The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-24
THE RATES WILL REMAIN
BARRETT MUST FIRST SHOW HIS
ABILITY As A FIRE CHIEF.
Insurance Men Say They Had No
knowledge that the Mayor Was
to Make Change. 4


man from away TO take charge of the fire
department. which was the condition on
which the insurance commission proposed
to reduce rates 10 per cent. asserted that
the insurance men knew that Mr.. Barretts
appointment was being contemplated May
or. Taggart asked that the bureau re-
consider its determination not to lower
rates unless its request was complied with
L. NJ Goodloe, Inspector yesterday sent
the following reply to the Mayor:
Dear Sir-Replying to your valued ia
vor or the 10Th instant, We beg to correct
one statement viz: that We were aware
mat the change in the head of the depart
ment was contemplated. On the contrary.
we mad no idea, no intimation that il was
being considered at all. and are only sorry
that we were not given the opportunity TO
express our opinion on that subject.
we regret that you cannot conform
10 our suggestions relative 70 the improve
ment OF the fire department set forth
IN our communication of the 10Th instant.
our o1er TO make the reductions in rates
was made in good faith. and the sugges-
tons were made that the citizens might
get Immediate returns on the money in
vested for new apparatus in the way of
reduced rates of insurance rathe| than
nave TO wait until the department has had
time and opportunity to demonstrate its
ability TO successfully handle fires.
with the present arrangement which
we must view as an experiment, we regret
mat We cannot accede TO your request to
reduce the present rates. except in indi-
Viduiu cases, where substantial improve
ments may be made in the risks. The ex-
perience of the companies here for the past
Few years has been such that they cannot
AFFORD to experiment; in fact, with the poor
construction of many OF the buildings they
see no chance for any profit whatever with
out a fire department, standard in every
detail. which Is their only hope. for bet
terment of existing conditions
Mr. Goodloe says that so far as the in
surance companies are concerned the fire
chief episode is closed for the present. IN
less the Mayor and his board tsee fit to
make the change requested, rates will re-
main as they are until Chief Barrett has
demonstrated his ability to handle fires.
This, it is believed. will take six months
or a year. If "A change were made and a
tried man brought here from some other
city, he says. that there would be an i'm
mediate reduction of 10 per cent, or about
$4,000 year. lie says that the companies
are not anxious TO maintain high rates at
all. All they want is TO be in position
where their incomes will not be eaten up
by heavy losses. He says that the COM
panies would not look upon the appoint
ment of a chief from some other city as
an experiment, as a man who would come
here recommended bys the chief of a de-
partment like that of Cincinnati, Chicago.
st. Louis or some other big city, would
have the confidence of the insurance men,
and rates would be reduced the minute he
got here. He says that Indianapolis can
not hope to have a man competent TO fill
the position until sufficient salary Is paid
him. Chief Archibald, of Cincinnati. gets
$500 year. Mr.. Goodloe says. and his rec
objection is that his two assistants receive
$500 each. He says that OF course II
would not be possible for indianapolis to
get one of the assistants from a big city to
come here for less salary than he is now
receiving. He says that the insurance COM
panies are not making personal matter
of the question but are ,reatng sa ~ from tbai
the entire subject Is now in the hands OF
the city officials to act or not act as they
please If the citizens of Indianapolis are
To ri INIT a
Mr.. Barrettis retention, the insurance men
say they will not care. The proposition re-
solves itself. they say. to the point where
pected for six months or a year that Is,
until Mr. Barrett Is no longer an expert
With success. and prevent losses from fire
and water. Water losses have been heaVy
here more than once, 1t is said
1t Is insinuated about the city nall that
the insurance companies are simply selzing
on this occasion for a preteXt 10 aVold re-
ducing rates and that II losses nave Deer
heavy, premiums collected IN lnolahaPoliS
have been more than sufficient TO cover
them. These insinuatons are cast assoc
in toto by Mr.. Goodloe; he declares o,,ae
the bureau was earnestly trying 10 secure
a reduction of rates and had about reached
the point when that could be done, pro
viding the administration wonld agree 10
get a chief from abroad. The inspector ex-
plains why the answer to Mayor TasSart .
letter was delayed; 1t was necessary 10
carefully inspect six large bulluules OH
Shuth Meridian street. and as many more
on Washington in order that the compa-
MES could determine on an all-round re-
duction He says that after several meet
the noanap cement of the department, but
before the final meeting of the commission
to discuss this question. the shake-up &C.
Cured and lit was announced that Mr..
Webster had been supplanted. If the May
or and the Board of Safety had not re-
moved MI. Webster and appointed Ch is
.annointmept of a chief from another city.
Mr. GoodIoe says that when 1T becomes
expedent or necessary to throw open lhe
hopLs he Is able to prove that the compa-
MS have not made such fabulous sums as