The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-09
INSURANCE MEN
HAVE ADJOURNED
Association VIII Meet Next
Year in Montgomery
BIG BANQUET, LAST NIGH 7
Officers for the Ensuing Year Were
Elected-severaI Interesting Ad-
dresses Made and Dis
cusslons Followed.


President r. II. Mabry of Selma.
Vice president. Henry B. Scott of New
Decatur.
Secretary and treasurer, E. S. Moore.
Birmingham.
Executive committee, R. F. Manly, j. e.
Davidson. D. L. Batre, s. L. Crook and
W. F. Fits.
After the business meeting the delegates
were taken for a ride of two or three
hours over the business and residence
sections of Birmingham, and to several
Of the suburbs.
In the afternoon at o'clock the dele
gates made a test of the fire department,
and the results were declared most salts
factory. The officers of the association
expressed themselves as we'll pleased with
what they had seem of the department
and the promptness with which the alarm
was answered
At the business meeting yesterday MORN
ing a telegram was read from r. II.
Mabry of Selma, who was to speak on
obligations of Agents to Our Custom
ers," stating that he was sick and un-
able to attend the meeting.
Georgia Resolution.
communication was received from the
Georgia Local Underwriters association.
stating that an enclosed resolution had
been passed by that body and urging It's
passage by the Alabama underwriters.
The resolution was to the effect that
it was the sense of the southern local
agents that they should be paid the same
commissions that were paid in other parts
of the country. 1t was referred to the
incoming executive committee on motion
of Mr.. Manly.
The following report of the committee
on the presidents address was adopted:
I'VE. the committee appointed to re-
port on the presidents address, would
respectfully submit that we have ex-
amined carefully each suggestion con-
tanned therein and find that the ground
has been fully covered and we heartily
recommend the adoption of the address
as whole, but especially call attention
to that part of same as to commissions,
legislation, cotton insurance, and the duty
of agents to their companies at this crit
ical period. and that the secretary be
| requested to spread it upon the minutes
and that 1t be printed and a copy sent to
each agent In this state, and to the COM
panies represented in this territory Re-
spectfully submitted, W. 7. BELTS.
! Chairman"
The report Of the committee on sec
retary- treasurers report as follows, was
| adopted:
your committee. appointed to CON-
slider the report of the secretary-treas-
urer would recommend:
THAT said report be approved and pub
lished in our minutes.
THAT the thanks of this body be ex-
tended to our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for the
most faithful and efficient performance
of duty amid surroundings of the most
trying and distressing domestic afflicton,
and that we tender our sincere sympathy
and coincidence In the bereavement that
has befallen him.
"HENRY B. SCOTT,
"R. F. MANLY.
wv. r. MORRILL,"
George T. Sage of Mobile spoke on
Ethics of the Fire Insurance Business"
saying
"Gentlemen:-The Ethics of Fire In
surance Business is the topic given us
for our consideration at this time. 1t is
theme that I must confess I am at
loss to know how to treat as its import
ance demands. We find, however, that in
most of the organizations composed of
professional men a code of ethics ex-
lists. Why then should we not endeavor
regulations as will place our business
on a high and honorable foundation?
Many of us have seen the good results
from the adoption of such rules and
regulations in our local boards; such has
been our experience with the Mobile
Board of Fire Underwriters, which adopt
ed such laws on August q 1892, which
were approved by the Southeastern Tarin
association on the 18th of the same month.
A copy of said laws ! have here which
can be Incorporated in this paper If de-
sired for the information of the men,
hers Fourteen years have elapsed since
thew were adopted and during this time
only two differences have arisen that
needed consideration, and they were
ouicl<ly settled all of which we attribute
IN the laws of ethics under which our
board was operating. When l look into
tbe faces of the intelligent business men
here assembled from all parts OF our
state, I feel that / can truthfully say,
they are here to plan for the best IN
terests of our organization, thereby pro-
noting their own interests and the IN
terests of the companies they represent.
I trust that those who follow In this
discussion may present this matter in
such strong terms that 1t will take the
shape and bear fruit for the benefit of
the association
Mr. Strauss offered the following mo-
ton, which was adopted:
'Resolved. That the fire insurance COM
panies and their special agents doing bus
mess in this state are respectfully urged
that before appointing new agents that
such appointees should be required to
he a member of the Alabama Fire I'm
derwriters' association"
Duty Of Agents.
Henry B. Scott of Decatur spoke on the
duties of the agents to the companies
under the general head Of DUTY and OBJ
LEGATION of Agents in the Present Crisis
of the Fire Insurance, Business" He
said:
THE duty and obligation of the agents
TO their companies in the present crisis
can be expressed in four words: Boost,
but don't knock
1.-THE duty of the hour is to restore pub
lie confidence Confidence is the founda-
ton upon which our business rests. and
the basis upon which the business of the
world revolves. Destroy It and there Is
nothing left.
'The question: therefore, that confronts
us is not whether we should or should
not put our shoulders to the Wheel but
a case of whether or not we will.
THE company without the confidence
and cooperation of its agents in times
of confagration is like a man who has
burned out without insurance. But with
the enthusiastic support of the agents
the company will soon rebuild. better,
l. 11f-