Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-19
MONEY In DRIBS
Policy of Nanana Adopted by San Francisco
Fire AdjuSters.
MOST COMPANIES BALK ON PAYMENT
Progress of the UpbuiIding of the
City-Character of the Buildings
Going Up-HiEh Wages for
All Classes of workmen.

The aght for and against the payment Of
fire insurance losses in San Francisco is
growing in intensity and promises long
drawn out litigation. Suits have been
started for the purpose Of testing the
validity of the earthquake clause in GER
tain policies. Several foreign companies
have taken shelter under the earthquake
clause, practically repudiating all fire
| losses. Against some of these proceedings
| have been instituted in the federal courts
| of New York, attaching such property as
| they possess in this country.
| The evident policy of the companies
| seeking to compromise or scale their losses
is to force settlement of claims by delay.
| This fact was developed by questions put
| by the San Francisco grand jury to agents
and adjusters. Agents admitted having
| orders to settle from 80 to rs per cent of
| policies. When policy holders demand the
| face Of their policies they are referred to
| the adjusters. who conveniently put them
off on various pretexts. Two adjusters
| have been passed up to the courts for con-
| tempt in refusing to answer pertinent
questions put by the grand Jurors.
The character of the quibblng adopted
| by adjusters is thus explained by the
payment will not be made because the
buildings were in one or another of what
they call 'the earthquake belt" although
| they have no definite information that the
particular buildings described in these
policies were even injured by the earth
quake and although affidavits by RESPONSE
BILE citizens that there was no earthquake
damage to them beyond the falling of
chimneys are presented.
In some instances earthquake damage
is admitted the extent of It being so
limited as not to affect the insurance,
however. but the companys representa-
tives will not even deny liability in such
cases, 50 as to give the insured the right
to sue, but they put off action on the loss
until some indefinite time in the future.
Claims Paid.
About $500OO,eOO have been paid to San
Francisco policy holders to date by fire
insurance companies. The larger part Of
this sum has gone to wholesale merchants,
downtown retail business men and CAPT.
talists who filed early proofs of loss and
whose claims were easily adjusted. A large
increase In payments is expected by Sep |
tember l. the additional sixty days grace
given the companies on account of the ex-
tension of time for the filing of proofs of
loss expiring on August Is. With the in
crease in payments is expected a corre-
spending increase in the number of new |
buildings to be erected.
The American and English companies |
have paid almost all of the s5O.OoO.oOo which |
San Francisco has received, the German |
and other foreign insurance companies |
having found. for the most part, temporary |
protection from liability behind earthquake |
and other finely written clauses on the |
back of their policies.
The Liverpool and London and Globe |
leads the dollar" companies with s2t5Oo.ooo |
paid up on August l. The Aetna has /
turned over $4,000 to Its policy holders, |
the Royal s210o.OOo. while the Continental, |
Home of New York. North British. Phenix, |
Hartford, Springfield and Royal Exchange |
have all passed the 100000 mark.
This total payment of s50,00o0O0 Is about |
20 cents for every dollar OF insurance San |
Francisco carried on its burned section. |
The official figures show that the entire
amount of insurance was s222 S36, 3O7. It is |
estimated that the increased payments
made during this month will bring the
total to about rs :: 30 cents on the dollar.
Progress of Rebuilding.
As an indication Of what San Francisco
is doing in the way of rebuilding, a meet
ing held at the assembly hall Of the Cali
fornia building Thursday afternoon was |
extremely significant. When the California |
promotion committee erected the California |
building no work was being done anywhere |
in the vicinity of Union square with the
exception OF the St. Francis hotel Within |
the six weeks which have elapsed a mar
velous change has come to this nelghbor-
hood and twenty-three new buildings are
under way within three blocks of the
square, the estimated cost Of which will
reach nearly 100000. This does not In
ciude the st. Francis hotel, the reconstruct
ton Of which is estimated at about mill
lion more.
The Union Square Property Owners as
ISOLATION held a meeting to take such steps
as might be deemed necessary for the
proper protection OF their interests, and at
this meeting II developed that the twenty
three buildings mentioned were already
under way. The buildings now being
erected in this district are the Starr King
building, eight stories st. Paul building.
eight stories sontagg building six
stories; whittell building, sixteen
stories; Colnan building. six stories:
Waterman building. six stories; But
Ter estate building. ten stories; Scott and
Van Arsdale building. twelve stories; Bur
bank building. seven stories; Green build
ing. six stories; sohroth building. twelve
stories; Byron Mauzy building. six stories;
Deming building six stories; Parrott es-
tate building, eight stories; Hopkins build
Ing. six stories; Gunst building. six stories;