Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-26
TO REGULATE PRACTICE
Of FIRE UNDERWRITING
Equitable Distribution of Cost of In
surance Object of New As
ISOLATION.
Will Aim to Reduce Fire Waste in
District and Establish
Fair Rates.

The formation of rules and plans for
regulating the practice of the business
of fire underwriting in the District OF
Columbia, including commissions and
brokerage, and the establishment of a
system of lust and fair rates, whereby
the cost of fire insurance may be equit-
manufacturers, merchants, private
householders and Others is provided
for in the constitution of the Under
writer's Association of the District of
Columbia, which was organized Friday
at a meeting of local fire insurance
men. Details of this organization were
announced today by the governing COM
mittee of the association, as follows:
THE Underwriters Association OF
the District of Columbia, representing
the fire underwriters of the District,
was organized October %. The associ-
alton has been in process of formation
for more than two years. Its objects
are set forth in article 2 of its consti-
tuition and are as follows:
1.-The object of this association shall
be the reduction of the fire waste in
the District of Columbia, the estab-
lishment of just and fair rates whereby
the cost of fire insurance may be
equitably distributed among all classes
householders and others, and the pre-
vention of discrimination between one
property owner and another: for these
purposes this association will estab-
mum ratings. giving the best risks, the
lowest rates, and adding specific
charges for all deficiencies from re-
CURED standards, making reductions
from such rates when the deficiencies
charged for are eliminated. and also
provide rules and plans for regulating
the practices of the business of fire I'M
derwriting, including commissions and
brokerages in the District Of Columbia
The governing committee is COM
posed of twelve members. as follows:
H. H. Bergman, W. NJ. Hoffman, L. r.
Peak. Ralph w. Lee, Edward J. Walsh.
Tyler & Rutherford. Walter A. Brown,
Gasch & Birge. Thomas ]. Fisher & Co..
A. X. Phillips. William H. West Com
pany and Charles E. Hood.
Object Is Not to Raise Rates.
1T too frequently happens that the
conclusion is at once drawn that the
object of such an organization is mere
ly to raise the rate of insurance Such
is not the fact. Almost every other
matter entering into the contract of
insurance is of equally vital impor-
lance Indeed. the regulations of the
cost of doing the business and the
reduction of the fire waste are deemed
by many underwriters as of more
primary moment than the determine
ton of the rate of insurance
AT the present time there is no or
ganized inspection by insurance COM
panies, as is the case in other cities
The lack Of inspection of risks. and es-
pecially the condition of cellars and cleo
trio wires, are two features which have
been the main cause of most of the
losses.
One might see at a glance the great
value 1t is to a merchant to know that
his premises are protected as far as
it is possible to do SO. as no successful
merchant can afford to have fire, for
the loss from cessation of business is
ofttimes greater than the loss by fire.
'The rooms Of the association are in
the Woodward building, Nos. 1016-1S.
Through its manager and other assist
ants prompt service will be ready at
all times to assist the District of CO.
lumbia in doing it's share in the re-
duction of the fire waste in the United
States. This waste now destroys about
100000 of property annually and
these proportions make it the privilege
and duty of every one to assist in abat-
Ing national evil"