The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-08
JOKE OF THE CAMPAIGN
EFFOT1T To MAKE BELIEVE THAT
TAGGART REDUCED THE RATES.
Lower Insurance Figures Granted to
States, Including indianapolis.

The Sentinel yesterday published a col
umn and a half claiming that the good
government of the city was responsible for
the reduction in insurance rates. This is
another attempt of corrupt city govern
ment to claim benefit with which it had
nothing to do The following paragraph
headed the SentineIs article:
"One more grand result of good govern
ment for Indianapolis, and one which
brings into prominent relief the benefits of
a business administration, Will be operative
Saturday morning, when new fire insurance
rates for Indianapolis win go into effect.
And as if such tommyrot was not enough
to disgust the people they had to comment
on it in the editorial column as follows
THE Sentinel has the pleasure of an
nouncing this morning another beneficial
result of the business administration OF
city affairs, in another REDUCTION or lnsur-
ance rates applying 10 dwelling houses and
surroundings throughout the city. Inc re-
form of the fire department, the new ap-
paratus and it's intelligent distribution.
have demonstrated their value in the de-
| crease of fire losses and justified reduc-
ton of rates, varying from 10 to 80 per
cent This is something of practical and
universal value, which everybody can APP
preciate, and it speaks louder than all the
Misrepresentation and villiflcation that can
be heaped up against Mayor IaggartS adj
ministration. Every step taken by him
has been in the interest of the people and
for the protection of their rights and their
welfare. In nothing have the practical adj
Wantages of his straightforward business
course been mare manifest than in the
management of the fire department, and
we congra tulate the insurance people on
this substantial recognition Of the i'm
provement."
The only foundation for all this Demo-
cratic campaign gas is shown by the fol-
lowing article from the current number Of
Rough Notes:
REDUCTION OF RATES ON PRE-
FERRED BUSINESS.
THE governing committee of the Union
has at last taken action in regard to re-
duction of rates, and announced the fol-
lowing:
''The reductions in rates in southern Wis
consin and northern Illinois, which were
announced in July, have been rescinded,
and in their stead certain important
changes or notifications in rates on pre-
ferred business will take effect Oct. 8.
These notifications in rates. apply to
towns of the first, second and third classes
in Illinois, wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota
and North and South Dakota. Rates on
dwelling houses are reduced 10 cents, no
frame dwelling house to be rated less than
40 cents. and no brick dwelling less than 80
| cents.
"A reduction of Is cents is made on rates
of churches, schoolhouses, courthouses and
other public buildings not including peni-
tentiaries, warehouses; county poorhouses
or insane asylums; no risk of this class to
be rated less than 60 cents.
"A l5-cent reduction is also made on brick
buildings for mercantile, office, public hall
apply only to the buildings, exclusive of
contents.
In Indiana these new rates do not apply
to churches or church schools, on which
rates have already been reduced.
Cook county and the cities of Milwaukee
and Indianapolis are not included in the
territory affected by the above reduction,
which is practically the same as that al
ready made in the States of Iowa and Mis-
souri,.
1T is understood that the above reduc-
tons in rates apply only to WaterWorkS
towns. and it is expected that it will have
tendency to lead towns now without
proper protection from fires to make i'm
provements in that line, in order to secure
the advantage of lower iIs nrance rates.
does not get the benefit of the general re-
duction in the five States, dwelling houses
do. The local bureau has been notified Of
the following schedules:
Within 800 feet Of water plug:
Rates for one year.
Brick dwellings,, unexposed. IS cts. 30 S efs
Brick dwellings, exposed. 40 cts. IS cts.
Frame dwellings unexposed...4 40 cts. 40 cts.
Frame dwellings, exposed. $50 cts. 50 cts.
over 500 feet from water plug:
Rates for one year.
Old. New
Brick dwelling, unexposed. -. 40 cts. 80 cts.
Brick dwellings, | exposure. 50 cts. IS cts.
Brick dwellings, 2 exposures. 60 cts. 80 cts.
Frame dwellings,, unexposed. 30 cts. 40 cts.
Frame dwellings, l exposure. 90 cts. 30 cts.
Frame dwellings, 2 exposures..75 cts. 80 cts.
do not understand why the business prop
erty of indianapolis is Disseminated
against 1t will be remembered that over
a year ago the commercial organizations
took this matter up with the Insurance
Union. and as the result of much negotia-
ton they were promised that if the city
would make certain improvements in the
fire department and the business men
would submit to the rewriting of their build
ings under the direction of an inspector
appointed by the insurance board the re-
duction would be given. Upon the urgent
plea of the business organizations the city
issued bonds to the amount Of $4,000 of
which $4,000 was devoted to the fire depart
ment. and all business and manufacturing
buildings in the city were rewired at the
expense Of the owners under the direction
Of the insurance Inspector.
Now comes horizontal reduction OF
rates for five States. but the business
buildings Of Indianapolis do not get the
benefit of it. AS soon as the election is
over and no political construction can be
placed upon their action, it is likely that
the commercial organizations viii again
take the matter up ard get the reduction
for the business buildings or know the Tea-
soil why.
Dalton Hat CO., Bates House.
Fall styles are ready Agents Knox's