The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-26
Whole Question to Be Threshed
Out Next Saturday at Cham
Der of Commerce.
PROTESTS PILE UP AGAINST
INCREASE BY NEW BOARD
Declared Unfair That Premiums
Should Be Higher Here Than
in Other Cities.
BY ]. R. HILDEBRAND.

One week from tonight at an open
meeting in the rooms Of the Chamber
+ Commerce the Federation of Citi-
Zens' ssociations OF the District will
take up the question of increased IRE
insurance rates.
With delegates from more than &
core of citizens associations. and all
other interested persons invited, the
'Shole question of fire insurance rates
IN the District viii be threshed out
thoroughly.
Before knowing that the office of line
United States District Attorney was in
curing into the right of the Under
writer's Association 10 fix rates for
Washington, the law committee of the
ederation asked that the matter be
taken By the United States Attorney.
Will Use Times Articles.
Articles published exclusively in The
Times setting forth rate increases here
viii be used al the meeting. u. \.
dwards, president of the federation.
'oday procured copies of The Times
containing comparisons Of rates here
and in other cities. Mr.. Edwards said:
The whole question Of fire insur-
ance rates Is one for study before
ono ventures an opinion On the
lace OF IL, though, il would seem
eighty unfair to WASHINGTON prop-
erty owners 10 charge them more
-or insurance than l. charged in
such congested cities as New York
and Philadelphia. where the fire
uanser is great and the fire loss is
comparatively high.
= are insurance rates will be the live
ssue before citizens associations of the
district during January.
, Announcement is made today that the
new rates of the Underwriters Asso-
citation of the District will be presented
10 the East WASHINGTON ana the South
east Washington Citizens Associations
At their January meetings
members OF these associations are
PARTICULARLY interested because th.v
live in residential sections where a
Sreat amount Of property is owned By
Individuals
DR.. c. n. Emmons. president Of East
Washington Citizens Association, said
ne had already been made TO pay more
Tor his insurance and number of his
neighbors have had the same expert
@nce. DR.. Emmons continued:
Made To Pay More.
Our association members, Of
fDAL0Gs dIt Hul tAlrtilS IN insurance.
But they intend to lay this matter
before the association SO that the
whole question OF fire insurance
rates may be studied intelligcntly.
Il seems only reasonable to the
average citizen that Washington
should have the lowest fire insurance
rate in the country. Here there are
broad streets. no congested sections
there are no houses in juNtaposition
70 industrial centers, there are no
highly infammable buildings in the
center OF the city
Have To Be Shown"
Moreover. there has been a de-
rsTnined effort 10 eliminate the fire
risk. and il seems that the more
We protect ourselves against fire,
the higher goes our insurance rate
on the face OF IL. il seems TO me. the
fact that We have a higher rate than
Philadelphia and New York is alb
sIrd- Perhaps an expert can cx-
plain why that Is 50. but the aver
*" citizen Of common sense will
have To DC shown.
r. r Brooks, secretary Of the South
rast Washington Citizens Association.
aid he intended laying the facts con-
".Tning the increased Insurance rates
Dsfore his association. MI Brooks will
e the facts concerning the higbrT.
sftes here, as published exclusively in
7 ne Times. as a basis OF the statement
o. Il preparing 10 make 10 his aSsOcia- (
ton