The San Francisco call., 1906-06-26
POLICIES
ORGANIZATION

UEAOIA Ill SEAIkhEU HUN
more than fifth of 1 per cent of the
face value of their fire insurance pol
icieS; and be it further
Resolved. That a board of trustees OF
eleven members shall be appointed as
follows: Ten by the chairman of this
meeting, who shall elect the same as
follows: Two from each of the said
five commercial bodies by and with the
advice and consent of the president or
any other acting executive officer
thereof and one at large; be 1T further
ADVERTISING DELINQUENTS.
Resolved, That said board of trustees
shall organize by electing their own
officers, and shall arrange to spend the
policy holders subscriptions in the fol-
lowing manner: They shall print in
large display space in an influential
America and Europe, from information
from the State Insurance Commissioner
of California, the San Francisco Cham
ber of Commerce, or any other reliable
source, a list giving the names of such
companies as may be prompt and dill
gent in adjusting and paying in full
their actual losses in the late San Fran
may fail so to do. The trustees shall
continue to do this a least once every
SIX months. or oftener. for period of
five years, or until said fund shall have
Resolved, That such board of trus-
tees. with the assistance of legal coun-
sci and practical insurance men, pre-
pare and submit to fhe next session
of the California Legislature a bill
which shall provide a standard form
of policy that must be adopted by all
fire insurance companies doing business
In California, which form shall be fair
TO both parties to the contract and pro-
tect the insured as well as the insur-
ance company;
tees shall be empowered to do such
other things as to them from time to
time may seem wise and expedient in
order to protect the interests of policy
holders, including, if necessary, the
employment of paid officials. experts
and attorneys, to conduct such legal
matters as may be necessary to. be car
ried on in order to secure policy hold
ers' interests;
Resolved. That said trustees shall
render report to the subscribers of
bursements once every six months, or
oftener, as may be determined; and
finally be it
Resolved, That membership in said
league shall be open to all fire insur-
ance policy holders who were carrying
fire insurance at the time of said con-
hagration, or who now or may here
after carry fire insurance, whether a
member of the foregoing commercial
bodies or not, and corporations or part
nerships are declared to be persons
W lllilH the IHedHlUS OF InlS ToSOluClOn.
SUBSTITUTE is OFFERED.
+. w. Dohrmann moved to adopt all
that portion of the resolutions that
provided for the forming of an or
ganization and to reject the part that
made provision for the instruction of
the organization concerning its course
after 1t should have been formed. He
also offered the following a substi-
tute set of resolutions:
That it is the sense of this meeting
that permanent organization be
formed to now, as well as hereafter
represent the interests of its members
in all matters pertaining TO fire pro-
lection and fire insurance; that the
following be considered in planning,
organizing, and Incorporating an asso-
citation for that purpose:
To obtain suitable adjustment fer all
claims of fire loss, including those
against companies that deny their liza
ments with, such companies to be made
without prejudice as to legal questions
involved), so that rebuilding, and re-
establishing enterprises may not be
further retarded.
That all evasions of liability on tech
nical grounds be fully investigated and,
where not justified, vigorously con-
tested in the courts.
That reasonable time for payment of
claims be arranged, but that no reduc-
tions from adjusted claims be permit
ltu Dy SOlNeHt companies, OF DY COM
panies whose stockholders can be held
responsible for the obligations of the
companies in which they are inter
ested.
COMPROMISES REJECTED.
That no compromise be advised or
tolerated, except when companies give
satisfactory proof that they have fully
exhausted every means at their com
mand to discharge their liabilities in
full.
e..1I
publicity be given to all companies
that have treated San Francisco fairly
in its present calamity.
That efforts be made to induce all
solvent and fair dealing insurance
companies to- do business in California
That constant efforts be made in CO.
operation with insurance companies,
authorities. and with the policy-holders.
10 secure and maintain the best posi-
bic protection against fire.
That all legislation on insurance
matters be closely watched, so that
only laws and ordinances are passed
which benefit a community without
hampering or cinching insurance COM
panies.
That all forms of policies be closely
scrutiniZed, so that unfair or uncertain
conditions may be eliminated, and that
perfectly clear TO all policy holders, so
that they may fully understand and
live up to their obligations and that
lney can SdIely OepenO upon getting
the insurance, in case of loss, for which
they pay.
That this association cooperate with
all efforts by other associations, here
or elsewhere, to improve and perfect
protection against fire and to secure
reliable insurance against loss.
DOHRMANN SPEAKS.
In advocating the adoption of his
resolutions as a substitute for the com
mittee report Mr.. Dohrmann said that
permanent organization is necessary
Some of the troubles of the policy
holders, he also said, were of their own
making. He spoke as follows:
We have been careless in placing our
insurance. We have given our insur-
ance to our friends and have supposed
that they would look out for U.S. Now
they are brushed aside and we find that
they have nothing to do with making
settlements.
We should therefore form a strong
organization when we find out the way
to do it. The organization should rep
resent the interests of all policy-hold-
ers in San Francisco. We have not had
insurance enough to go around. Before
the great fire, the insurance people
have treated us fairly. We must