The age-herald., 1902-05-17
FIRE UNDERWRITERS
 DINE AND ADJOURN Committee Asks Tax on Nor-
 Resident Brokers NED M'DAVlD IS ENDORSED Resolution Is Adopted Favorng the Southeastern Tariff Association.
 Elaborate Banquet at the HiII-
 man, With Many Toasts.
NED M'DAVlO IS ENDORSED

The sixth annual session of the Ala
 came to an end last night with a banquet
 at the Hlllman Hotel. Meetings were
 held during the day in the Commercial
 Club. Montgomery was selected as the
 next m eeting place.
 The meeting yesterday morning was
 opened by the reading of a telegram of
 greetings from w. P. Lay of Gadsden.
 Following was the report of the commit
 tee on brokerage:
 "Your Committee on Brokerage beg leave to submit the following report:
 'Imbued with the fact that self pre- servation is the first law of nature,' par ticularly at this time when local indus trial plants are being absorbed by for eign corporations with the possibility of seriously affecting the local agents of this state.
 Therefore be 1t resolved, That this l Association earnestly requests every local agent and local board in the state of Alabama to stand together and demand not less than 10 per cent for any and all | nonresident broker" The committee on legislation made sev- l eral recon mendations with reference to l the present bylaws and constitution of the organization.
 Endorse N. R. MeDavld. J. S. Dowdell introduced the following 1 resolution, which was adopted: | haf nize the worth of N. R. McDavid, deputy | commissioner of insurance, and recom- meno that he be reappointed." | H. B. Scott of Decatur read a paper on Suggestions for Greater Usefulness" " | while Vice President J. K. Glennon read a. paper on Have We Accomplished Our | Mission?'
 The committee on transit cotton made | the following recommendation:
 .'The special committee appointed to re- | port on circular letter relative to syndi- cate cotton insurance begs leave to sub nit the following report:
 .First-That we think 1t inadvisable to make any answer to said letter. | "Seccnd-That we are unalterably op- posed to the cotton business being placed | by the companies represented by members l of the Alabama Fire Underwriters Asso- citation under syndicate form of any kind unless there Is good reason to believe that the agents or agent in the localities where such policies cover will receive just | compensation"
 | The constitution of the organization ! was so changed that in every city where | there are five or more members of the association a. vice-president might be ap- pointed by the president.
 To Reform City Laws. The following report was made by special committees:
 Whereas, it is the opinion of this as- sociation that excessive municipal taxa ton Is largely the cause of increase in the fire rates, thereby reacting to the disadvantage of the citizen insurers. and
 "Whereas, We are impressed that the laws regulating the handling of fire waste and Investigating fire origin can be amended so as to materially decrease the fire waste, therefore, be 1t
 Resolved, That the standing commit tee on legislation be directed to care fully investigate these matters and take such steps as they may deem wise to secure the needed reforms in our existing laws" The resolution was adopted. L. Strauss of Montgomery introduced resolution which was passed as follows: we deem 1t to be to the best interest of the insuring public that the South east ern Tariff Association be maintained. "Therefore, be 1t resolved. That we hereby endorse said association as 1t guarantees to the public correct practices and business-lke principles to the com munity at large; also 1t is composed of companies of undoubted surity and un- disputed integrity.
 Committee on Legislation.
 A committee on legislation was an- nounced as follows: H. c. Davidson, L. Strauss J. s. Dowdell, P. B. Joseph, A. D. Smith. l.. D. Batre. and R. H. Mabry. | R. F. Manley made an address on ex- l penses of securing business. The following resolutions were adopted: |
 Be 1t resolved, First-That we are | at loss to express our thanks and ap- preciation of the cordial hospitality and | greetings of our hosts, the fire underwrit- CTS, of Birmingham.
 "Sec5nd-That we extend special thanks to the Commercial Club for the use of the | club rooms for the holding of this meeting, the press of Birm- ingham, and to Chief J. T. Mullen of the fire department, and other agencies con- tributing to the pleasure and success of this meeting"
 An address by President John G. Smith was made on "A Look Forward"
 Banquet Last Night.
 At the banquet, which was one of the best ever served at the Hillman. J. K. Glennon was toastmaster, B. B. Leed his assistant and the following toasts were responded to:
 "Our Magic City"-R F. Manly
 Harmony in the Insurance World"- Ned McDavid.
 'Is Cotton Still King''-R. H. Mabry.
 ''The Special Agent'-B. H. Abrams.
 ''The Capital City"-E. B. Joseph.
 "Our President'-C. l.. Stickney. 'The Managers Relation to the Asso-