Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-30
MAY SHELvE FIRE
BOND ISSUE NOW
COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE
WILL DECIDE
Commissioners Suggest That Insur-
ance Companies First Cut Pre-
niums and Establish SAL
wage Corps Here

Question of the issue of $350,000 of
fire bonds being before the city coun-
Gil, the board of fire commissioners
submitted its conclusions and advice
for the purpose of assisting and en-
tightening the lawmakers.
No doubt exists in the commission
ers' minds as to the immediate and ad-
ditional need for new engine houses and
apparatus to equip the Los Angeles
department more fully for the better
protection of life and property. The
commissioners agree upon the urgent
necessity of meeting the needs of the
different sections which especially dur
ing the last two or three years have
developed an absolute need for fire pro-
lection. But the means as suggested
are not deemed the wisest.
The necessary data has been fur
nished the council and this leaves only
the method of raising and providing
the ways and means to accomplish the
improvements desired to be settled.
Might Be Voted Down
1t is apparent to the board of fire
commissioners that the submission of
an issue of $350000 of fire bonds at
this time is hazardous and would very
likely be defeated. The commissioners
have endeavored to sound public opin-
have found a strong objection to the
bonds now, they say.
AS near as they are able to aScer-
tain Los Angeles pays to the fire in
surance trust $2,000,000 annually. The
annual losses from fire have averaged
100000
Insurance premiums Ire probably
as high and, as far as we know, higher
than in any city in the United States,
says the report.
"The average, business man contrib
utes many more times to this iniquitous
and high insurance tax than he pays
to city, county and state taxes, yet we
hear but little complaint from the suf-
fering public 1t would be indeed wise
on the part of the insurance companies
to reduce the insurance rate and the
people would be willing to vote bonds
to give the insurance companies as well
as the general public additional safe
guards required.
Would Use Current Funds
"a reduction of 10 per cent in the
premiums would result in an annual
saving to our citizens of about $4,000
and upon such a basis anu promise the
public would be willing to concede a
like sum or greater sum for the i'm
provementS desired.
"But as long as the insurance trust
retains it's unjust and burdensome
grip on our fair city the temper of
the people will remain Indifferent to
fire bonds.
1.-The people have not yet forgotten
and will probably not forget for many
years the welching and unfair insur-
ance companies which defrauded the
poor and suffering citizens of our sister
city of San Francisco in the days OF
their misfortune after the great fire
of 1906; and we hesitate in common
with our citizens to surrender to the
demands of the board of fire under
writers to make certain improvements
without obtaining and securing the
necessary reductions of insurance rates.
1--WE shall not, however, regard this
as an impediment to the cries and de-
mands of the citizens who need and
want protection irrespective OF insur-
ance companies and their injustice.
I'VE therefore ask the council to join
18th us in a request to the fire under
writer's to change or promise to change
and reduce at the earliest opportunity
the present high and apparently exor-
bitant insurance rate.
"In the meantime we believe that
the most necessary improvements in
the department can be met by a rea-
sonable allowance from the present
funds delivered from the ordinary reve-
nues of Los Angeles.
"Chief Walter Lips, who must be
credited with being posted and in
formed as to the needs of the depart
ment, agrees with us and believes that
an appropriation of $150000 out of the
current funds will suffice for the pres
ent."
Want Salvage Corps
The commissioners report was re-
ferred by the council to it's finance CON-
mittee, whose chairman, A. J. Wallace
last Monday spoke strongly against a
fire bond issue.
The fire commissioners are also urg-
ing the establishment of a salvage
corps by the united companies. The
commissioners report says:
1--WE recommend that the board OF
underwriters composing all the insur-
ance companies doing business on the
Pacific coast be requested to establish
the underwriters patrol in Los Angeles
to show the people that they are will
ing to spend some of their tremendous
earnings to aid the city fire department
to save life and property.
1--WE found no city in the United
States of our size which has not such
underwriters patrol maintained solely
at the expense of the insurance COM
panies."