The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-02

on ire waste j am just in receipt of re-
ports from every state in the union, ex-
copt Wyoming, of the fire waste entailed
throughout the United States for the first
nine months of 1912 ending with September
80. as follows:
Total fire waste, United States without
Ws oming). S215,SO3,637 and Alabama's
share of this waste is 81, 226.330 for the nine
months. Now it is a recognized fact by
all underwriters that of all fires which
occur, 50 per cent originate from the above
three causes viz: Defective fues, def
cient and fiimsy building construction and
matches.
l consciously believe if these suggestions
could be wisely drawn into our statutes
and properly enforced, 1t would rot be
five years before the fire wa<e in this
state could be reduced at least 40 per
cent, or a sum of at least 81, 100000 an
nualy.
Value of Enactments
But ii has been claimed by some that
fire waste cannot be materially corrected
by statutory provision. The same was
claimed five years ago by many that
city ordinances prohibiting the use of
dangerous explosives ON July would not
materially reduce the then enormous list
OF casualties on that day of pleasure seek
ing. Now let's see.
In 1908, when the cities and towns of
the United States were called upon to be-
gin the enactment of city ordinances pro-
hlblting the use of explosives on July 4,
the crusade caught from town to town
until now almost every city and town of
any size in the union has an anti-fre-
works ordinance made to apply originally
TO its Fourth of July use only. The rec
ord of casualties for five years stands as
follows:
July 4. 1903, casualties 5693.
July 4, 1909, casualties, 5307.
July 4, 1910, casualties. 1928.
July 4, 1911, casualties 1868.
July 4, 1872 casualties, 9SS.
AS these ordinances continue to be en-
acted and enforced 1t is reasonable to pre-
dict that the casualties arising from this
source Will be practically wiped out. Then
II the enforcement of anti-fireworks ordi-
nances and the education of she people
aiCng that line is capable of such revolu-
ticn, it is as reasonable to predict great
reductions In fire waste to follow in line
with proper building laws and their
prompt enforcement which Will prohibit
the ordinary firetraps of buildings, defec-
tive fues and the ordinary friction parlor
match
What 1t Would Save
When the fire waste in this state is cor
rected by statutory sanction and properly
enforced. it is my opinion, as before stat
fire savings would be at least 81, 100. 900
annually. 1t could then be expected, and
rightly so, by our property owners and
those who buy fire insurance that they
should not be required to pay rate of
fire insurance on as high basis schedules
as would be necessary to charge in other
sister states with less favorable records
in fire waste In order to meet this need
OF the people, l would regard with favor
the enactment of a companion bill, along
with the fire waste law, which should
clcthe the insurance commissioner with
powers to supervise insurance rates pro-
posed to be charged by insuring COM
panies under the several classifications
OF property seeking to be insured This
companion bill should also clothe the COM
missioner with power to require COM
panies to furnish basis schedules and
rates on the several classes of property,
the amount of-premums collected and the
losses sustained upon each class. From
this and other like information to be re-
quired, the insurance commissioner could
readily arrive at such reasonable rate to
be fixed by insuring companies. Under
his supervision, commensurate with the
risk and based on experience obtained
following the greatly reduced fire waste
naturally to be looked for under improved
building conditions, l candidy believe
with these two companion bills enacted
anc properly enforced, within five years
the fire waste concededly 40 per cent low
er. that the fire insurance premium paid
In this state by polcyholders can be re-
duced at least $9s5.000 annually. Then in
place of these two items named, the ST.
100000 loss and the premium now being
collected standing a drain. they would
both become a saving to the people as fol-
lows:
Fire waste prevented. saved 81. 100000
Insurance premiums saved. $9s5. 600
Total savings annually, $2.3S5.gO0
shall be pleased to know II the gov
ernor, in making up the call for the ex-
ira session OF the legislature, will include
these needed reforms in his call.
A. p. FUQUAY.
Alexander City. January 1, 1913.