Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-27
Councilman Martin Affects to Be-
lieve That Insurance Men and
"Mormons' Have Consplred.
BUSINESS PAYS THE FREIGHT
And american Persundcrs Are Per-
fcctly Willing That in the Matter
OF Fire Risks Il should Continue.

Because the business men Of Salt
Lake are required to pay maximum in
surance rates for risks that an efll-
Client fire department would cause to
be reduced 90 minimum, there is now
a decided pressure upon Mayor John
S. Bransford TO secure reorganization
of the fire department,
Because the business men have been
able to learn the reasons that risks
once figured low are now figured high,
insurance officials who frankly in
formed the business men OF the facts on
which their change in attitude was
based are now exposed to the bullying
club OF the American persuader or
gan.
The situation today brings up the
question of whether Salt Lakes bust
ness men would prefer to being charged
the large insurance rates without
knowledge of why they were charged,
or would prefer to know the facts
frankly. so that their subsequent ac-
ton could be based on proper lnforma-
ton. II they prefer the latter then,
the question is prominently to the fore,
as TO how they regard the cold blooded
attempt to bully the insurance men
who have spoken, back into the ready
refuge of silence.
REFUGE IN SILENCE.
Such is the refuge which business
interests usually seek, and in this case
the insurance men could much more
easily have gone ahead charging large
rates for the risk from u spreading
fire. as formerly they charged very
small rates for such risks, than TO
have spoken out frankly in a case
which did not concern them, but only
the business men whom they had the
power 10 charge large OF charge small.
FPOM FALLACY TO FALLACY.
The bullying tactics of the persuader
organ, show one more advance in it's
headlong course from fallacy to fallacy
In the present cases. Jumping to the
defense of the fire chief before any
attack was openly made, they revealed
the fact that they were trying to raise
tho dust of "A case against the Nor
mons for demanding the removal of
Chief Vail, whereas the most active
person in this movement was Mayor
Bransford himself Beaten, in this
attempt, the frantic charge issued that
the insurance trust was seeking the
overthrow Of the fire chief. A man
writing insurance and not connected
with the board of underwriters
came forward To state that the charges
We're ridiculous, and named an inn
pnrtant fire, other than the Redman
fire where incompetency was displayed
this fire having a direct influence in his
own estimate or probable risks.
vicious assault upon this fire in
suranoe writer was the retort from til,
organ. 10 which the competence or i'm.
competence of the official in question
Na4tl~ Al III.
came Forward citizens not connected
with the insurance business at all. tell
ing the story Of yet another fire where
no competence whatever was shown
The net result is a bringing of the con-
trOversy down To where it actually be-
longs. and whore it win ultimately be
fought out-a straight contest between
the business interests OF the city, who
pay the freight, and the city adminis-
tlation which ~ willing to let them pay
ii, a more one sided contest Is that
now waging between the unofficial pow
trlS of the persuader ring and those
whom they have allowed to hold office
REoRGANIzE OR PAY.
Every citizen of Salt Lake who in
sures a building knows that he secures
u rate into which the prestige aud re-
puted ability OF the fire department en-
ness men know that whether the fire
department Is good or bad, the lnsur-
ance man cares but Indirectly, since he
can charge in proportion to his faith in
It, but whether II is good enough to
get him "a minimum rate, Is question
affecting the business man so clearly
that II Is surprising that an effort
even should be made to cloud the issue
with the big bulley tactics now being
used.
PROBABLY WILL LOSE.
How far they win be successful, tha
events of the next few weeks will
demonstrate The fact Is we'll under
stood by this time that the Insurance
lnen are making absolutely no fight tc
change conditions i'm tho fire depart.
nlent. phoy have openly stated that
they have accepted Vain as inevitable
aud are flSuring risks. and what is NOR,
important, are figuring tho coming re-
ductlon in general rates. with Val
counted in, That alleged Mormon
politicians or amy other group 81
Mormons are interesting themselves tC
reorsanizo the department Is a charg,
80 ridiculous that tho persuadcr organ
itself abandoned 1t after once made
Either 40 effort Is ON the boards, or tn,
business intercsts for their own protec
ton are making II or viii make 1t, will
the Information which has BEEN place.
No a Ia.