Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-09
THE RAISE IN
INSURANCE RATES
Has 0ccasloned Much Discussion
Among Business Men,
EXPRESSIONS HEARD TO-DAY
General opinion IN That The Advance
IL Unjustifiabie aud should
BE Resisted.

Al Saturday nights meeting Of the
Commercial club, the recent raise In In
surance rates throughout the business
quarter OF the city will be one OF the
themes for discussion, and judging from
expressions heard at the club today.
special point to be made will be what
Is characterized as the inexcusable neg
lect Of business men to keep their
yards free from combustible material.
In fact, II was claimed that this Is real
ly the occasion OF the action OF the In
surance companies who have become
very tired OF witnessing this continued
and fragrant violation Of the fire ordln-
ances. and continued subsection Of the
center OF the city to the dangers OF an
extensive conilagrauon should Dig
fire break out with the wind blowing
IN the right direction. II was argued
that the great piles OF boxes and board
ing and other combustlble material
with which block centers are loaded up
would prove very instrumental In
spreading the flames. II the chief OF
lIt llit Itluoto w NANiNi'N
the duties Of fire marshal because there
is no pay connected with the office. It
was argued that the city council ought
to take such means as may be neces-
sary 20 provide the city with the SER
vices Of a fire marshal. And, more
over, II is claimed that while the scar
city of water is overestimated, no time
should be lost In deyislng means for
increasing the supply.
Merchants continue to regard the ac-
ton Of the insurance companies with
disfavor, and men like Manager Hill OF
Cunnngton and company and Spencer
Clawson are advocating local business
men going into the insurance business
On their own account, and setting aside
at stated periods moneys for an insur-
ance fund covering their business, Mr..
Clawson held that II the companies
would give up paying their officers such
great salaries, there would be more
money In fire Insurance.
Colonel Weber continues 10 hold TO
the opinion that the raise Is entirely
without justification; and thinks that
If this Is to be the policy Of the in
surance companies, the u. G. Nj. /.
might as well insure itself, as the
complete provision made by this great
institution against fire has apparently
been without consideration at all The
colonel says his institution was told
some time ago that If certain things
were done In the line OF fire protection
the chances were that the rates Of in
surance would be reduced The i'm
provements as suggested were made.
including the establishment OF sta
tionary chemical fire engine OF great
power with station connections all over
the house, and 10 and behold the rates
are Immediately raised. The colonel
fails to see the philosophy
of all this As 10 the water supply.
he strongly favors the development
OF the Utah lake plan. by which water
can be delivered to the farmers below
Big Cottonwood canyon in return for
their claims on the beautiful canyon
water. Utah lake water Is better fer
the farmers inasmnch as II is warmer
and more fertillzlng than the canyon
water which Is better adapted for
drinking purposes. The tendency of the
city TO override claimants OF prior
rights to irrlga ton water In the cits
limits were referred to with regret,
and the present arid condition Of the
Eighteenth ward in consequence was
cited.
The insurance men on the other hand
argue that the new rating only places
policy holders on u more equitable foot
ing, avoiding all appearances of par
TALLY, and giving all fair and pro-
per show. The claim Is repeated Win
emphasis that fire department protec-
| tion is inadequate In that there are not
| enough men, and there Is not sufficient
apparatus, and part of what already
! is In use Is Anticipated. Salt Lake Is
compared unfavorbly with Portland
which has 10 fire steamers In addition
| ~ the fire boat The fact Is cited that
| until a third steamer was added TO the
| local equipment, one Of the two steam
| ers In service was 30 years old. The
| claim that this city is Disseminated
| against Is denied, and the new rating
| is claimed TO be Just and fair in every
respesot. The three surveyors, the
| Messrs. Parkhurst and Stone made a
careful canvas Of every bit of property
in the city, and their findings are In.
partial and to be relied upon. II f.
also denied again that this Is In any
way raid OF the board on the nom
board companies, and the allegation
that one or more companies are with
drawing from this field Is character
ized as entirely untrue. The unseemly
condition Of back yards In the bust.
ness center continues the theme OF crlu-
cal II not caustic comment BY local in
surance agents.