El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-21

FL Paso was to be second TO none in the
fire loss ratio, yet he failed to state %
the men present whose very business
existence depends upon the reduction
of the excessive rates, how the rates
were fair and why they had been in
creased when there had been no in
crease in the hazard and that the haz-
ards were daily being decreased. The
key rate was analysed again and 1T was
shown how that the mesa pumping sta
ton might be made fireprOof and there
by reduce the key rate, the exposure
charge and other charges.
But with that all done, w. E. Ander-
sons question continued to bob up as
to how that would Justify the fact that
Ell PasO's rates would even then be
higher than ever and no hope of relief
until every fire risk, not absolutely
fireproof in construction, should be torn
down and fireproof buildings erected in
their places.
The state rating board representa-
tive asked for the cooperation Of the
citizens of each city In getting before
the board all data possible. Yet the best
he could promise was that such data
would be placed before the board at
some future time and that there was
no immediate hope, aside from that
fiImy one offered by the reduction OF
the DOOR abused key rate and the elm
ination of all hazards from the build
ings. thereby making the insurance COM
panv's risks correspondingly small.
while the policy holder pays the
freight. and increased freight at that
Says El<PaSo Is Peculiar.
Mr. Wright said that although Ell
Paso is peculiarly situated. there are
peculiar situations in other cities and
it was not possible under the law for
the board to discriminate so far as TO
Of of
the peculiar. conditions which happen TO
be highly conducive TO low fire loss
The law plainly says that no rates shall
be unreasonable. yet when 1t was ar
gued during the meeting that 81 Paso's
rate would be unreasonable the repre-
sentative of the board cited the no dis
elimination clause, behind which many
things are done.
In discussing remedies the much
abused pumping plant on the mesa was
torn down and rebuilt again by the
meeting, thereby saving the citizens
$4,000 per month: and the merchants
we're urged TO reduce their risks.
Yet when the meeting adjourned.
nothing had been accomplished, nothing
learned more than was already known,
and the realization was strong in the
minds of those not actively engaged In
the business that the insurance COM
hair was short and were in position to
get every cent the traffic would stand
Hudspeth Wires.
A message has been received from
senator Claude Hudspeth who is at Aus
tin in the interest of the FL Paso mer-
chants who are trying to reduce the fire
insurance rates, asking that the cham
Der of commerce and the Merchants
league wire the actuary's office in
Dallas in an effort to have the city re-
inspected in order to get a reduction
of the rates. This has been taken up by
the chamber of commerce Insurance
committee and also by the Retail Mer-
chants league and an urgent request
will be made TO the acruary Roulet TO
have such a reinspection made at once
In the meantime pressure is being
brought TO bear upon Mr. Wright, the
member of the fire rating board who
is here, to have the payment Of the adj
dltionaI premiums resulting from the
new rates, deferred until such a rein
spection can. be made.