The Opelousas courier., 1905-04-22
OPELOUsAS. LANDRY. La. APRIL 22. 1905
Insurance ExtOrtiOn.

The following, from a recent
issue of the Lafayette Gazette, is
the experience of every town in
the State that we have heard
from, and the remedy suggested
is exactly in line with what the
COURIER has repeatedly urged
upon our people for several years
past. Desperate cases require
desperate remedies, and this in
surance gouge is one of the most
palpable cases of highway rob-
berry now in full bloom in this
State, and the Gazette is right
when it says the time has come
for the people to say whether
they will unite for self-protection
Or allow continuance of robbery
certain to entail ruin and destruc-
tion to the material interest of the
community.
Some few years ago, upon the adop-
ton OF the water works and electric
light tax by the people of Lafayette,
the prospect for great reduction of in
Surence rates was held out as strong
inducement for voting the tax. The
declaration was openly made that upon
the installation of the water works
system the insurance companies would
materially reduce their charges, and
assuming this as a fair and reasonable
presumption, the tax received a prac@
tically unanimous adoption. Whether
the companies made definite pledges
or not, property holders considered
| the general understanding and prom
Use as to reduction as altogether equit-
able and just in view of the vastly de-
| creased risk assumed by the insurers
| under the new conditions, and accord
ingly delnded themselves with vain
| hope.
In addition to very satisfactory
/ system of water works, covering thor
| oughly all danger points, the citizens
organized volunteer fire department
which for promptness and efficiency
will compare favorably with paid de-
| partments in larger cities. Various
appurtenances have been acquired for
1 exiting of fires, and the city
has recently constructed large reser-
yoir to supplement the 100, 900 gallon
ii EthAN- QkpCss i nO 1Al4AO40O kOxSO- pun
/ at the plant will throw streams of wa
Ter over the highest buildings in town,
and vet, notwithstanding all these pre-
cautions, eliminating almost every
possible element of danger, the insur-
ance rates have increased steadily, un-
till now, in many portions of the town,
they are actually ppohibitive, eight,
i nine, and even ten per cent. being de-
i manded. Ii seems that the city is
mapped out and rates fixed by an as
sociation of companies, and nothing
i avails but to put up or shut up-a trust
case, it you please.
What the remedy may be for this
high handed robbery (for it is nothing
Il Iessl does not yet appear. but as in al
other matters in this free land, the
people have it within their power te
rectify any abnormal economic condi
tions as well as other evils affecting
the body polite. The trouble SEEM
to be that these powerful combina
tions terrify individuals and communl
ties into timid submission, all the whil'
fortifying themselves with the sinew
| Of war forced from craven public tot
| Indifferent to their own interest tt
protest against the fagrant extortiol
and Injustice. 1t is suggested that th
thousands paid out annually in pre-
miums would suffice to support loca
company or maintain a system Of fir
protection either of which, if it did no
afford insurance to the full limit, woul
keep capital at home and eventuall
! offset any margin of loss. The busines
and property interests OF the tow
cannot flourish, or even exist, unde
the present burdensome cond1tlons
and the time has come for the peopl
, to saw whether they will unite for self
! protection or allow continuance G
robbery certain to entail ruin and de
gtruction to the material interest of tn
community. Let there be unity, {
| action, and the people have it With
their power to shake off the vampir
that is sapping the vesy life bloc
: from every vein of commercial an
industrial enterprise.