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

Has Ell Paso any remedy against the
new insurance rates?
This question was put TO the visiting
insurance men again and again during
the Chamber Of commerce meeting Fri
day afternoon.
The man whose answer was awaited
with most interest was H. L. Wright, a
member of the state fire rating board
This board controls the rate situation
throughout the state. 1t is composed of
one member named by the governor,
the commissioner of banking and insur-
ance and one member nominated by the
insurance companies operating within
the state.
Mr. Wright the member who is here,
is the insurance companies nominee on
the board, according to the local insur-
ance agents Therefore, FL Paso bust
ness men are not expecting him TO side
very strongly with FL Paso-
''The ONLY Relief
At the chamber of commerce meeting
the appeal of the merchants and bust
ness men for immediate relief from the
high insurance rates was met with the
reply from the rating board representa-
tive and the special agents that the only
relief was to reduce the hazards which
exist in Ell Paso and TO reduce the key
rate. Yet to the question as to how 1t
would be possible TO get relief beyond
this point, neithep the insurance agents
nor the member of the rating board
would give a definite answer.
a Schwartz, president of the Mer-
chants league, and W. T. Anderson
put the question fatty up to the insur-
ance representatives and Mr.. Wright,
as to how the rates could be reduced to
a reasonable figure even after all the
possible hazards had been reduced and
everything such as a fire marshal, addi-
tional fireman and hose reels had been
supplied.
Cannot Promise Reduction.
The answer came from a. r. Phillips,
one of the special agents who acted as
Spokesman for the insurance company
representatives present
I'VE can promise you nothing, he
said, except. what is done by reducing
the hazards" which was taken by bust
ness men to mean that the Insurance.
companies are planning to stand pat on
the present rates. Mr.. Wright said. he
was able TO promise nothing more than
that he would put the case up to the
board. which he admitted was sWamped
with work and might not reach the FL
Paso case Tor some time. In the mean
time Ell Raso business men will continue
to pay the freight and will get no re
bates If rates are reduced by the state.
A majority Of those attending the
meeting were insurance agents MI
Wright told them that nothing could be
expected from the rating board at pres
emit He emphasized again what should
be done by the assured in the way OF
reducing the hazards and eliminating
the danger of fire.
Fort Worth Got Reduction.
He told how Fort Worth got relief
through the reduction of the hazards
and had withdrawn its complaints He
also named the other cities In the state
that had received relief However, he
failed to state how it was going to help
Ell Paso any when it was practically
acknowledged that even after every
thing possible had been done TO reduce
the hazards in FL Paso, the rates would
be from so to 100 percent higher than
under the old rating, under which the
companies were presumed to be making
money, or they would not have con-
tinued in business in Texas.
Some Beautiful Conjecfures.
A. r. Phillips and others of the special
agents told how beautiful it ali was that