The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-07-11
INSURANCE SITUATION
IN SAN FRANCISCO
Continued from Page One).

| this committee of five adjusters was
resolved on so that the settlement of
claims by the dollar-for-dolla COM
panies might be FASTENED and that
there has been no desire to have this
committee scale down any claims
which ought to be paid in full. The
committee of five will act only for
the dollar-for-do companies and
not for those in the "six-bit" list.
In protest to the letter sent out by
the Williamsburg Fire Insurance Com
pany of New York disclaiming all lia-
bility for losses by the recent fire,
about 200 policy holders assembled at
81 Laguna street on Saturday and
formed an organization to fight the
company and see that all the just
claims of the policy holders were col
lected. The letter sent out to the pol
icy holders by the company was as
follows:
referring to the claim for payment
on policy No. --, we respectfully re-
turn the proof. for reason that the loss
was due to a cause not covered by our
| policy of insurance. We, therefore,
cannot recognize any liability under
our contract with the insured.
III. w. COLSON, Adjuster"
The clause in the policy on when
the company bases the conclusion that
| it is not liable is as follows:
This company shall not be liable
for loss caused directly or Indirectly
| by invasion, instruction, riot civil
war or commotion, or military or
usurped power, or by the order of ci-
vii authority, or for loss or damage
occasioned by or through any volcano,
| hurricane or earthquake, or other
eruption, CONFUSION or disturbance"
This is thought to be one of the
strongest earthquake clauses, and dis
may was caused among the policy
| holders when the letter was received.
| Francis ]. Henry addressed the
meeting and took the ground that the
| stockholders could be held liable for
the losses of the company. He said:
"The value of this clause will UNI
doubtedly hinge on the Interpretation
of the words directly and indirectly
1t will be seen that they come before
the semicolon and therefore should i'm
no way refer to the earthquake clause,
but to the preceding clause. There
fore, the damage must be caused di-
rectly by the earthquake to enable the
! company to escape. In other words,
the company is not liable for that
part of the property actually shaken
to ruin by the earthquake, but for
that property uninjured by the earth
quake and destroyed by fire it is as
suredly liable"
These remarks were received with
enthusiasm, and the organization was
speedily effected, f. G.. Baird was
elected chairman and c. c. Boynton
secretary. A committee of five was
appointed by the chairman to consid-
er ways and means to proceed against
the company, consisting of the follow
ing; W. w. Terrier, Carrie B. Writ,
F. S. Kelley, DR.. S. A. Musante and f.
G. Baird.
The committee met after the meet
ing of the policy holders and requested
all the policy holders to register with
| the secretary as soon as possible The
office, at oil Laguna street. will be
kept open from o'clock in the morn
ing until the same hour at night in
order to give every one a chance. 1t
was decided also to wait ,upon the
Williamsburg company and ascertain
its attitude on the question, and to
find out the expense of litigation and
report at the next general meeting Of
the policy holders, which will be held
on Saturday, at oclich, at oil La
guna street.
The losses of the Williamsburg
City Fire Insurance Company in the
fire are about $12OO,OOO, and their cap
ital is rated at $25O,OOO, with assets of
about 81 500, 900.
The presidents of the commercial
organizations authorized by the meet
ing in Calvary ChuvcA ON Monday last
to name the trustees for the Policy
Holders Protective League have made
the following selections
Trustee at large, H. Weinstock of
Welnstock, Lubin & Co.; Merchants