The San Francisco call., 1906-05-08
FIRE Underwriters
TO NAME COMMITTEE
FOR A CONFERENCE
Will Meet With Body Of Citizens for
an Understanding az to
Their Intentions.
Action Taken In Order to Dlspei the
Growing Fears Of Holders
Of Policies.
Representatives Of the Insurance.
Companies Adopt Important
Nen-W afver Clause.

Representatives Of The Insurance.
Companies Adopt Important
Nen-Waiver Clause.
The Fire Underwriters Adjusting
Bureau, which holds daily sessions In
Reed Hall. Oakland, has decided to ap-
point q COMMITTEES to confer with the
finance committee Of the reconstruction
committee relative to the course to be
pursued by the Insurance companies In
settling local losses. This decision was
reached by the underwriterE bureau
at its meeting yesterday after q letter
from Secretary W. r. Metson of ths
reconstruction committee, inviting the
naming OF such . conference delega-
ton. were read. The selection of the
men to meet the reconstructionists was
left to the executive committee Of the
underwriters bureau
Because OF the development Of ap-
prshension on the part Of policy hold
ers and also because II ID known that
speoulators are trading on the fears OF
persons that have claims against the
insurance corporations It was deemed
wise and best that the Representatives
Of the companies and Of the policy
holders, many Of whom are awaiting
payment before they start to rebuild.
should get together and have fair
and full understanding Of the situa-
ton. SO that doubts would be removed
and confidence continued
Rolla v. Watt at first opposed the
motion to designate committee from
the underwriterT bureau to confer with
the finance committee Of the recon
structionists. holding that II such q
committee were appointed the action
might b construed as committing the
various companies represented 70
whatever conclusions would follow. Hs
strongly objected to the naming of q
conference committee es invited by
Metson until the Fire Underwriters
Bureau should havs accomplished
something definite.
We do not yet know ourselves what
we win do" argued Watt, "and we
should rot enter into any conference
with the finance committee Of the re-
construction committee, whose conclu-
stons might be considered binding. II
Will be time enough 10 name such a
committee when we have outlined our
own plan Of work"
Watt withdrew his objection to the
motion to name areonference commit
tee when 1t was made to appear to him
that the appointing Of Euch q body
would tend greatly to add to the con-
ddence Of the policy holders 1t this
ttmA.
The general adjusting COMMITTEES Of
the Fire Underwriterg Bureau adopted
an important non-waiver clause ysster-
day. In passing the measure the COM
mittss practically pledged the body to
make no effort to take advantage Of
any claims OF policy holders or use
any artiflos in adjusting work. In
other words, the committee VIII order
the adjusting Of losses In the regular
way and the findings VIII be submitted
70 the home offices In the ugual man.
ner. The work Of adjusting claims win
be carried on Independently Of other
questions that may arise The nom
waiver clause was adopted because ru-
A4o4D kSAa ~ OnkVto0 DoAuO P0lDoY R0fQ-
ers to delay presenting claims and
proofs Of loss to the agents for fear
that by 20 doing they would waive
some Of their legal rights.
One hundred thousand blank proofs
OF loss" are now on tho way from the
East and these VIII be distributed
among the managers Of the companies.
Policy holders are advised to give no.
tios OF their loss as soon as possible
secure blanks. I'LL them out and return
them to the company managers
Nearly all Of the leading American
and European companies are now rep
resented at the Fire Undsrwritsrs Ad-
5ustiug Bureau Representatives Of ssv-
sral London companies are on their way
here from the homo offices.
Notice has bssn given by the North.
western National Insurance Company
ee Milwaukee that It win adjust ali
claims at once. The company has an
Office ct 1o1s Warrington street, Oak
hand.