The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-26
Convention of Fire Agents.

The National Association OF Local Fire
Underwriters has just concluded, at CHI
cago, one of the most successful meetings
ever held. There were upward of 500
members In attendance. representing
nearly every city and state In the United
| States. The resolutions adopted were
range OF subjects. Among the most I'M
portant were the "Cost OF Fire Insur-
ance." Qualifications for Agents and
| the appointment in the various cities
| throughout the country of FIRE coro-
ner" to probe into suspicious fires.
On the cost OF insurance, the resolu-
| tions had this TO say: THAT fire insur-
| ance costs more than is necessary is adj
| mitted. The reason is not generally well
| understood. Theories for its reduction
are not wanting, but the practical solu-
4 ton Of the problem bristleS with difficult
| ties. The greater part of the cost OF hre
| insurance is the losses. which could and
should be reduced one-haf. This would
lower the cost OF insurance at least so
| per cent. Such 4 reduction would not
| be a hardship TO any one. but a distinct
| benefit 10 all. Insurance companies. their
| local agents and other representatives
are doing. and will continue to do, more
than their share OF the work for the re
duction OF fire waste; The responsibility
sources OF the country rests upon the
| property owners and voters. The con
| servatioD OF the resources OF the country
represented by buildings. machinery and
| merchandise Is even OF greater import
ance than the protection OF our forests
| and mines. Good building codes and fire
| prevention statutes, coupled with fire
marshal laws, would substantially reduce
the fire waste. and VIC recommend 10 all
state associations the heartiest co-opcra-
| tion in efforts TO pass such legislation
The resolutions also refer In strong
| terms to another factor in tho cost of
| fire insurance. and that is. the payment
| Of so many dishonest losses, which. it is
! claimed. amount 10 fully 90 per cent of
! the losses paid. II is pointed out that
the defense of unjust claims by fire in
! claims themselves, even when tho com
panics win. When they lose. the COST is
double. The. public, ii is alleged, sides
| powerful is the injustice OF public senU-
ment in this matter. that should COM
pany contest every questionable claim II
| would soon nc out OF business.
a committee of fYo was appointed TO
prepare 4 standard of qualification for
| agents. which will be submitted TO the
insurance commissioners Of tho various
I states for their Information and guidance
| in issuing an agents license
| The newy-clected president * A. W.
IT, II. Putnam Of Boston. Mass. Buffalo
! of the 1911 convention.
Indiana Poisoning Case.
The coroner Of Montgomery county. In
| diana. haa decided that poison caused the
death OF Edward Johnson. who died III
| Newcastle last August, and nc recon-
| mendcd that steps be taken TO 9gcer
| tain if anyone ia guilty OF the crime
The body was eNhuned at the instisa-
| ton OF tho brothers CT deceased, Who
| suspected that Johnson was victim
or foul play The case is made inter-
cstius because OF sl2.5OO life insurance
| carried by the dead man, Sll .000 OF
| which was taken out in February last.
| The money vas made payable 10 Eta
| Young Johnson, wife Of the victim. The
| evidence disclosed that Mrs Johnson
| and a man named Clarence Porter lad
| kept up correspondence such as 10
indicate them IN wrong doins.
Utah Man Elected Vice-President.
| W. II. Cunningham. general manager
Of the Continental Life and Investment
president of the American Lilo assocIa-
| ton. which has lust concluded It's nth
annual convention OF Des Moines. Iowa.
No less than si%ty-four companies wcrc
| company officials The biggest move
| made at this years convention was
voiced In the resolutions approving the
| movement for a national bureau of
health ard for a uniform taxation re-
| guiyemert in all the states.
Row In Fraternal Union.
q. r. Rice. n delegate from Texas at
| The fourth quadreDnial session of the
! supreme lodge OF The Frstsrual Union
| OF America. held in Denver recently.
made charges OF the misrepresentation of
| funds by officials OF the order Rice
| claimed that more than $4,000 had been
| W1tnOr&Wn 1Tcnt ltls fe3cGFc lUnu 10
pay death claims. This, he said, had
| been going on since 1906. and that when
| the first item OF $4,000 was thus trans-
| terrcd from the. reserve to the mortality
| fund the president of the order. +, +.
| Roose promised that 1t would soon he
returned. Instead however. OF any oil
| that amount being put back the Off
cials Rice alleged have been forced TO
| stlll further depete the reserve. until
| more than $4,000. that formerly stood
! for surplus. has been paid out In death
| losses He challenged the officials to
| submit TO having the books examined
| That Rlce's challenge was not altogether
unlocked for was 6howu by what after
| wards tran9pired, Special Examiner
| Craft OF i,e Colorado Insurance depart
| mcnt almost Immediately appeared be-
| fore the delegates assembled and as