The San Francisco call., 1906-05-10
Companies Interested in
Future Welfare OF
San Francisco.
Not DiSp Sed to Assert
Any Advantage in
Situation.

broad minded policy as to adjustment
Of earthquake damages and similar
attitude toward the owners of dyna-
nlited properties are promised by the
representatives of the insurance COM
panies that were hit so hard when San
Francisco was laid in ashes. These
promises have been made direct to the
reconstruction committee Dy the IN
derwriters and are contained in a re-
port read to the reconstruction COM
mittee by William H. Metson, chair
man of the subcommittee on recon-
struction, at yesterdays meeting in
Century Hall. The report follows:
The insurance committee of the re-
construction committee met at Hamil-
ton Grammar School, San Francisco,
on Tuesday, May s, at 2 p. m. There
were present w. H Metson CHAIR
MANI, W. T. Hsrrin, James D. Phelan
and A. Ruef, members Of the commit
tee, and the following gentlemen in
response to invitation sent to the Fire
Adjusting Bureau: George w. Spencer,
representing the Aetna Company; Mr..
Palache of the Hartford and the Citi-
zens' Insurance Company of st. Louis.
Mr. Lowden Of the Norwich Union and
Indemnity, and Mr.. living Of the Phoe-
nix, London; also E. Myron Wolf. In
surace Commissioner.
Mr.. Metson called the meeting to or
der Mr.. Spencer stated:
In response TO your request to
meet your committee, I will say this
for publication: That there has been
no disposition on the part of the insur-
ance companies to delay matters par
ticle or to leave any questions of ln-
certainty in the minds Of the people.
The first thing for the people of San
Francisco to do is to file notices of
panies. They will be tabulated AMI
each company respectively will take
care of them.
RECORDS DESTROYED.
Many of our records are entirely
destroxed; others are in vaults,
whether intac. or not we cannot tell
until we open the vaults. Every COM
pany will require a good deal of space
to take care Of current business AMI
also to take care of the disbursement
of the large sum of money they are
called upon to pay.
at, is the disposition of the insur-
ance companies to adjust and pay
these losses as promptly as possible.
AS to the question of liability, there
has been nothing decided as yet. The
companies have formulated no rule as
yet as to their liability, but it is pref
ty generally known, and, I think, be-
lieved. that any loss by earthquake
purely and simply, where no fire en-
sued, is not a fire liability under any
fire policy. That, I think, may be ac-
cepted. Any other questions of liabili-
ty that come UP will have to be met
in time.
''The companies are preparing to
adjust their losses, and as soon as they
get their records they will get them In
order and each company will take up
its claims as rapidly as possible and
adjust them and pay them.
Regarding the statements in the
newspapers as to what the insurance
companies have decided to do, there is
not one of them authorized. so fartas
we know. On the question as to
whether building was dynamited or
not, there has been no action taken.
AS to paying percentage of their
losses, there has been no action of that
sort taken or even broached. If there
are any other questions. we would like
you to ask them fairly and fully. We
want to assure the people of San
~
are getting ready to disburse a sum Of
$150,000 or 5000 ,OOC,0 900 to be used in the
rebuilding of San Francisco"
SALVAGE is URGED.
Mr.. Palache explained that there is
a general adjustment committee ap-
pointed by this bureau and a commit
tee Of fifteen, to whom will be re-
ferred all losses involving more than
six companies, to facilitate matters
and bring about cooperation on the
part of the companies and bring the
insured in touch with the companies
against whom they have claims; that
on losses involving six companies it
will be left to the individual action OF
the companies.
Mr.. Spencer aaid that arrangements
had been made, he thought definitely,
for the north end of the Ferry building
to be used as an adjusting bureau.
1t was stated that ordinarily there
is a copy of oil policies issued at the
head offices of the companies, but this
is not invariably the rule. The ma
jority of the companies in San Fran
cisco have their records.
In regard to salvage, permission will
be granted upon application to people
to save their property without involv-
ing any question as to liability. With
regard to removal of debris, Mr.. Spen-
Ger stated that this associations has no