The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-20
SALVAGE CORPS FIGHT.
Underwriters Still Claim to Be the
Only Corps.


Only Corps.
Further developments in the famous
Minneapolis salvage corps case were
had yesterday with the fling of sup
Elemental briefs before the court. The
supreme court, when the case was be-
fore it previously, seemed undeter-
mined as to whether or not either of
the parties to the suit constituted a
board Of fire underwriters within the
meaning Of the statute. The brief was
filed by Cobb & WheelWright, of Min
neapolis. 1t gives history of fire pa
trolls and salvage corps, ETC., begin
ming with the first one founded in New
York in 1885. Boston, Chicago and
other cities have them.
"The history Of these organizations" !"
says the brief thus shows that they
are instrumentalities that have been
created and placed in operation by the
insurance companies alone, and that
they, through their agents and repre-
sentatives, are the proper persons to
manage and control them"
Continuing with an argument to
show what constitutes a board Of fire
underwriters, as requested by the
court the attorneys say that as the
legislature makes no definition or the
term, it is clear that it must have had
the usual understanding Of its meaning
and the intent to place the formation
of salvage corps in the hands OF such
bodies as have the control in other
cities In other cities associations of
underwriters have existed for years
and without a single exception they
have been exclusively composed of men
engaged in some feature OF the ire
insurance business"
The brief then quotes from the stated
objects of many such organizations to
show their purpose is invariably along
the lines of insurance affairs and for
the promotion of the interests of the in
surance men and companies.
Taking up the question as to whether
or not the Minneapolis Board OF Fire
Underwriters is in fact board OF hre
underwriters, the brief refers to its
articles Of incorporation and the fact
that it has continuously maintained a
salvage corps since Oct. Is, 1895.
In closing the brief sums up the ar
gument, showing that the Minneapolis
board is entitled to recognition as the
only organization complying with the
intent of the statute.
II is imnossible. it says, for the court
TO declare that the Merchants board is
/ such a board. It's pleadings, its evil
! dence, and the arguments OF its coun-
sci in this cause, all shoW its hostility
| to the insurance committee, upon
whom falls the burden Of supporting
| the salvage corps. 1t lacks the most
essential element necessary to consti-
! tute it a board Of fire underwriters,
viz: a membership consisting OF in
surance men. For these reasons we
again urge the claim we have before
| advanced, that the Minneapolis board
! is entitled to the whole sum received
from the Firemen's Insurance COM
pany in this cause.
1t was reported yesterday that the
| attorneys of the Merchants board
would ask an extension of the time for
| filing their supplemental brief The
members Of the Minneapolis board are
very we'll satisfied with the situation
They say that the questions of the su-
prerne court are certainly indicative OF
an attitude Of mind favorable to their
construction of the law, and they look
for a decision in their favor. 1t is said
that overtures have been received from
the Merchants recently looking to the
| abandonment of the field should the
! Minneapolis board assume certain obli-
| cations incurred. This the Minneapolis
| board does not care to do with the
good prospects ahead. Nothing is be-
| Ing said these days about starting uI
the Merchants corps again.