The San Francisco call., 1906-05-25
NOTICES
TO Be IN
JUNE I
Wolf Again Warns Policy
Holders to File
Claims.
Will Attempt to Get an
Extension From the
Companies.


Insurance Commissioner Wolf
wishes holders of insurance policies
to understand clearly that it is neces-
sary that they make proof of loss be-
fore June II. On that date the sixty
days provided for in the policies for
making claims for loss expires.
Il wish to say also" said Commits
sloner Wolf yesterday, that the filing
OF proof of loss must be done care
fully, as the matter. is somewhat in
trlcate. Claimants must swear to
their statements before notary pub
lie. Care must be taken to provide
that true valuation is placed upon
everything that was burned. The
underwritten must be as fair as he
expects the underwater TO be-"
The Insurance Commissioner will
try to induce all the companies repre-
sented by policies in the late fire to
extend the time for making proof of
loss to 80 days, but this does not les
sen the necessity that each policy
holder shall offer proof before June
II, to avoid any adverse claim that
technicalities have not been observed.
To facilitate the filing of loss claims
commissioner Wolf has asked the
State printer to print and deliver, as
soon as possible, $4,000 blanks. This
application may be denied because
there are no funds available with
which TO pay Immediately owing to
the smallness of the appropriation for
the Insurance Commissioners bureau,
but some way may be devised to meet
the emergency speedily.
The insurance committee of the gen.
eral committee of forty met yesterday
morning in closed executive session at
Century Hall. recommendations of a
sweeping nature were adopted and
opinions given in regard to the pay
ment by the insurance companies on
property damaged by earthquake or
destroyed by dynamite. The report,
as handed out by the committee fol-
lows:
We are advised that some of the in
surance companies are doing what is fair
and intend to adjust losses speedily and
to surmount the conditions, so that we
can with any degree of certainty report
as to what they will or will not do Still
others, either through choice or the ex-
lgencies OF the situation, are following a
policy of deception and evasion that is
both annoying and suspicious.
We are of the opinion that the defenses
based upon the earthquake clauses and
If any part of the building fall' and
dynamite use will in general be of no
advise against any deduction being made
by the insured. based upon an argument
OF that kind alone.
We advise that all insured should at
once serve two written papers upon the
insurance companies-one designated as
a notice and simply stating that they
suffered damage at a certain place on a
stated date and that they were insured !;
the second. a more formal document
designated a proof of loss and notifying
the company of the amount of loss and
the character of the property damaged
and where and when. The proof of loss
should be sworn to before notary public.
Both of these papers should be served
forthwith and positively before June TO-,
1906
OF the many suggestions made there
are only two which we think the COM
mittee of forty should consider. One to
employ a force of clerks superintended by
a skilled insurance man to inspect and
supervise proofs of loss for the insured
who have losses and do not know what
to do and who will assist in enforcing
the collection of the demands.
Second, to organize a corporation and
charge policyholders a fixed percentage
for taking charge of and attempting to
collect the face of the policies, the profit,
If any, to be paid into the relief fund.
Both of these proposals involve respon
sibilities and obligations which the COM
mittee of forty should discuss and de-
termine. Respectfully,
A RUFF Chairman