The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-07-26

'' "hSh Ihc otnef KIND or cOlnpa-
nles-or some adjuster who thinks he
is better earning his pay by taking an
arbitrary position in the settlement of
u loss; While, at the same time, arous-
ing the public to action in defense of
It's own rights-sceks all the advantage
that these iniquitous Georgia fire in
surance laws give them, that the
grotesquely serious nature of the sit
uation as to the assured comes to
iSht. 1t Is then we discover who has
been framing the fire insurance laws
OF Georgia-for the policyholders to
live up to.
1t So happens that a number of
States OF the union have a provision
In their fire insurance laws which
would exactly correct the situation in
Georgia. provision for the appoint
ment. OF an umpire" where the insur
ance company and the assured can not
agree within specified time. Some
thing like the following:
When in the event of any loss or
damage to property in this State de-
scribed In any policy of fire insurance
and covered thereby, the ascertain.
ment Of the amount of any such loss
or damage is, as provided in the pol
Icy, to be determined by appraisers.
one selected by the cOmany, the other,
by the insured. and the two so chosen
shall have failed or negleetedn = for a
space of ten days after both have been
CHOSEN, to agree upon and select an
umpire, 1t shall be, lawful for either
the insured or the company to apply
to any court Of record in the county
In which the property is or was To-
Gated, on five days notice in writing
to the other party Of his or it's inten-
tion so to do. to appoint a competent
and. ldisinterested umpire. Any such
notice In writing, when served by the
insured, may be served upon any local
agent of the company, and the said
court shall, on proof by affidavit of
the failure or neglect Of the said ap-
praisers to agree upon and select an
umpire, within the time aforesaid, and
OF the service Of notice aforesaid
appoint competent and dis
interested person to act as umpire in
the ascertainment of the amount of
said loss or damage, and the acts of
the umpire SO appointed shall be bind
ing upon the assured and the company
to the same extent as If such umpire
had been selected in the manner pro-
vided for in said policy Of insurance.
Surely. there is nothing In the above
that would work any hardship" on
the fire insurance companies If made
q part of the insurance laws OF Geor-
gia. They are doing business success
fully under this very provision In
many other States. Why, then, aisould
they be permitted to shape Georgia's
,nsnrance laws to suit themsclves2
Assuming that the Insurance Her.
is as fair minded all the
way through as It's editorial. which
the Chronicle reproduces in full else
where. would seem to indicate, we
think even it will admit, that not to
have such provision in the insur-
ance laws of Georgia can, and does
as instanced by certain notable losses
growing out of the Augusta fire--work
a distinct hardship on the assured.
This Augusta fire has brought
sood many things to light in connec-
ton with the One-sided insurance laws
of Georgia, and the Georgia legisla-
ture will stultify itself If it does not
correct these defects at once. 1t may
be, as the Insurance Herald Argus
suggests that "the misdirected zeal, or
of few companies
have brought this situation to light;
but. whatever did it, the situation now
stands revealed as never before in
Georgia. And 1t is a situation that no
man WIZ AdS any TcSpccI LOT Ulu-
tual contract ---one I'm which two or
more contracting parties are supposed
to be on something of a parity-will
stand day longer than is necessary
to get from under it.
The Georgia legislature can do no
more important work this summer
than to make thorough examination
into the one-sided, unfair and dishon-
est fire insurance laws of this State;
and, then, go to work to enact a few
laws that take into consideration the
rights and interests Of somebody be-
sides the insurance companies.
Real Estate Transfers.
Barlow Walsh to Johnnie Scott lot