The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27
DYNAMITE
No BAR To
PAYMENT
One Insurance Company
Says Its Use Cuts
No Figure.
Springfield Corporation
VIII Settle Without
Haggling.

- According TO information in a let
ter that was received yesterday by In
surance Commissioner Wolf from
George d. Dornin, at least one insur-
snce company has decided to pay
losses. on buildings that were dyna-
mited in San Francisco during the
great confagration. Mr.. Dornin rep
Tesents the Springfield Fire and
Marine Insurance Company in San
Francisco as manager In his COM
munication he quoted extracts from a
letter written by Mr.. Damon, presi-
dent Of the company, in which this
statement is made:
Il am quite confident that we must
pay for damage by dynamite or other
explosive, and believe that we shall
have TO consider such claims as prop
er- I note that there seems to be a
consensus of opinion that companies
cannot successfully claim exemption
where buildings are dynamited and /
believe this will be the final deci-
sion.''
Incidentally Mr.. Dornin quotes the
statements made by Insurance Com
missioner Sam Davis of Nevada, in a
letter that was addressed to Insur-
ance Commissioner Wolf. in which
Davis threatened to revoke the Ii
cense Of any insurance company do
ing business in Nevada that may
avoid paying proper losses according
10 the terms contained in the poll
cies issued TO the insured.
Il have understood" also wrote
Dornin, that Chief Sullivan, a gem
ersI in fireman's helmet, had the
use Of dynamite in his plans of cam
pSlgn for fighting a great fire"
AS the day draws nearer when the
time limit for filing proofs of losses
viii be reached. the pressure on the
Insurance Commissioners Office for
information and advice continually
grows stronger. From morning until
night every day in the week. a prac-
tically unbroken stream of losers by
the fire, who carried insurance, moves
UP the stairs leading to the quarters
of Commissioner Wolf, and griev-
ances, anxious questions, explanations
and some angry utterances among the
insured men and women ill the hours
so that the time for business is crowd
ed TO the limit.
Ever since the fire there has been
strong inquiry for blanks on which
to make proofs of loss. The insur-
ance companies are not compelled 10
supply blanks and, quite generally
they recently have refused to supply
them The Insurance Commissioner
has not had blanks TO deliver to
claimants for loss. None have been
available in the city. Anxious in
QUirers have been advised by attor-
neys and by the Insurance Commits
sioner to take guidance from the
terms Of their policies where such
policies were saved from the flames.
Many policies have been destroyed
and that has complicated the prob
lem in thousands of cases.
Printers have provided blank forms
which are a great aid in making up
loss proofs. There are now enough
blanks 70 supply TO all in the city,
but they are not in the Insurance
Commissioners offices but at prac-
tically all the stationers. Commits
siOner Wolf advises all inQuirers not
TO wait to file proof of losse, but to
get within the limit of sixty days
after April is in making filings, that
there may be no possibility of ques-
ton regarding compliance with the
terms of the insurance contracts.