The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-22
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INC ENDlAkl FIRES.

! IN ENDlAhl FIXES.
The Chronicle.
There came in our ma1 this week a
! communication from the Property own
ers' Fire association of Des Moiaes Iowa.
TO the effect that it was organized by
properly owners and premium payers TO
Influence legislation in Iowa against in
| cendars1u and enforcing the laws when
made. We an, asked 10 help along the
good work. and We oheerfuly volunteer
our services. To this end We publish two
address'-s-one 10 the public and the other
10 nre Insurance men. Here is part of
| The one o. the tire Insurance men:
| To Fire Insurance Companies. Agents and
| Field Men:
! G"ntiemen-Re entity committee was
appointed by ihe commercial exchange of
! Dies Moines. one OF the largest ard most
! Influential commercial bodies OF Iowa, 10
| arrange for bringing our association and
! Tie Insurance companies together that
J the best interests oi the assured and the
| Insurer might be slhseryed.
The following extract from the repo-.
: OF this committee 10 the Insurance com
pan.es viii no doubt interest all parties
who are connected with the tire Insurance
| business;
1T VIII IL. seen that this movement is OF
vital interest 70 the BUSINESS you are en-
gagged In. We can assure you that the
| EFFORT being put forth Is backed by leading
and Influential business men, and Is
prompted by an howest purpose TO pre-
tr.t unirienIly legislation against in
shrAnce companies and 10 secure con1i-
uons which VIII lessen IN. hre waste.
Win lhe ultimate hope asd expectation
oi 4 reduction IN the cost OF Insurance.
No aolieNe, gentlemen. that you Will re-
! idr1 this organized eilort w.ih favor and
give u your sympathy, encouragement and
coldiaI Cp-opcra hon.
by the accompanying address, you will
observe an organized effort for securing
me enactment OF the Massachusetts fire
marshal law, which - conceded viii great
lN reduce dishonest fires. In connection
attn this also IS he fostering OF II public
| sentiment diverse TO dishonest fires, amt
ing preS"d upon and bled by extoruonnte
You know fuil we'll the difficulty of
procuring III endly legislation by insurance
con pauies, and II looks like the dawn OF
better times for the business of under
voting Wnvn NE irsHsins public without
public opinion and the law making power
~ favor OF that Industry.
rms movement ~ based on n business
( SARlority thai = broad enough not to stop
wHh self-inicresi, but which reaches fur
~, insured"
70 the Puhlic-ln discussing The needs
OF the hour as touch ny economy IN fire
Insurance matters We must not lose sight
| OF the all important fact that every bur
ion the public may lay upon the insur-
ance comptnies comes directly back upon
| ourselves IN the premiums We pay. While
there are abuses that have crept into the
| iro Insurance business through the door
| Of the companies. abuses that augment
c Sns Premium ors PAYERS burdens. yet these
| action Of the premium payers who are
| sure 10 be assisted by such underwriters
| az are willing TO aid in working out the
| greatest good 10 all concerned.
However, the public are IN the main
| Responsible for the most troublesome fac
.pr IN nro insurance. and the one which
| payers. viz: nc"ndiarism. The estimates
| from conservative sources, and by those
| who are competent TO Judge, place about
| % per cent OF our fire loss on the incen-
| Diary. As a rule. this Wauton destruction
| OF property which is depicting orr taxable
N.Rics Is due 10 desire 10 realize on
polries for which the premium payers
! must and do pay. except where the fire
| spreads and takes IN uninsured property
| when tho loss falls on individuals, many
| at whom are poorly prepared 10 stand
| such loss. Not lnfrequcntly such nres arc
| attended with loss of human lfe ana It
| ~, I.lH ,l'hl ~, people We nave some
| 'hous' cleaning" TO do on our own ac-
| count
Il : for shLs reason that this association
| OF property owners Is using ls besa en-
| deaNors TO impress the peupla OF iowa
| with The Importance OF dunlic,tiny ~
| fire marshal laws OF MaSsachuseitg and
| Maryland. where the origin OF hrss are
| Investigated by a State official who IA
| removed from local ana neghborly affll-
| iaiioas, who has authority 10 summon Wit
| nnfsea ana make arrests This process
| tends IN a wonderful degree, towards
! making .nceadiarlsm unpopular; for In
| M'tss achusctts last year there have been
| cighty-F'N arrests and slNty-one conylc-
| tons ANY one competent 10 fudge OF
| tho situation viii see at a glance Tho
| wholesome effect of the operation OF such
| law. ana We are confident that the think
| ing people OF the state viii give their
sanction TO the enactment OF this much