The San Francisco call., 1906-05-26
REMOVAL
Of DEBRIS
MAY BEGIN
Where There Can Be No
Salvage, Permission
Is Granted.
Policy Allows Privilege
Says the Insurance
Attorney.
Companies TO Be Urged TO
Extend the Time for
Giving Notice.


OAKLAND, May 25.-Instructions were
given Attorney T. C. Coogan of the Fire
Underwriters Adjusting Bureau by that
body at its session held in Reed Hall to-
day to prepare notice to San Francisco
policy holders who sustained fire losses
that they are entitled under the terms of
l.. cir policies to remove the debris from
their premises in all instances where
nothing remains that might be salvaged.
such as walls and other portions of DAM
aged buildings. The form of this general
permit is to be submitted to the compa-
MES for their approval. Attorney Coogan
was also instructed to prepare an agree
ment to be submitted to the home offices
providing that they extend the time of
filing proofs of losses until August 49,
The Board oil Underwriters of the Pa
cific, which organization fixes the insur-
ance rates for the States of California
Oregon. Nevada, Montana, Idaho and
Utah and the Territories of Alaska and
Arizona, has decided to increase the rates
and the 5000 insurance agents of the board
companies in California will be notified OF
the raise. Notice will be given to the
agents in the other States and Territories
from the branch offices of the board of
underwriters in those several common
wealths.
The rules existing before the catastro-
phe of April Is, under which a board
company was allowed permission in GER
tain cases to meet the cut rate made by
non-board company, have been abro-
gated, and no board company will until
further notice be permitted to vary from
the rates to be fixed by the board of un-
derwriters
The matter of fixing increased and spe-
cial rates for San Francisco has been dis
cussed by the board of underwriters but
thus far no schedule has been adopted.
Some members of the organization IA
vored the fixing of different rates for the
burned and unburned area, while others
believe that fiat rate should be put into
effect The question of the San Francisco
rates is to be taken UP again by the board
of underwriters. The insurance men saw
that the crippled condition of the San
Francisco Fire Department and the i'm
pairment of the water plant there makes
the hazard against fire greater and justi-
fies them in raising the rates on new poll
cies.
Owing to the compIexity of the non
waiver clause recently adopted by the
Fire Underwriters Adjusting Bureau, the
form has been abolished and the follow
ing shorter and simpler stipulation has
been adopted and substituted
1T is claimed by the undersigned policy
holder that he sustained loss and dam
age by the catastrophe which occurred in
San Francisco, Cal, on or about the 18th
of April. 1906.
ut is hereby stipulated and agreed be-
tween the said policy holder and the un-
dersigned companies that said insurance
companies shall cause adjusters of losses
to proceed to investigate and ascertain
the. amount of the sound value and loss
and damage, If any, sustained by the said
claimant, and that this stipulation and
such investigation and ascertainment is.
and shall be, without any reference what
ever to the question of the insurance com
panies' liability. and shall not be con-
strued as an admission of any liability
whatever, or as a waiver of any pro-
vision Of any policy or of any right or ex-
emption under the same, or a waiver of
any other right by the claimant or by
any of said companies
Up to date none Of the big losses in
which six or more companies were inter
ested and which losses were taken up bv
the general adjusting committee of fhe
Fire Underwriters Adjusting Bureau
has been paid. The managers say that
the reason why payment has not been
made yet on such claims is because of the
amount of work that has devolved unon
the companies in adjusting the losses and
in reaching an agreement among them
selves. The reinsuring that is being done