The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-08
sAvANNAH'S INSURANCE RATES
PRESIDENT UPPER TALKS OF THE
REASONS FOR THE ADVANCE.

Says 1t Is Made in Order to Collect
Sufficient Premiums With Which
to Meet Excessive Fire LOsSes-im-
provement in the Fire Record Will
Be Followed by Reduction IN
Ratcs-Fire Departments Judged
by Results and Not From Scnti-
ment-The Winter supply.
Atlanta, Ga. March 7.-President D l
Upper of the Southeastern Tariff Asso-
citation. this afternoon gave the Morning
News correspondent the following state
nent of the reasons of the executive board
for making the ten per cent. increase IN
rates which took effect in Savannah TO-
day. The advance in rates at Savannah
was made in order to collect sufhcient
premiums with which to meet the excess
i've fire loss. For a series of years the
companies have paid out more money than
they have taken in, hence common busl-
ness prudence demanded change or re
tirement of their agencies. do not care 70
express any further opinion on this sun
ject except to say that in deciding to adopt
the 10 per cent. advance, the companies
are influenced by the seriousness of me
situation. AS indicated above they have
been hoping for years for a change in the
loss record and an improvement in the
city's fire department. 1t is needless 20
say thst their expectations have not been
realized.
1--WE are every day granting reductions
in rates on account of improved hre pro
lection and the continuous good record OF
other cities and towns. Wherever justi-
fed. this concession is promptly and
cheerfully allowed. 1t is manifesty unfair
then, to expect the companies TO make
reductions at profitable points and not col
lect an advance at Improbable points IKE
Savannah 1t is the theory of underWrll-
ing that each city and town be rated upon
its merits and as Savannah has been no
toriously improbable for a series of years
il should now be willing to pay insurance
companies TO continue doing so. If inn
movements follow, rates will be promptly
reduced as it is very much more salts
factory to do business in towns having a
low basis rate than in localities where the
record and fire protection demand a high
er rate.
The insurance companies have nothing
TO say against the personnel of the Sa-
vannah fire department. They judge these
departments by result and not from sentl-
ment can unhesitatingly say that while
they are always ready 10 make sugges-
TONS as to improvement in fire protection,
they will absolutely decline to take part
in suggesting who shall be chief or who
shall constitute the membership of the
department itself. With the political ques-
ton they have nothing whatever to do,
though they must necessarily weigh this
feature in naming rates of premium II lt
is to have an influence to their detriment
at is needless to say that every insur-
ance man familiar with the Savannah sit
uation appreciates most highly the efforts
made by the present city government and
the local press to bring about improve
ment in it's fire protection. That they
have failed up to this time does not prove
that they have either misunderstood the
situation or neglected to urge prompt ac-
ton to bring about Improvement"
Mr.. Upper was asked for specifications
as to the complaint against the water sup
ply of Savannah, but he did not have the
data at hand and could not give II. The
complaint is understood, however, to be
practically the same in detail that was
made year or so ago, when the rate
question was being agitated.
Investigation here shows that Atlanta
pumps and consumes an average of 10000 600
gallons of water day, as against Savan-
nah's 100000 1t is upon this COMPARE
son that the underwriters based the com
plant Of laxity in the management of the
Savannah supply.
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