The age-herald., 1899-09-07
WARM RESOLUTIONS PASSED
The Southeast Tariff Association is Chal.
 lenSed to Battle.
N. Y. UNDERWRITERS BENEFITED
Members of the Board of Trade Will Place Their Business With Them Unless Southeast Association
 Reconsiders It's Action

The Board of Trade has thrown down
 the gauntlet to the Southeastern Tariff
 sociation and has taken active steps to-
 wards securing cheaper insurance for the
 people of Birmingham.
 It is claimed that the Birmingham rates
 have been recently advanced and unless some favorable action is taken by the in- surance men an effort will be made to place all insurance contracted by the mem- bers of the Board of Trade through New York underwriters.
 The question come up at a meeting of the board held last night, as the complaint of several members, who reported that rates had recently been advanced in same in- stances from s1.10 to SLIGO and $1.75 per | hundred. MT. McGowan, of the insurance committee reported that the raise was ex- plained in the local office of the Southeart Tariff association, as the effects of new rating, but that it was claimed that the | increase would not average over ten or twelve cents per hundred. Several mer- chants who had been raised openly stated
 that they would positively refuse to pay
 the advance and advocated united action
 against the alleged high-handed methods of the Insurance Trust.
 The Matter Discussed
 The matter was thoroughly discussed
 and developed the suggestion that the ad- vance was made to offset the proposed
 first class rating, conditioned upon the strengthening of the fire department. This
 rating would place the city on 50 cent basis, which would mean a reduction of 9
 cents under the present basis, but 1t was argued that the recent advance would off- set this reduction and that the property owners and merchants would in reality pay more than under the old arrangement The meeting was held in the parlors of Elks hall and was called to order by Pres ident Chalifoux, with a fair attendance present After the reading of the minutes the report of the board of control was made by the president. The report announced | that a committee had been appointed to | confer with the Louisville and Nashville officials regarding better connections to Huntsville.
 Also that prospectus of the state fair had been ordered printed to be distributed through the members with the compliments of the board
 The Insurance Question The insurance question then came up on the report of MT. McGowan in which it | was stated that the mayor had addressed l a letter to the insurance committee re- | questing the amount which would be saved l to the merchants by the reduction of the | insurance rating if the fire department be | strengthened in accordance with the terms | prescribed by the insurance men. This | amount, he further reported, had been as- | certained to be about ST ,0O0 The matter of the recent advance then came up and resulted in the adoption of | the following resolutions:
 Whereas, the Southeast Tariff asso- citation has increased the insurance rates in Birmingham, which increase we consider unjust, be it resolved, that special committee of three, with the chairman of the insurance committee added, be appointed to correspond with New York underwriters regarding the placing of the insurance of the members of the board of trade and such other persons as desire to take advantage of a better and lower rate with companies outside of the Southeast association" l The Committee Named The committee was appointed as follows: McGowan, ONeill, Lovejoy and Anderson. Chairman Klotz, of the committee on suburban trains and excursions reported that he had communicated with Superin- tendent Frazier of the Southern railway re- garding the extension of the daily accom- modation train service to Oakman and oth- CT points and that the matter was receiv- ing the attention of the railroad officials. MT. Klotz also made final report for | the committee on Labor Day celebration, | which was received and filed. At the sug- | gestion of the committee vote of thanks l was extended to the Birmingham Railway | and Electric company and the A. l.. Due l Fireworks company of Cincinnati for cour- l teses shown the organization. President Chalifoux anonunced that at 1 the next meeting the committee on county | roads would make an interesting report. | He also referred brifly to the Alabama | railroad commission question and stated | that it was attracting the attention of the | entire state.
 On motion of MT. McGowan a resolution | endorsing the creation of the office of sec | retary of commerce in the presidents cab | inet, to which the secretary of the board was instructed to call the attention of the l Alabama representatives in congress and 1 other boards of trade.
 There being no further business the | meeting adjourned.
 l nnpUuIIuJ IpGnINn nnuUnCT MEu