The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03
TRYING HARD TOHOLD
BUREAU TOGETHER
Adjustment Work Will Be in Chaos Unless
Understanding Is Reached at Conference.
Complexities of Relations Between Insurance
Companies Give Rise to Much DiscOrd.

gathered by applying TO the secretary.
Thus far two of these confidential bull
letins have been issued and the num-
ber of risks about which information
has been obtained and compiled is sew
enty-two.
HAGGLING OVER ADJUSTMENTS.
Three of the big losses on which the
adjusters have completed their reports
are now awaiting settlement and pay
ment by the companies Interested
These risks are the California Wine As
sociation. the Baldwin Jewerly Com
pany and the Elkus- Bremen Company.
More than six companies are INVOLVED
In each of these losses, and 1t is said
that the delay in the payment is due to
the inability of the FIRMS interested to
arrive at a definite understanding as
to the liability of each company. Nu-
merous meetings have been held by
representatives of the companies el-
terested in the California Wine Asso-
to be paid, but all of these meetings
have been without definite result. At
torney T. c. Coogan of the Fire Under
writers Adjusting Bureau says that he
looks for payment on some of the big
San Francisco fire losses next weeH
Hereafter the subcommittee on
losses appointed by the general adjust
Underwriters Adjusting Bureau will
have to be more specific in the report
of their findings. 1t is because some of
the reports of the subcommittee did not
suit some of the smaller companies in
terested in the losses that exception
was taken to the findings at meetings
of the Fire Underwriters Adjusting
Bureau and increased the dissensioH
that threatens to disrupt the organ
izatiOn.
SMALL FRY OBJECT.
Some of the smaller companies OBJ
jected to the practice of the subcom-
mittees in assigning the Craftsmanship
of the adjusters appointed on losses to
a representative of the company having
the largest risk Tie smaller compa-
MES held that, while it would not en-
barrass large company to pay claim
of say SIS, 900 on certain loss. ii would
not be fair to require smaller COM
pany to pay say $4,000 on the same risk
without giving the smaller company
every opportunity to take advantage of
every stipulation in its policy and make
the adjustment on the closest and most
economical lines.
While the delay continues in the set
tlement of the big losses some of the
companies are paying on individual
losses where but one company is inter
ested c. ID. Haven of the Liverpool
and London and Globe states that his
firm has already paid indivIaual losses
to the amount of s650.000. George W.
Spencer of the Aetna Company says
that his company sustained loss of
upward of $3.000,000 in San Francisco
and that the company has thus far paid
claims to the extent of 100000. dol
lar for dollar, and that payments will
be made as fast as risks are adjusted.
The Springfield and others are also pay
ing along the same lines.
DORNIN's STAND DOES GOOD.
George D. Dornin's resignation as
manager of the Pacific department of
the National Fire Insurance Company
of Hartford, Conn. as protest against
the 25 per cent discount1ng of adjusted
claims has been fruitful of great agi-
tation among the Eastern officials of
that fire insurance corporation Judge
James Nichols. president of the COM
pany and father-in-law of III. A. Smith,
the assistant secretary, who is here, is
speeding westward as fast as an over
land train will bring him. Judge Mich
oils, ii is expected, will throw some
light upon the attitude of his company
in the matter of settling it's San Fran
cisco losses.
According to Dornin, whose standing
is of the highest in the insurance world,
Assistant Secretary Smith upon arrival
from Hartford announced that there
would be a horizontal cut of 20 per
cent on the face of every adjusted claim
presented for settlement AS this pol
icy did not meet favor with Dornin
that veteran in the insurance business
quietly sent his resignation without
qualification, to the home office. The
news was on the street before long and
was exclusively reported by The Call
this weekeas the most important move
which had occurred in fire insurance
circles since the disaster.
OFFICIALS BECOME UNEASY.
Barely had Dornin's resignation been
spread before the world before the
National Fire Insurance Company off,
Gals became uneasy. Despite his Yeas,
Judge Nichols, one of the prominent
insurance company presidents of the
East, made quick preparations to come
TO the coast He is expected early the
coming week
Another prominent figure in the fire
Insurance world. A. w. Damon, presi-
dent of the Springfield Fire and Marine
Insurance Company of Hartford, is also
on his way to this city. The Spring
field is among the companies which are
insisting upon speedy adjustment and
payment of ali losses, large and small
X. c. Rathbone. representing the AS
surance Company of America, home Of
fee New York City, says his company
was enormously included in the list
of those reported by the adjusting bu-
reau as signing the agreement per-
mitting removal of debris and extend
ing time for fling proofs of loss. Rath-
bone explained that he was waiting for
advices from New York as to the rein
surance contracts held by his company
before making a move.
Drawing Instruments.
very large line just received; VI grades
kabjohns Art Store, 4OS 14th st. Oakland