The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-07
MEANS A FIGHT ON MAGUlRE,
INSURANCE. AGENTS TO HOLD 1
MEETING TODAY.

Insurance Men want "a Voice IN It's
nnngement-Chief MaGuire's Re
moval the First step Sought.
The local fire insurance agents Will hoid
a meeting this afternoon to consider the
action of the Southeastern Tariff Assooia-
ton in raising the rate of insurance. Just
what action will be taken is not known as
those at the head of the movement abso-
lutely decline to discuss it in any way.
The action of the tariff association goes
into effect to-day and is operative on all
companies doing business in Savannah
with the exception of the Germania Of
New York. The association does not in
clude all the local companies, but those
not connected with it, are, with one eX-
ception, included in what is known as the
Savannah Compact, an organization sim
liar to the tariff association, but whose ju-
rsdiction is only within the city limits. This
division of the companies will not affect
them in the least in carrying out the plans
already started Some Of the companies
do not find it to their interest to enter into
compaets binding them outside the city,
and for this reason the local association
was formed.
Considerable dissatisfaction prevails on
account of misunderstanding in regard
10 the application of the increase. Resi-
dents in the suburbs claim the risk there
is not as great as in the more thickly
populated sections of the city. They be-
lieve the rate should be raised, If at all,
In accordance with the risk which the
companies assume. Mr.. Charles F. Prem
eta 4 hat 1oa.A mot u~l
raise unjust or discrmlnauve against any
particular locality. The increase, he said,
IS not on the rate now being paid by
policy holders, but it a raise on new poll
cies and on renewals OF pol
icies now in force. On the
cotton wharves and In the business
center the rate is higher than on other
classes of property. He said he did not
believe the raise will operate unjustly, nor
did he think il higher than the companies
should demand in view of the increased
risks they have TO assume on account OF
inadequate fire protection.
There is no change in the attitude as
stunned by the companies. Prompted by
the conviction that the city has INSULT
cient fire protection on account of the in
capacity of certain members of the de-
partment they have taken the stand that
it is not advisable 20 continue business
without the increase. Ii is their intention,
they say, TO hold the rate up until there
is a change in the management of the de-
partment and until certain re-
movals are made, which they
have, no modesty in designat-
ing One agent said the companies will
certainly take no retrogressive step I'M
til several changes have been made in
The fire department, among them
being the removal OF Chief Mcguire and
an arrangement made by which the de-
partment will hereafter be kept aloof from
politics. He strongly minated that the
head of the department could not attend
10 his duties. and at the same time he
largely devoting himself to politics. An
other reason he advanced for removing
the department. from politics is that an
official does not render efficient service
when placed in such a responsible office
as that of fire chief, knowing that the
party which placed him there Is under
tacit obligation TO keep him in position
as long as it is in power Were the de-
partment so shaped that the insurance
companies could have voice in the chiefs
selection, or that it could be turned over to
disinterested business men who would act
according to their judgment and not from
political bias, he believed the fire loss
would be less
1t is said that If the matter were left to
the insurance companies, they would bring
a chief from another city. The disadvant-
age from this. il Is claimed, would be that
the chief would not be acquainted with
Savannah and could not efficiently manage
the department until he had become thor
oughly posted on every section of the city.
Some of the agents say It would take
new man but a short uizne to acQuant
himself with the streets, and to secure a
sufficient knowledge of the principal build
ings The idea seems to be that chief
from another city would be entirely free
from political afilliation, 1t is pretty well
understood that the action of the tariff
association is for the purpose of bringing
public sentiment to bear on the fire com
missioners with a view to secure the re-
moval of Chief Mcguire.
What the effect of the increase in rates
win be on the insurance business remains
10 be seen. There are other companies
anxiously awaiting to step in the shoes
of those constituting the Southeastern
Tariff Association and take up the BUSH
ness. The local agents say they have no
fear, however, of any interference. They
say that when IL became necessary in 1896
10 raise the rate of insurance % per cent.
on account of insufficient water supply as
we'll as other fire protection, there was no
interference with business. At the time ii
was predicted that competing companies
. would enter the field and absorb the busi-
ness of the local agents.
just what course will 'De adopted as to
the fire department is unknown, though
il is said some of the agents have figureo
II Out how the people can be so pinchec
that Chief Mcguire win be removed at
once II is claimed that If the people want
the rate put down they can bring pres
sure to bear on the fire commissioners
that will result in such changes as are
desired. The agents say their companies
pay the losses and they have a right to
q voice in the management of the depart
ment.
The fire commissioners regard the in
crease In rates as a sort of bluff They
look upon IT as a revival of the old fight
on the department and regard 1t with in
difference. They say they will abide the
: will of the people, and II convinced that
q majority fayors changes in the depart
ment, they will be made Political feel
ing is believed by two of the commits
sioners 10 be at the bottom of the move
nieni. and while admitting that there are
exceptions. they think 1t was actuated by
political sentiment. The insurance men
however, claim they stood off the increase
as long as il was possible to do so.
Mayor Meldrlm said he did not think IL