The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-17
THE ORDER IS SUSPENDED.
Insurance Rates Not 20 BE Raised at
Present

Mr.. Charles F. Prendergast Of the COM
mittee Of local Insurance agents, COM
posed OF himself and Messrs. ". L. VIII
son and Robert n. Hull. returned from
Atlanta yesterday. The other member OF
the committee remained over in the Gaze
City.
The committee went up 20 appear be-
fore the executive committee of the
Southeastern Tariff Association with -e-
gard TO insurance rates in Savannah, the
committee having decided on a raise OF .
cents on 500 on account OF the recent rice
mill IRE, and the circumstances surround
ing It,
The higher rate was TO have gone into
effect tomorrow. Aug. ls. but after fun
showing made before the executive com
mIttee by the committee from the local
agents IL was decided to suspend the op-
erations Of the order until the next regu-
lar meeting of the executive committee.
which VIII be the first Thursday in Sep
TENDER. At that time the question OF
whether the rates will be raised or remain
as they are at present will be fully dis
cussed and some definite action taken.
Further than this. Mr.. Prendergast said
he could say nothing on the committees
appearance before the meeting until re-
port has first been made TO the local
agents as to what was done. This course
Mr.. Prendergast says was decided upon
by the committee. and no report viii be
made until they all return to the city.
The suspension Of the order raising the
rates by the executive committee until its
September meeting will afford some hope
that by that time a showing may be made
which viii effectually prevent a raise be-
ing made.
1t Is very evident that the doubt created
as to the water supply had a great deal 10
do with the action taken by the executive
committee In passing the order, but ii is
believed now that all doubt on that line
has been removed. The insurance men
here believe that the water supply is bet
ter than II has ever been and that II is
thoroughly ample IL properly handled.
They speak not only OF the mains that
were not used 10 the capacity on the night
of the rice mill FIRE, while others were
taxed beyond their power to supply the
water but also Of the proximity of the
Savannah river, which with some suction
they say, would have furnished all the
water necessary for certain points and at
certain stages OF the FIRE
The local agent is, so to speak the mid
die man between the company and the
insured, and II is his province and duty
to look after and protect the interests Of
both. Under these circumstances the 10
cal agent has no particular desire to see
any raise in the rates II would certainly
call down a protest from a vast number
Of property owners who already think they
are paying high rates. and who would
hardly want to stand any more of it,
Then on the other hand the local agent
must also look out for the company's in
terests, and where a certain amount Of
protection is guaranteed, he must see that
IL is kept up to the guaranteed standard
There are many questi 20 be considered
In this connection, and Il may be that some
improvements will be insisted on by the
executive committee IL the rates are TO re-
main as they are. What the outcome will
be however, will probably not be deter
mined until after the September meeting
II Iha a szgOpta tfOu'a awacf1tfxta committee