The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-17

tee, before the NoTtH CdToilid TiIe
Convention at New bern, Tues
day, Aug. 100
Mr.. President, Member of the State
Firemen's Convention, and Gentle
men:
1t is pleasant to be with those who
constantly risk limb and life to pro
tect the property Of their several COM
munities. All of US bow in Difference
to those who are willing to die that
others may live. | therefore uncover
i'm the presence Of the North Carolina
Firemen. Your courage and devotion
to duty take you into places of danger
When the fire bell sound III heat or
cold, in fair weather or in foul, you
spring into place and meet the
emergency of the moment. The fire
may be destroying the home or the
business place Of the well-to-do, or
the hovel of the poor or unfortunate,
but il is your duty to stay its pro
Ercss. 1t may be the life of the wife
or child Of the most eminent or
wealthiest citizen is jeopardiZed by
blazes in his home or mansion; or 1T
may he the existence of the humbleSt
bCggar of the streets is threatened by
the flames in the miserable hui where
he has fallen asleep, but it is your
duty to save that life. BE it said to
their honor, a men Of your ASSO-
citation have performed these duties
al the expense of their own lives. 1t
would be pleasant to spend the time
allotted to me in reviewing heroic
deeds Of members Of our Association
WHO have met death or shown a will
inEneSS to do so, in discharge OF the
obligation which they have assumed
IN joining your useful and honorable
organization.
But my task has been assigned.
q Honorable Chairman has tether-
ed me. BY his invitation | am here to
speak to you concerning fire insurance
rates in North Observation-Disclosures or
not they are eXCeSSive-and the
methods proposed for regulating these
rates. ! approach the discussion of
these questions with hcsitation-l may
say-timidly
This hesitation or timidly arises in
part from the importance and com
pliCations of the questions involved,
and in part from tile fact that ! al
ready know Of the reach Of the Orga-
nization which establishes these
rates. have heretofore aided some
what i'm drawing the fire of the in
surance companies. While a membe
% the State senate in 49, | was APP
pointed by the observation-disclosures
on the joint Legislative Committee,
tTtIStd Will ne OulN cl IlNeStlSdl-
ing the d of fire insurance
companies doing business in this State
md especially of aScertaining and in
~NestigatinG the rates of premiums
charged insurers and of Investigating
the general conditions Of the fire in
surance business in this State" Ny
observation and experience, while &
mi of that committee, and since
have caused me to fully understand
and nI1nrpni1jn no mower influence
and grasp of the insurance companie:
operating in North Carolina. They
have the strength Of perfect OrganiZa
ton and trained intelligence. TheiI
preparation for contest is complete
their arsenal is stacked with mum
tions of warfare; they have moderl
and soldiers we'll ali t
use them. SO powerful, 50 efficient
and SO masterful is the organization
under which these companies operate
hat strong men fear it. and it is con
scious of this fear. | Lave though
at times this consciousness Of Strengt
on their part had led to
For they not only dispute the wisdOr
Of Legislation designed to regula
their rates and their conduct. but the
deny that any one not connected wit
the fire insurance companies,
capable Of passing in~telligently upo
the merits of any controversy ariSin
between them and the people of tn
state. This statement is made &c
visedly. for when the committee,
which I have referred, was appointe
to make the investigation demande
10y the Joint resolution, an insuran'
journal, published under the directiC
of the companies. said in SubStan'
that its were ignorant Wi
reference to the subject and were i
capable of understanding the intr
caCies of fire insurance. After tn
ommitte made its investigation
filed its report. and the Governor
your state had endorsed its recor
mendations, THE Insurance Nindic
tor a we'll known insurance public
ton, said in substance it was t
clamor, of politicians, and prof
sional hell raisers over things t