New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-26
Inquiry Needs Time.


ting if it can. to the bottom OF the qucs-
ton how IRE rates are fixed. Results
cannot be obtained overnight IRON such
an inquiry, but | am satisfied that, "hch
our present investigation Is over, some
at least, Of the mystery which now env"l-
opcs this question will be dlspened, ana
the proper path for future legislation re-
Carding rates. Of a remedial character
Will be plainly outlined.
TO get substantially lower me rates III
this country however, We must SHOW Il
better record than. as people. we 90 III
the matter of fire waste. ! don't agree
with a good deal Mir. Johnson says jill
his recent report on incendiary ires, put
think that he is absolutely on the rlsnt
track to this eXtent-that he is trying 10
accomplish a substantial reform III the
conditions which bring about the abnor-
mai fire losses that We now staSSer uil-
der If fire losses are aDnormalIy hlSH
fire rates will be abuormdllN hlgh dSo
If fire waste is reduced TO a minimum
the rates for fire insurance ought 10 re-
spOnd automatically.
Mr.. Emmett said he thought the study
of the principles of fire prevention in pup
lie schools ought in, time to lead to a wide
diffusion among the people of real hnoWl-
edge of the subject, and added:
| shall also offer an amendment 70 the
penal code increasing the punishment Tor
| the crime Of arson. rms may serve as d
! further deterrent 10 inCendiarsm. bct-
ter building laws and their strict ana I'M
partial enforcement would Dc OF great
help also in reducing the NUMBER OF urtS'
/ think, too that there should be lesis-
lation making II compulsory upon every
one who sustains any nre loss 10 IIIlilIe
diatelv report all the facts and circum-
stances of suCh loss TO the state fiTc
Marshal. under penalty Of fine or imprls-
onment if ne fails TO do so. The result oi
such law would be that better statlsucdi
| information concerning fire losses Would
| be at the disposal of the people 81 the
state than any which even the ire insuf-
| ancc companies I'm their private fecolus
now have. From such mass OF status
I tics. carefully colldted. II would DE po.S'-
| BILE TO draw conclusions in respect 10 the
! reasons why our present fire waste - 50
bad, and the question could then De dcdlt
with more intelligently by legislation than
/ now seems possible.
| This, after all, is the question that peo-
/ pie are most interested in in connection
| with lire insurance. The Solvency oil
most of the large fire companies was
/ put TO a pretty severe test at the time Oh
/ the San Francisco confiagratiOn, and. as
/ the result of the showing they made al
| that time, | DO not think the general
/ public should be at present very apprc-
| hensive as TO the dependability of the IN
/ Surance protection which these companies
| sell.
/ II is the duty Of this department, day
! in ana day out. To maintain the closest
/ possible supervision over the operations
of these companies to the extent which
/ our present laws permit. That work IS
| going on all the time, in the charge OF
competent experts, with the result that
all the safeguards which the law throws
! about the business Of fire insurance for
( the purpose Of protecting pOlicyholdcrS
are i'm constant operation.
! IF at any time the Legislature feels
disposed to still further extend the SUPER
visory powers Of the department. SAID
/ Mr.. Emmett, we shall be ready TO under
! take such further responsibilities