The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04
THE FIRE CONGRESS.

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Those interested in the prevention of
fires will do well to attend the sessions
of the Fire Prevention and Conserva-
| ton Congress, to be held under the
auspices of the Fire Prevention asso-
| citation al the Elks' clubhouse We'd
nesday afternoon and night Speakers
of national repute, who are recognized
| authorities on this subject, are promis-
ed, and ! discussion of fire preventive
| measures will be the feature of the
meetings. They are open to all VINO
| care to attend them. Ard the officers
! of the association are hoping that
many women, representing the new ele-
ment in the public affairs of Kansas
| will make it a point to attend.
In recent years preventive measures
have taken the place to large eX-
tent of curatives, in many fields or
endeavor. They have been applied, for
instance, to individual and public
health and are proving their value TO
a marked degree. And those concern
ed in the question of fire waste, as
every property owner should be, are
awaking to the necessity of providing
some form of prevention for the fires
that have become altogether too pre-
yalent in recent years.
During the last few days in Topeka,
for example, fire after fire. said to be
the result of carelessness, has occurred,
causing from nominal to a consider
able loss. The mission of the congress:
will be to put it's finger on the cause
of such fires and suggest remedies.
And Topekans should strive to make
the meeting an epoch-making affair.
1t cannot do harm. 1t might result in
great good.
And in this connection it may be
pertinent to add that the fire insur-
ance companies can undoubtedly work
out reforms in the conduct of their
business that will also assist in reduc-
ing the fire waste in a most material
manner. In the report on "Incendiar-
ISM that was issued recently by Fire
Commissioner Johnson, of New York
city. and which was preliminary to the
startling expose of the arson plotters
in that city, he presented the conclu-
sion that the reason arson is so pre-
valent in the United States is because
fire insurance companies operating in
America grant policies without in
SpectlOn OF property OF kHoWAeuSc u
the character of persons applying for
insurance To prove the foregoing
statement. he asserts that the New
York fire department, in the course of
its investigation into 'incendiarism."
obtained without difficulty 1S5 different
policies, amounting to 1927, 500, on pro-
perty worth only 1886.
OF course, conditions surrounding
the writing of fire insurance in New
York city and other large centers of
from what they are in the smaller
cities of Kansas and other states.
Then, too, there are not proportionate-
ly so many people in this section of
the country who are inclined to stoop
to crime for the purpose of picking up
much or little money. But the fire in
s1rance policyholders in Kansas are
interested in the fire losses due to
arson in New York and all other parts
of the country. Their premiums help
to pay for them.
But there has been such a thing as
right here in Topeka for
the avowed purpose of collecting |
money from the insurance companies. |
And it certainly is incumbent on in !
surance agents in Kansas well as
elsewhere to use sufficient care in the
writing of all policies so that incen-
encoura ged in any possible way.