New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-14
FIRE UNDERWRITERS MEET.

REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THE MA
TIoNAL BOARD.
The thirty-hrst annual meeting of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters was held yesterday in
the New-York Board rooms. No. 81 Nassau-st
William B. Clark. president OF the Board. delivered
his annual address.
Marshall S. briggs, chairman Of the Executive
Committee, referred in his report to the work OF
the different committees. and made special refer
ence TO the Arson Committee and reward offers
There have been more reward offers In the last
year, he says. than in any other year. and ne
deems IL inadvsabe 10 depart from the general
course which has been followed in the past under
the rules Of the fund. Reference was also MADE
TO unfriendly legislation in different States against
Gre-insurance companies. at is probable the re-
port reads that the lapse of time will finally cor
rect the wrong impression as TO our business IN
the mind Of the average legislator, and that we
shall be relieved Of onerous and unnecessary laws
and exorbltant taxation"
The report Of the Committee Incendiarism and
Arson was read by G. a. Van Allen, chairman.
The report Of the Committee on Legislation and
Taxation George l.. Chlse. chairman calls atten-
ton 10 fire-insurance legislation in the last year.
and says: Perhaps more bills adverse TO your In
terests have appeared than ever before. Your COM
1nittee has constantly held" the report adds. that
the only Just system OF taxation is moderate one,
based upon premiums, less losses, and there Is no
sufficient reason why the percentage of such tax
should be more in State than in another Be-
yond this no other tax should be imposed"
The report refers ''the pernicious principle OF
imposing discriminating tax against one class
of companies viz. those chartered by foreign gov
ernments" This is regarded as a precedent which
afterward may be turned against the American
companies themselves.
The report says further: During the year 1t has
been suggested by two or three members that
model insurance law should be prepared and
pressed upon Legislatures for adoption. Your
committee does not regard the suggestion favor
ably. In the present temper OF Legislatures tow
ard corporations we can forecast with reasonable
Besides, the insurance laws of New-York and
may now serve IN the man as eX
state really desires safe guidance
the Committee on Legislation and F G. Moore, Of
this city, favored the discriminating tax on foreign
burn, Of Brooklyn. thought the home and foreign
COMPANIES should stand on an equal basis M, MT.
ings and spoke highly of the New-York building
laws.
The following officers were elected for the coming
gear: President Henry L. Eaton Eaton. manager of the
yaK OF e Ere Bes
erick w Arnold. OF the Equitable Fire and Marine
S y Of r. DSe Of
Philadelphia; II. f. Bowers. manager Of the North
dbn sha YAM en Of the
Inerce Company. of Albany, and President Under
hill of the United States Fire Insurance Company.
OF New-York.
The customary dinner that follows In the evening
the annual meeting Of the fire underwriters was
held at Delmoncos. William b. Clark, the retr-
Ing president of the association presided. and at
the head table were also Robert B. Beath Of Phila-
delpha +. A. Walton. Robert +. Bait. OF Boston;
Z. F. Beddali, John Tenney, of Philadelphia; w;
Clarence Duval. of Washington II. X. Barker, OF
Providence. r. l.. r. V. De Witt OF Albany: F. A.
Belts, Commissioner OF Insurance, Hartford Conn;
Samuel. b. Blogden John II. Washburn, $. Y.
tucker. Atlanta. Ca. and George II. Mclean.
Arnold, I. II. wass. E; ]: Allen, Mason A. Stone,
". Hoyt Z. L. Case. George w. Wensley, J.. r. NIL
liken. Il. a. Loewenthal, Z. c. Richards: H. Her
rick G. w. Babb. George p Sheldon. II. +. Atwood.
r. H. Hall and Marshall 8. briggs
; The principal speaker Of the evening was Insur-
ence Commissioner Belts Al some length he re-
surance companies, lie deprecated the creation Of
further laws In this direction and maintained that
nothing more was necessary than TO insist upon the
observance OF the existing statutes He urged that
tho closest cooperation should be maintained be-
tween the insurance commissioners and the nsur-
ance companies. and closed by expressing the opin
ion that the State should not hamper the com
panies or impose hardships upon the conduct Of
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