The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-25
WHNTLOWER INSURANCE
COMMERCIAL CLUB AT WORK AND
BOARD OF TRADE MAY ACT.
Mayor Taggart Says Insurance Men
Knew barrett WAS to BE Made Chief
but Did Not Object-New Laws.

There is disposition among business
men TO discover who is really at fault In
the question of a nonreduction of insurance
rates. A number of them believe that the
question is worth agitating in order that 1t
may be discovered whether the insurance
companies are really Selling on the APP
pointment Of Fire Chief Barrett as a pre-
text for holding up rates higher than they
are in larger cities, or whether the Mayor
is at fault for not following their sugges
lions. With a view to secure thorough
investigation of the question, the president
of the Commercial Club, acting upon the
resolutions of the directors has recon-
vened the fire insurance committee APP
pointed nearly a year ago. Early in De-
cember last year, just after the disastrous
Schnul fire. committees from the CONNER
cial Club. Board of Trade, the city admin
istration and the insurance combine
operated for the purpose of securing better
fire protection. The improvements that
have been made in the department are par
TALLY due TO the suggestions that were
made at that time, when the Mayor prom
ised that everything possible should be
done TO secure the betterment of the de-
partment. The Commercial Club commit
Dunn. F. A Maus. A. NJ. Ogle, T. l.. Sulli-
van, w. c. Bobbs and ID. NJ. Parry. This
committee has been reappointed by the
president of the club
]. c. Adams, president of the Board of
Trade, says that there has been no regular
meeting of the board of governors since the
recent communications that have passed
between Mayor Taggart and T. NJ. Good
l0a Of he Ind E-ira In
spection Bureau. President Adams says
that he does not know whether the ques-
ton will he considered at the next regular
meeting of the Board of Trade, which &C.
ours Dec. T.
George w. Stout, a member of the Board
of Trade standing committee on insurance
says he has not given particular thought
TO the correspondence that passed between
Mayor Taggart and Mr.. Goodloe, and does
not know whether the insurance committee
will be called to act in any way by the
Board of Trade. He seems TO regard the
action or the insurance men in demanding
the appointment of man from some other
city as mere excuse for keeping up rates
Il believe Indianapolis has timber good
enough he said to the Journal yesterday.
Il believe in giving home institutions a
chance. 1t seems TO me that our firemen
ought TO know how to handle fires here.
The men have been on the force for years,
and know almost every building in town.
They know where dangerous walls are To-
Gated. and when there is danger of them
Mr.. Stout spoke of an experience he had
after the big fire in his store. The insur-
ance men insisted on having adjuster
brought here from Chicago.
The Chicago man didn't know anything
about his business, said Mr.. Stout. He
had been shipped here by a firm he repre-
sented / had rejected them. and he knew
II the insurance men discovered this they
would not pay for them. He didn't wen
know the price of Rabbits soap. 1 had a
suit with the insurance companies. When
their adjuster was on the stand prompted
to ask him what Rabbits soap was worth
He fixed 1t at a ridiculoulsy low price
Afterward he was asked If he didn't know
Babbitts soap had not sold for less than 81
box in the last twenty years, and he
didn't know what TO say. There wasn't a
man on that jury who didn't know what
that soap was worth"
Everything considered. Mr.. Stout saws
that he does not believe 1t is reasonable for
bring man here from some other city, as
1t would take him a long time to get the
run of things.
Mayor Taggart will not respond to Mr..
| Goodloes last letter. in which he asserted
that the insurance men had no knowledge
that Mr.; Barretts appointment was being
| contemplated. Speaking on this subject.
| Mayor Taggart said yesterday that ali the
| papers published the intentions of the ad-
mlnstration on SATURDAY; while final action
not an objection was made. Yesterday Mr.
Goodloe called on the Mayor and confirmed
the In the journal
terday, to the effect that rates will be low.
| cred in six months or year. If Chief Bar
! rett demonstrates that he has sufficient
| apiiity TO night fires properly. The Mayor
| said yesterday that he will prove to the in
| surance men that the Indianapol depart
| ment is efficient, not only as to apparat us
Dut also as to the men composing the fire
force.
| President Erwin. of the Commercial Club
| Is TO appoint an insurance committee tC
| investigate laws bearing on Insurance. com
| panies. 1t is said that the laws as now en-.
forced not only fail to foster home com.
| panies. but also discriminate against them
| IN 1aVor or foreign competitors The com.
mittee will attempt to draft amendments
| 10 present laws or an entirely new act that
| VIII give Indiana companies a chance to Sc.
| cure part of the business The commit.
] tee VIII be announced in day