreed to, that
VIII settle the whole matter, and the rates
VIII remain as at present. If the city de-
cllnes to accede to the proposition, then
tnere Will De an increase in rates of prob
ably 20 per cent"
The insurance man declined to enter
into any details of the proposition which
the insurance companies will make to
the city. Continuing, he said; The in
surance companies are compelled to do
something for their own protection or
withdraw from Savannah. The comma
MES have suffered terribly here during
the last several years. Only a few OF
the companies which were lucky in es-
Gaping the big fres have made any
money. They cannot afford to let things
go on in the way they have been going
Unless the conditions are improved they
VIII either have to quit Savannah or
raise the rates. The rice mill FIRE was
heavy blow to the companies. after
the other heavy losses they have suffered
mere. The executive committee regards
IT as an unnecessary loss. The loss
should not have exceeded $4,000 to $4,000
at the outside, and instead we have a
loss of 100000. There is evidently too
much politics in the fire department. and
the result is the demoralized condition
of the fire department, which has appear
ed since the rice mill fire.
VIII the negotiations with the city be
made through the local insurance agents9V
the Morning News informant was asked
No; no attention would be paid to us
The proposition will come from the COM
mttee of the executive committee ap.
pointed to take this matter in hand and
Will be OF a character to command the
attention of council at once
other insurance agents who were seen
SAID that an increase of % per cent. in
the rates was among the probabilities
the question is OF prime interest to the
business men and real estate owners of
the city, and the announcement of the
proposition OF the insurance men will be
awaited with interest
nav ENI~roT. -