The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-17
INSURANCE RATES
ARE JUSTIFIED
Brownlow Tells Merchants
Present Fire Risk Charges
Are Cheap.
WOULD INSTRUCT PUBLIC
Annual Fire Prevention Day Planned.
Cash Registers Make Store Lareenies
Difficult, Says Maj. Pullman.

The recent increase in local fire in
surance rates virtually was justified
by Commissioner Louis Brownlow last
night in an address before the Retail
Merchants Association at a meeting
at the Raleigh.
Fire losses in the District during
the past year. he said, far exceeded
premiums collected by insurance com
psnies. and local risk men have been
forced to face either raising rates OF
going out of business.
Says Loss Fixes Rate.
The statement was made in connec-
tion with an urgent appeal for the
holding here of an annual fire pre-
vention day in the fall for the educa-
ton of the public along the line OF
decreasing fire losses.
Rates here are not scientifically
established" said Mr.. Brownlow. but
to a great extent they are determined
by fire loss. The losses here during
the past year have exceeded the pre-
miums. If the government should as
sumo control of the situation and
order reduction in the rates, many
of the companies would be compelled
to close.
THE need is for education Of the
public. II the fire loss is reduced. then
rates necessarily can be lowered. II
the loss remains high, then rates must
remain high. The school children should
be instructed with respect to the matter
The Commissioners greatly desire to es-
tablish a fire prevention day. October
or November would be n suitable month
for it. The Commissioners need the CO.
operation of every citizen in this mat
ter"
VIII Name Committee.
The association voted to appoint a
committee of ten to cooperate with the
commissioners in preparing for the sug-
gested day.
"Washingtonians pay sl4.n00.0J0 a year
or s3S per capita per annum for services
rendered by public service corporations
here" said Maj. c. w. kutz. Engineer
Commissioner. THE cost of maintain
ing the Public Utilities Commission Is
about 100000 a year or eight or nine
cents per capita per annum. In othcr
words. people o. the District pay for the
maintenance Of the commission only "a
of per cent of what they spend for pub
lie services.
The commission has completed
about 20 per cent of the work on
physical valuation Of properties OF
public utilities corporations and eX-
poets 10 complete the work by Sep
TENDER l. The work will have cost
$4,000"
Cash Registers Prevent Larcenics.
The police department is planning
to pay greater attention to pre-
ventive work." said Maj. Raymond w
Pullman. superintendent of police
The public in being careful can pre-
vent much crime. Frequently the pub.
lie tempts persons to commit crime.
think the cash register has done as
much as any other one thing to de.
crease the amount of larceny. The
police department is planning now &c
check and prevent the reckless driv.
ing OF automobiles. Cooperation OF
the public will he required"
Anton Stephan was appointed chair.
man of committee to advocate the
holding of the summer encampment
of the District National Guard at Co
lonia1 Beach. Va.
The following were elected mem
bers: The American Ice Company
Stephenson & Bro, coach merchants
represented by Joseph 2. Stephenson
and Mason E. Taylor: the Bradford
Detective Service, represented by
Morgan Bradford, jr.. and 4. Wade
Wells; Barron G. Collier Company
represented by T. B. Hilton: Chesa
peak. ard Potomac Telephone Com
pany, represented by ID. l.. Porter
division manager; and J. NJ. Ash, mil.
linery firm. 1416 II street northwest.