The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-24
FIRiMEN OF BUTTE
The appointment of a New Chief Is
Eeing Agitated.
AN INSURANCE MAN TALKS
HeSays There Is Much Room for
Improvement I'm the Depart
ment-A Word or SO
About Rates.
AN INSURANCE MAN TALKS

frst regular meeting of the new coun-
Oil, and a movement is now under way
Ito secure a change in the head of the
department Without regard to the
degree of favor with which, the general
public and some of the aldermen have
looked upon the management of the
department during the past year, a
number of the fire insurance agents as
well as the companies which they rep
resent have expressed themselves as
dissatisfied with it.
Without attempting to explain the
cause of the alleged inefficiency in the
department, the insurance men declare
that with them it is a strict matter of
business. 1t is already a settled fact
that the fire underwriters will play a
part in the appointment of next years
fire chief, but just how important that
part will be remains to be seen. Some
of them have not yet fully recovered
from the turning down which Mayor
Thompson gave them last spring when
they unanimously urged the appoint
ment of a certain man as chief. and
these gentlemen say that IL 1t was not
for the urgent. necessity which con-
fronts them they would take no further
action in the matter. 1t is now re-
ported that the insurance agents have
practically decided to request Mayor
Thompson to make a change in the
refuses to do so they will raise the
insurance rates in Butte 25 per cent. on
all risks.
c. r. Gilbert, manager of the Mon
tana Board of Fire Underwriters, was
interviewed by a Standard reporter
yesterday in regard to the report and
while he refused to give IL official con-
firmation his language was such as to
indicate that there are good grounds
for the report Mr.. Gilbert was
special agent for the old Pacific In
surance union and when the Montana
Board of Fire Underwriters was or
ganiZed he was unanimously elected
manager of it on account of his abil-
ity and experience in fire insurance
matters. He was in Butte at the time
of the fight for the Office of fire chief
hast spring and says that he looks at
the situation from an entirely unbiased
standpoint.
Yes, 1T is true said Mr.. Gilbert,
that the fire insurance agents have
been dissatisfied with the work of the
fire department for some time. They
have felt that the fire protection is not
what it should be. I have been watch
ing things pretty closely since 1 ar
rived in Butte and / think that some
Improvements are badly needed in the
department / don't think the citizens
are getting anything like the protec-
tion they are paying for. They are
paying enough to have a first-class de-
partment. but they have not got IL and
the underwriters are compelled to rec
ognize the conditions as they exist be-
cause the companies know of them. All
Of the companies have special agents
through this country and on arriving
in a city their attention is first turned
to the fire department and the water
supply. There is no question at all
ut a 6rac xxrl.a Nl,r
damage should have been light, the
loss was quite heavy. 1t required no
experience in fighting fires to see that
AS l said before this Is not a matter
with the local agents alone, for the
COMPANIES will demand protection"
what course do the insurance agents
intend to pursue towards effecting an
Improvement in the Department."
'I will draw up communication to
the mayor and council and present II
to the insurance agents for their sig
natures. / do not care to talk about
the nature of the communication until
IL has been signed"
''ls IL true that an increase of Is per
cent. in the rates is contemplated IL
change is not made in the head of the
81 do not think IL will be necessary
to resort to a raise in the rates to bring
about an Improvement in the depart
ment," was Mr.. Gilbert's evasive reply
81 have no idea that the mayor and
council will ignore any communication
from the board of underwriters. don't
like to take any action looking to an
increase in rates and so far as the
are concerned they would
rather see the department put on
good foundation than raise the rates
II would be hard to make rate that
would be adequate to such a hazard.
the rates which are in effect
now entirely too low with the present
fire department II must be distinctly
however. that the under
writers are not making any party or
fight. 1t Is imm3terial to them
who Is in charge of the department so
long as he is competent man. Doc
Werner is good fellow personally, but
he is not a fireman. and I don't think
he would make a fireman If he were
10 retain his present position for a
hundred years.
There are a great many buildings in
Butte that are of very poor construc-
ton and will burn very quickly II they
ever get a good start. Some of the
brick buildings are very poorly built
There is a great difference in fighting
fire. II Is not all in making a quick
run, but more in knowing what to do |
when you get there
II made the rates for Butte in 1884,"
continued Mr.. Gilbert. when this CITY |
was a member of the Pacific Insurance
''nior TIC rates We're based on the
fire department as II was then. Chief |
Cameron was AT the head Of IL at that |
lime and was doing good work. A good |
many reductions were made in the old |
rates and there were no increases. |
Since the paid department was insti- |
tutcd and Butte secured its present |
water supply the rates have been re- |
duced about so per cent. The rates OF |
1894 are still in effect and under the |
present conditions 1 consider them too |
low"