The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-02

T AOHi liit Ildi tlOAo A1oiAf CphiehAs
 June 19.
 Reference was made yesterday morning to the teelgram sent by the Mayor of San Francisco and the governor of Cali fornia to the home offices of many fire insurance companies. The following is the full text of the message:
 The following statement is made to all home offices of insurance companies, not excepting those who are according fair treatment. The insurance condition here is intolerable, and we make our first appeal to the home offices. San Fran cisco has been a most profitable field for insurance companies. Our citizens have paid their premiums and now de- mand that their losses be paid. Every means have been taken by certain agents to wiring unfair settlements from striok- en people. They have refused the privi- lege of removing debris where there Is no salvage, in order to cperce settlements. In very few instances did the earthquake destroy a material part of any building, and these cases can be easily isolated, and should not preiudicially affect the rights of others and cause delay. Certain agents consider the companies hank ae- counts only and not our right, and are trying to force horizontal cuts, which our people will strenuously resist We have decided to organize such resistance in or der to save individuals from imposition. No doubt our people would accord a reas- onable time for companies to realize on assets If definite settlements are made. We appeal in our misfortune to your man. hood business integrity, and sense of justice to interpose your veto on the dis reputable tactics of certain agents who are irritating our people to the point of evaporation. In the name of the people of city and state. speedy celebration of policy and settlement is demanded. Please wire reply GEORGE PARDEE,
 Governor of California.
 EUGENE E. SCHMITz, Mayor of the City and County of San
 Francisco.
 The companies in this city received the dispatch and are taking individual action about it. President J. D, Browne of the Connecticut Fire sent his reply by tele- graph promptly yesterday announcing his intention to pay legitimate losses in full, but in dignified manner suggesting that a dlHerent SplTlI III SdH Y fIdHclScu HitShI facilitate settlements. The following is the text of his reply:
 President BroWne's Reply.
 Hartford, Conn, June IS, 1906. Hon. George c, Pardee, Governor Califor- mia, and Eugene p. Schmitz, Mayor Of the City and County of San Francis co, Cal
 Your telegram of the 18th instant is re- ceved The Connecticut Fire Insurance company at the outset instructed it's Pa cifc manager and adjusters to adjust all San Francisco fire losses in accordance with the terms of its policies as rapidly as possible. Our wish is to pay in full and at once all legitimate claims and we have been and are now directing our ef- forts to this end and shall continue to do so. We ask for no time forbearance and we deprecate the unavoidable delays in settlement We shall nterpose no tech nical obstacle to equitable adjustments and shall take no advantage of the mis fortunes of individual polcyholders to force them into unfair settlements. The reputation of this company through the country is too valuable an asset to be jeopardized by any different course.
 We are reluctant to believe that other insurance companies who like us are able to meet in full their contract obligations will fail to treat failry all claims which are fairly made. The character of the catastrophe has unfortunately involved questions as to liability under many pol icies and as to the extent of liability un- der many others. The destruction by earthquake is likely in many eases to be minimized for the purpose of eyag- gerating the fire losses. The obliteration of evidence Is likely to develop excessive and even fraudulent claims. In the ad- justment of losses there may be large opportunity for illegal collections from the insurance companies than for inn proper wthholdings from the insured.
 A disposition to recognize the difficult ties confronting the companies and to assist in determining the complicated questions of fact and law in place of the present spirit of hostility and denuncia- ton which appears to exist would in our judgment facilitate and hasten fair set tlement.
 If the state of California has deter mined to intervene in this matter, we respectfully urge that such intervention be directed toward a solution of the sit nation which shall be fair both to the policyholders and to the insurance com panies. Any effort to that end will com mand the hearty eo-operation of this company. J. D. BROWNE,
 President