The San Francisco call., 1897-03-31
THE INSURANCE
WAR IS OVER
The Old Compact of Two
Years Ago Has Been
Re-Established.
It May Not Be Permanent, but
the Projectors Have Strong
Hopes.
Knife. Wielders Given a Week by the
Executive Committee in Which
10 Settle Up Business.

The milk-white flag of peace once more
floats over California street. The cruel
insurance war is over.
1t may be only temporary truce. after
all, Tor there have been similar cessations
of hostilities before, only to be followed
by another resort to the knife. But, never
theless, the insurance men feel that 1T is
at least a breathing space, and they have
hopes that the peace may develop into a
permanencv.
The action which has resulted il the
new state of affairs and the temporary re-
establishment OF the old compact rates OF
two years ago has been in a state OF incu-
baton for at least fortnight, but no def
mite agreement could be reached until
Monday night. Various companies had
axes to grind, and they insisted upon hav-
ing their complaints heard at these meet
ings, where pipes of peace were only sup
posed to be smoked and where a love
feast was intended TO prevail.
There were chickering's enough at these
preliminary meetings, but they were all
kept quiet and were finally adjusted nicely
and amicably.
This beins accomplished, the executive
committee of the old com pact body-the
Board of Fire Underwriters OF the Pacific
arranged for formal meeting yesterday
morning, and it was carried out in most
perfunctory manner. Everything was cut
and dried, so the meeting aid not con-
sumo much time.
The following resolution was presented
and unanimously adopted:
Resolred, That pending the PRONUNCIATION of
rates OF premium, as provided in article of
the constitution, the rates and rules OF the
Board of Fire Underwriters of the Pacific
which were in force on the 9th OF March,
1895, are hereby adopted ed interim
measure, to be effective from noon OF March
80, 1897, includ;ns such changes as have been
heretofore made by the Northwest Insurance
Association. Montana Board OF Fire Under
writers, Board of Fire Underwriters Of U tab,
the Arizona Underwriters, the Southern Cali
fornia Insurance Association and all local
boards now in existence In the State OF Cali-
iornia.
1t being understood that the authority to
promulgate rates for all territory under its
jurisdiction IS hereby vested solely in the
Board OF Fire Underwriters OF the Pacific
That compensation to all agents, solicitors
and brokers permitted by this constitution
shall be strictly adhered TO on and after April
z, 1897, excepting where contracts exist which
cannot be Cancelled by April T. 1897, and 8
list of such contracts must be fled with the
executive committee on or before that date,
and the basis of settlement of same must be
approved by said committee and all contracts
TO be settled by May l, 1897. In the mean
lime no mem Der SOall De permitted 10 increase
compensation to agents, solicitors or brokers,
and that all agents shall file the agreement
required by the constitution on or before May
l, 1897.
In San Francisco policies may be written for
such applications as are now file. but after
the ad journment of this meeting no applics-
tions snail be received except upon the ex-
plicit understanding that the policies thereon
shall be written at the tariff rates as above
established.
Every member shall Immediately notify
hof n re eaff no to nf fnrr fiNT,
10 which he is entitled under the constitu-
tion, and no member shall cancel any con-
tract with an agent for consideration with
out the consent and approval of the executive
committee, nor agree 10 make any allowance,
payment, present or other valuable considera-
ton of any kind or character TO any OF his
representatives or TO any one for their &C.
count.
With the exception of three of the
smaller companies all of the old crew have
signed the new compact, and the insuT-
ance men say the outlook is most pro-
pitious fo- q season of prosperity. The
three which have held out are the Mil
waukee Mechanics Company, the North
west National and the Franklin. 1t is
understood, however, that the Milwaukee
Mechanics is favorably inclined toward
the compact, and WILL when it is assured
certain small concessions, get into camp.
The Thuringia Fire Insurance Company
has not yet consented to go in either, but
the COmpdC pSOp1e Say IL Will JOIN Within
a day or two.
The object o: fixing April as the date
for the permanent amalgamation is to
give those companies which have been
doing the fiercest cutting an opportunity
to close up their contracts and their cheap
line OF business.
An attemp pit will be made after April 7 to
organize for a permanent season of ad-
vanced rates, the most popular limit
among the compact brigade being ten
years. There is some doubt as to whether
or not this can be accomplished, but there
is 10 be desperate effort to make the final
deal just the same.
1t is agreed on all sides that the old high
rates of two years ago cannot be again at
tanned, but the new programme will carry
the figures as close to them as possible
stopping probably at 20 per cent below the
former schedule.
The non-intercourse clause which has
caused so much trouble and brought
former negotiations to an unsa tisfactory
conclusion has this time been tided over
satisfactorily, SO it is only question of
agreement upon permanent rates that
stands in the way of the final consumma-
ton OF the big scheme.