The San Francisco call., 1906-05-31
PREPARES Loss
BLANK FOR USE
Association Comes to the
Assistance of the
Claimants.
Ten Thousand Copies of
the Needed Papers
Are Printed.

The Merchants Association, through
its attorneys, has prepared blank
form of loss TO be filed with FIRE under
writers by policy-holders included in
and outside Of the membership of the
association. Ten thousand copies of
the blank have been printed. The form
was prepared with great care. that it
might meet all requirements of all
forms Of policies in use generally.
The association has also prepared a
circular letter TO send out with the
blank form copies. containing exact
instructions. Until June the blanks
VIII be distributed only 20 members Of
the association in order that all mem
bers may have opportunity to use them,
Application should be made at 1Io5
Cough street After June the blanks
and letter of instruction Will be fur
nished free to any policy holder, re-
gardless Of membership in the associa-
ton
This move is calculated to be of large
assistance TO many who lost in the
April fires. In part the letter of in
strucCion. which is applicab bic in every
case, is as follows:
The first and most important thing 70 i'm
press upon policy-hOlders is that under every
Insurance policy il is the duty Of the insured
10 give the company immediate notice after a
Ere has occurred that tie property insured has
been DESTROYED OF damaged by the FIRE. This
is the FIRST step 70 be taken
Of loss. signed by the insured and sworn to by
him before notary public. which proof of loss
must be given the mpsny within sixty days
after the Ere The failure Of the insured Ia
take either Of these steps within the time
prescribed releases the insurance company ef all
liability on the policy. and the ignorance OF
the insured Of the necessity for taking these
steps does not keep alive the liability Of the
insurance company.
OF loss. the insured must bear in mind that the
usual policy provides that notice Of loss and
proof OF loss must be given 10 the company
Some policies provide for the giving of these
Francisco. but most provide that they be sent
70 me company. In the case of general agents
who have broad powers q notice Of loss OF
proof Of loss given 10 such agent is SUFFICIENT
general agent Of bis company has such broad
authority the only safe course 10 adopt IS tc
give norice Of loss 70 the general agent of tbs
company at San Francisco. and also mail
notice Of loss 70 the company at Its home
0f6ce.
Proofs Of loss should he signed and sworn tc
before = notary public in duplicate, one being
given the general agent Of the company AZ SaI
Francisco and the other being ma8led 70 thf
COMPANY a. irs home once. Any mailed letter
should be registered. and registry receipt care
fully preserved. Proofs of ioSs should be mailed
early enough insure their arrival and deiiv
c-v ~ the home Office Of the comrany wjthir
sixty days after the IRE Mailing within sixty
DAYS is not sufficient. The letter mnst be re
ceived within sixty days
All proofs II loss must be signed and sworT
O. by the insured before notary public, and
he must non attempt 70 authorize any othel
person 20 sign snd swear 70 such proof of lost
Tor bin. As "a general rule proofs of loss signed
or suorn u hy snv other than the insured
arp. Of no valu In estimating values. 40 nO
place them higher than Is right or reasonable
liberate uisrepresentstion renders the polio!
void.