The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-19
BUSINESS MEN DENOUNCE
 FIRE INSURANCE INCREASE
ACTION OF SPECIAL aEEE4.INc 0F STATE BUSINESS MENiS
 ASSOCIATION

The Increase Condemned as Unfaar to the POlicyhOIdcrs Representatives. From the Leading Cities of the State --E. l. Atwater of New Haven Ap-
 pointed Member of Committee of
 Five to Investigate the Increase.
 Fenwick, July 1S.--At a special rneet- ing of the directors of the State Busi- ness Mems association this afternoon at Fenwick Point, called to consider the advance in fire insurance rates in this state, resolution was adopted con- demning the increase as unjust and un- fair to the policyholders, and authoriz- ing the appointment, by the president of the association, of a committee of five to investigate the increase and the reasons for it.
 Representatives were present at the meeting from Hartford. Bridgeport. Meriden, New Britain, New London Willimantio, Ansonia, Manchester, New Haven, Rockville, Winstea, Southing- ton, Milford, Derby, Shelton and sey- mour
 Following is the committee appointed: A. M Cooper, of Bridgeport; N. F. AL len, of Hartford: c. +. Barber, oS Der by; F. I. Atwater, of New Haven. and A. R. Jones, of Danbury.
 The resolution adopted at the meet ing is as follows:
 Resolved, That we, the board of di- rectors of the State Business Mems as- sociation, in special meeting assembled, disapprove the action of the New Eng land Insurance exchange in increasing the fire rates in certain sections of our state, considering them unjust and un- fair to the policyholders.
 Whereas, No apparent reason exists for such increase, therefore be it
 Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the president to fully in- vestigate-
 First-Reasons for such increase of fire insurance rates.
 Second-Whether said increase is caused by the conhagration in San Francisco.
 Third-If so what was the amount of the loss of the insurance companies on account of said contlagration in San Francisco, and how the same was dis- tributed among the different insurance companies.
 Fourth--Whether to provide for said loss the officers salaries and other ex- penses of the different companies have been reduced at the same time that the rates were increased.
 FifthIn what states the 80 per cent. clause in policies of fire insurance is operative.
 Sixth-Whether the New England h. surance exchange is a trust in violation of the laws of the United States, and, if so, what steps, if any, should be taken to prevent the combination of fire in surance companies in violation of the law.
 Seventh-Such other facts and tn- formation as may be pertinent to the above questions.
 And be it further resolved, That said committee is authorized to incur such expense as may be necessary to make such investigation in a complete man. ner.
 And be it further resolved, That a letter of inquiry, with a copy of these resolutions, be sent to the New England Insurance exchange by the committee appointed by the president, and that the secretary send copy to each local as- sociation, with the request that they be read in open meeting and published in the local papers.
 And be it further resolved, That said committee report as early as practicable to this board