The San Francisco call., 1906-06-22
THE INSURANCE SITUATION.

Last week the insurance committee of the COM
nittee OF forty telegram the home offices
OF the various insurance companies doing business
IN California, demanding that they cease quibbng
and that some definite policy of settlement be an
nounced Answers to the committees inquiry are
now being received by Governor Pardee and
Mayor Schmitz While some OF these answers are
more or less satisfactory it be confessed that
many are not. For ambiguity and double mean
ing not few of them would do credit to an oracle
of old.
The promise that a satisfactory settlement will
be made. that our losses will receive prompt at
teition and the like, without specification of time
or place or manner of settlement leaves the policy
holder as little informed as to what the companies
are to do as ever. This was not the purpose of
the committees inquiry What the people of San
Francisco want Is some definite statement of what
they can expect; when their losses are to be ad-
justed; what basis they are to be paid how
long they must wait for their money. The nsur-
ance companies are not expected to do the impos-
sible-SI75. 100000 and upward in cash is not to
be raised in day, and reasonable claimants recog-
nize it-but the companies are expected to an
nounce some definite plan OF settlement; in other
words to meet business proposition frankly and
in a business way.
The tendency on the part of some of the COM
panies to complain OF what they call the "m-
patience OF the pOlCV-hOlderS Is scarcely uStlhed
The policy-holders want TO get back to normal
conditions; they want to resume business; to be-
come once more producers; they cannot afford to
continue for long mere consumers. They find
themselves waiting on the insurance companies
until days have heightened into weeks and the
weeks are fast running into months. Because of in
surance complications they have even been delayed
in the work OF clearing the debris from their lots
Until the insurance matter is settled, one way or
the other. the companies announce definite
policy, thousands are unable to say what their
future plans will be. Their impatience is not ex-
traordinary nor is it a bit unreasonable.
Two months ago yesterday the fire was under CON
troll; two months ago today it was out. While some
losses have been adjusted and some paid and not
a few companies have come TO the fore with def
mite statements OF policy must be confessed that
materially. By and large. the insured are as much
III doubt as to what they may expect as ever.
1t IS reasonable to ask of the insurance COM.
panies as a whole that this doubt be removed No
responsible person asks that they pay dishonest
claims, that they submit to-inequitable adjust
ment But they have sold fire insurance in this COM
munity, a reasonable time for delivery has passed
# they cannot deliver Immediately let them state
definitely when they deliver. If they can de
liver only in part let them state what percentage
OF just claims against them it is within their re-
sources TO meet, and what their stockholders are
prepared TO do about making up the balance. In
a word, let them give definite assurance TO the
people of San Francisco OF what is to be expected