The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-17
BIG SCARE PUNCTURED
INSURANCE MEN NOT IN LINE WITH
RERATING SCHEME,
Democratic Talk About Fire Appara-
tus Ridicu1cd-Committee to
Go to Chicago.

At a meeting of the Indianapolis Fire In
surance Association held yesterday after
noon a committee composed of Henry Coe,
chairman, Robert Martindale, c. T. Sayles,
Eugene Rehm. John Wocher and John j.
Appel was appointed to go to Chicago
next Tuesday TO confer with the govern
ing committee of the Western Insurance
Union regarding the increase of insurance
rates in Indianapolis.
The local insurance men are of opinion
that the rates made by the governing COM
mittee for indianapolis are entirely too
high, and the committee from Indianapolis
will ~endeavor TO have the governing COM
mittee rescind its action at once so that 1t
will not be necessary to put the new fiat
increase into effect. The insurance men of
the city will hold a meeting at the Com
mercial Club this afternoon 10 discuss the
situation thoroughly. Henry Coe, chair
man of the committee to go to Chicago,
said last night regarding the increase:
1.-The insurance men of the city are all
fighting against such a high increase for
this city, as We are all Of opinion that the
rates in Indianapolis should not be gov
erned by the Chicago schedule. as the risks
here are not nearly as great as In Chicago.
nv AAAAOAPoA 1dQSC u AhO A0
by the governing committee was the large
number of fires in Indianapolis last jan
uary. and all of the insurance companies
lost money. The talk of increasing the
rates in Indianapolis began long before the
agitation arose over improving the fire de-
partment. Any city is liable 10 suffer
greatly from fire losses no matter what
kind OF a IRE department 1t has for pro-
lection, and last winter Indianapolis was
one of the unfortunate cities.
CONDITION EXAGGERATED.
81 do not think the Indianapolis fire de-
rartment is in nearly as deplorable a con-
oition as has been claimed, and my opinion
is shared by the majority of the insurance
men. The fire alarm system may not be a
model and might be improved, but ! do
not think ii is in a 'deplorable' condition.
Neither do 1 think the fire-fighting appara
tus and fire companies of the city are as
weak as has been pictured in the last
few weeks. The condition OF the fire de-
partment had but little to do with the
increase.
LAS L said, the question of raising rates
in Indianapolis came up before the ak of
lettering the fire department was brought
before the notice of the people. 1t is true
that Indianapolis has grown wonderfully
In the last few years and the rates here
would necessarily be greater than in
smaller cities. The increase as recon-
Inended applies largely TO hazardous risks
and the people who own buildings that are
considered fire traps will have to pay
higher insurance. which is no more than
just. Ii will cause them TO improve their
buildings. The other increases we consider
unjust and will endeavor to have the gov
crning mmit reduce the rates. We do
rot now what action the merchants will
take in the matter of increased rates. There
are some companies not included in the
Western Insurance Union that may get
some of the business, but as they lost
money last year they may also increase the
rates."
Ii is said the insurance men representing
companies In the Western Insurance Union
fear that a large number of policy owners
will cancel their insurance and go into
other companies If the rates fixed by the
governing committee are not reduced.