The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-08
RATES MAY BE READJUSTED.
INSURANCE MEN TO HOLD A con-
FERENCE TODAY.

the Tariff AssOciatiOn-He Wanted
Action Delayed Pending Decision
of the Litigation Between Council
and the Fire Commission in the
supreme Court-Chairmnn Grayson
Against Importing "A Chief.
For several reasons the fire insurance
men did not meet yesterday, but postPon-
ed their conference until to-day, at which
time the situation incident TO the increase
In rates will be considered, and steps VIII
probably be taken towards a readjustment
1t is claimed that The local agents have
fought the increase vigorously. Naturally
they do not deem such measures TO their
interest and they believe the effect viii
necessarily be to cause friction al least
for a time The object of the increase IS
universally admitted to be an attempt to
get rid of certain members of the fire de-
partment. but many of the agents. and
especially those inclined TO regard the mat
ter more conservatively, think the end
could have been accomplished by more
direct and desirable means. To them the
increase seems rather extreme, and many
of them advised against it, though rome,
of course, will back down since the action
is one which to be successful. must be adj
hered 10 by all companies There is no
hitch and they will in all likelihood act
tremendously. but it is evident there are
many who would rather the increase had
not been added, at least at the present
Property owners in all sections of the
city are freely discussing the increase in
rates They are divided into two classes
in their views, however one side favoring
the removal of Chief Mcguire which the
agents admit will have the effect of at
once restoring the Old rate, and the other
maintaining that there are other compa-
MES ready to take risks in Savannah at
the rates which formerly prevailed
Chief Magure's friends are advising him
not to yield to any pressure that may be
brought on him to resign. In keeping with
this determination he is maintaining a
strict silence and declines to discuss the
situation, on the ground that it is not the
proper time for him to do so.
Mr.. Charles f. Prendergast said that
his idea was to await the action of the
Supreme Court, where the litigation be
tween the Council and the ire commits
sioners now rests. 1t is his opinion that
the Council will ultimately gain its fight.
Speaking of the raise, Mr.. Prendergast
said;
Far from approving 1t, l have consist
emily opposed IL as a technical measure
and last Wednesday ] wrote to President
Topper of the Southeastern Tariff Asso-
citation arguing as strongly as l knew how.
against the adoption Of such a course. 1T
the rates We're increased because of ,--e in
efficiency of the fire department, consist
ency required that each class of property
in the city, dwellings included should bear
.
underwriting principle l thoroughly
convinced that is correct. But for more
than eighteen months past ! have been
lighting any increase at all and / protest
against being represented as favoring one.
"At the same time" Mr.. Prendergast
said, II do not wish to be understood
criticising the tariff association for the
advance il has ordered, or as denying that
the association has the most substantial
grounds for dissatisfaction with the condi-
lions which, for more than two years post,
have prevailed in our fire fighting service.
These conditions were fully disclosed at
the aldermanic inquiry last summer, and
In the light of the appalling revelations
then made, and of the more recent exhibi-
tons OF the thorough and hopeless incom-
potency of the fire service and it's admin
istration. ! cannot blame the tariff assoc
citation for moving to protect its interests.
On the contrary, l admire the patience it
has shown under the most exasperating
circumstances. In this view l believe that
the conservative sentiment of our commiI-
nifty will agree. But l differ with the as
ISOLATION as to the method it has adopted
and think that its purpose could have
been better and more certainly accomplish
ed without increasing rates at this time
For my part / shall endeavor to have
the rate removed at the earliest possible
moment"
rrl...
seems to have been the straw that broke
the camefs back. one insurance man
stated that the building was considered
one of the best risks in Georgia, and while
IL was being constructed, so thorough was
its construction in point of modern i'm
provements and in every precaution
against fire. that all companies went for
il without hesitation. He emphasized the
fact that the building was of brick and
stored with iron ware, with but little COM
bustable material inside and therefore
least subjected to fire.
The fire commissioners claim other
wise, however, and Chairman Grayson
stated that he thought the fire was we'll
managed While the goods he admitted
were not of combustible material still
they were packed in straw and excelsior
which was scattered through the building
IN such manner that if a spark fell in
side and flames started. the fire would be
over the Wncle building before IL could be
checked by the firemen outside in view of
the fact that the smoke from the Teeple
building was so dense as TO make it stil
more difficult 10 see the blaze.
But the claim of the insurance men is
that the fire was under control, and not
withstanding this, the Conklin building
was allowed TO burn was suggested to
Mr.. .GraysoB
Il do not admit that to be the case.
but even then there are many Instances
where mistakes are made Taking all
things in consideration, including <he num-
Der of men at the chiefs disposal l think
good work was done"
~Do you think a sufficient pressure
could be brought on the commission to re-
move Chiel Maguire?' Mr. Grayson was
asked.
There is one thing l will say point
blank in connection with any change in
the fire department" he replied 'As long
as,I am connected with the commission. /
viii never vote for a nonresident of Sa-
Vannah as chief / regard such a thing
ss az outrage on our citizens. and IL the
fnsurances companies are PLAYING for thar