The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-14
Robinson & McAlli SO
Notify Ba- ~. ..y
80
BLANKET POLICY
IS IN QUESTION
Before Taking Action Coull-
Gil Will Consult School
Commissioners

'~Vt hiEhS. bbt NitN tOuUcilJ met HI
special session at the call of the mayor
performed the more or less perfunetory
task OF lifting property committee r.
port from the table. 1t was the pro-
posed schedule for a blanket fire insur-
ance policy on the city's property that
occasioned the session and at 1880 o'clock
a report that has bobbed up at inter.
walls IN two admnistra tions was uncoy-
cred to view. It was returned to the
reliquary at 8 O'Clock.
considerable debate ensued before
the report was re-tabled and a motion
prevailed to meet the school commits
sioners in joint session to consider fur
ther the merits and drawbacks of the
blanket proposition. Once a motion to
dismiss the report was made and with
drawn; again motion to reduce the
insurance of the city hall from $4,000
TO $4,000 and proceed to insure the
other city property on the usual plan
was made, but it was not put by the
mayor. Alderman Keefe's motion to re-.
table the report and consider it again
in JOINT session with the school commits
sion was carried few moments before
adjournment.
The meeting developed the fact that
the Robinson & MeAllister agency Is
no longer to be considered factor in
the insurance proposals, inasmuch as
they notified the council of their decision
to withdraw counter offer made when
the tentative schedule was drafted by the
New England Insurance Exchange in be-
half OF u number OF Barre insurance men
now holding insurance on municipal
property. 1t is understood that the
Robinson & McAllister proposition con-
templated lower rate than that of
the original schedule, which offered to
add S97 900 isurance to city property at
a decrease OF S2.l00 in cost for term
OF five years. One of the objections to
the schedule was the necessity for pay
ing a large sum of money in advance
and the resulting loss to the city of the
use of its money. Still another obiec
tion was the reported desire of the
school commissioners not to pay any
more insurance on school houses than IS
now being paid. Just what stand the
commission is to take was not quite
clear and that is one of the things that
is to be explained at the next meet
ing.
Mayor Ward raised a question as to
whether the city needs an additional
S97 900 on its property. He thought the
city hall to be an excellent fire risk.
both by reason of its proximity to the
FIRE station. the purposes to which it is
put, and the slow burning material of
which ii is constructed He favored
cutting the insurance down to nearly
one-haf of the Sjl 900 now carried on
the building. Alderman Bancroft cited
the Springfield, Mass. city hall. which
was burned in spite of its location across
the street from fire station. Alder
man Cook was in favor of carrying $780,
600 on the city building for year. He
said that the Springfield city hall was
an old structure when fire reduced it to
ashes. In commenting on the situation.
he said he had reasons to believe that
the council could have saved five cents
per hundred on It's insurance had the
offer of Robinson & MeAllister been
withheld. He did not care to give his
reasons or add to his explanation.
Alderman Keefe moved that the re-
port of the property committee be not
and Alderman Cook seconded
the motion. Alderman Bancroft called
for the yeas and nays. But the call
was not to be needed. for Alderman
Keefe presently withdrew his motion
and it was supplanted by Alderman
Keast's motion, as already mentioned
Alderman Hoban thought the school
should be accorded an OPP
portunity to air its views on the ques-
tion.
In dealing with the insurance situa-
tion, the new council finds itself in
dilemma, that is, in, fact. hold-over
rom the last administration. The poll
icy on the city hall expired several
weeks ago and the insurance is now be-
ing carried until March 20 by local in
,uranee men. The present controversy
over the proposed blanket policy had it's
inception one night early in the year
when the schedule scheme was unfolded
by b. A. Sumner of Montpelier. Advo-
,ates of the plan point to its successful
operation in a number of Massachusetts
titles. Its opponents say that the city
must tie up lot OF money for five
year term on insurance that is really
surplus insurance. Another meeting IS
expected to go long way toward set
ling the question.
Before adjourning, the council ap-
proved warrant for s21S.lO to pay the
ward officers who served at the March
lection.