New-York tribune., 1911-12-18
STANDARD POLICIES UP AGAIN
A Rejoinder and Certain Exceptions 10
Mr.. Kennedy's Words.

To the GsdltOI Ol l Hc iAAD"'N'
Sir: Mr.. Kennedy in your paper OF De
cerober accords Massachusetts, the creui'
of priority in adopting standard loIi"
ro,,cv for fire insurance. This is what ! IN
,ordod ,o show I'm my letter Of November :"
1911. -.
But he adds other matter, which is SUD-
icct for criticism
He saws I "unconsciously" explained WHY
without being trained I'm insurance lia''u' :,
brought tho subject of a standard po''.s
boforo the Massachusetts, Legislature II
any qualifying word is necessary Wouiu ~
"franklv" be more correct? ! nave H'
apology to make, but, lest the Inference ne
would have drawn may mislead' l repe"''
Having had to deal as a member OF the
Massachusetts Legislative Insurance 'o
mittee. in 1873. with matters relating 10 'he
Boston fire, was not entirely uninforrneu'
n was current talk in 1873 that person
leaving a life insurance policy 10 MS heii'
was beuueathng a lawsuit. That 'he pii
fcrInc diamond type fire insurance poi'le7
then In vogue and before the comniit'eo
meant ouibbles and lawsuits was apparent
even 20 the uniformed.
| regret Inc spirit llldiliiN'N -
tions Mr. Kennedy makes on the lawyer VINO
assisted mo That gentleman has n proleS-
sionaI standing and record for aDiii'y
eouaIled by few. ] would like to ask IL the
committee which prepared the New YORK
standard .olicy did not seek the assistance
NJ 4, "Some" (Mr. Kennedy's term lawyer
and one quite to their liking?
Mr. Kennedy is again unhappy IN MS
statements when he says experienced IN
s,lrance men were not consulted Inc
Massachusetts policy was carefully criu-
cised bv the president Of Leading Massa-
,husetts insurance company and through
him bv other insurance men before its adop-
ti0n.
The thoroughly Informed and posted al
iuster" might suggest some conundruinS
that would puzzle an insured trained IN
other lines of thought and work. Don
thev do so now? After the half dozen
naragraphs Of the Massachusetts policy had
boen adiudicated however, ] felt the ad-
tusters' brightness would be dImmed. Has
the New York standard policy stopped all
litigation?
Was the suggestion of standard policy
first brought to the attention of the New
York Legislature by an insurance agent!
Rather, did not the companies rush to Al
banv when they learned there was move
rnent for a standard policy and beg to be
permitted TO prepare IT. placing themselves
upon their honor? Why was TINS last Ieit
to be necessary?
Undoubtedly the committee did It's pest
after six months of labor 10 keep Its prom
ise and to satisfy the insurance world. but
when they were through their policy re-
sembled the old diamond type form, in
length, at least
Was ''boasting"> when / stated a simple
fact. that priority for a STANDARD policy
belongs TO Massachusetts, which Mr.. Ken
nedy says is correct?
Mr. Kennedy says "the New York Board
Of Fire Underwriters prepared an admirable
policy many years before the Legislature
passed its bill in 1856" He does not state
when, nor does he suggest that any Of the
companies adopted it, not even the under
writer's committee Of 1886 nor that it was
TO be called a STANDARD policy"
While had promises in 1874 of the adop-
ton of the Massachusetts standard policy"
by a number Of insurance companies, pre-
ferred to make II elective, as / felt that 1t
was an innovation and time was required TO
test its merits and 10 establish its best form.
l started il on safe ground, the common
law.
/ cared less for the form, however, than
that the words standard policy" should tell
every insured" that he was getting what
he expected-namely. policy guaranteed
by the state to be just and fair, printed in
readable type, free from techncalities and
bubbles and the same as all other insured
in the state were getting. l felt it would
be of benefit to both insurer and insured,
and am glad to have Mr.. Kennedy say such
has proved to be the case. New York is to
be congratulated If IT'S standard policy meets
these requirements JOHN BIGELOW.
Minneapolis, Dec 10, 1911.