Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-31
HIGHER INSURANCE
RATES PREDICTED
Board of Trade Protests
Transfer Of Hose-Buying
Appropriation
DEMAND MAYOR EXPLAIN
Violation of City's Agreement
With National Board of Under
writer's Is Charged

| Higher fire insurance rates are certain to
be charged against real estate, especially In
the central section Of the city. unless prompt
action is taken by City Councils TO retrans-
fe. money that has been diverted from APP
proprlations for fire hose and horses during
1917.
This Is the view of the committee on mu-
nicpal affairs of the Philadelphia Board OF
Trade This body recently learned that In
an ordinance, signed on october 5, Mayor
Smith transferred $25,622.65 from an orig
inal appropriation Of 100000 for fire hose.
This appropriation was made following
an agreement between Philadelphia and the
National Board Of Fire Underwriters, that
the city each year would purchase mimi
mum quantity Of fire hose.
A strong protest has been made agains,
this transfer of funds by Miers Busch
chairman of the municipal affairs commit
tee of the board, in letter to Mayor Smith
Copies of this communication have been
sent TO Director of Public Safety Wilson
Doctor Gleason, president of Common Coun-
ell, and James Il. Lennon, president of
Select Council.
This letter follows:
at has been brought to tile attention o.
the Committee on Municipal Affairs of the
Philadelphia Board of Trade, that an ordl-
nance signed by you on October 5, 1911
purposes for which they were originally ap-
propriated, to meet deficiencies in other de-
partments.
ciic item, that for fire hose, that from the
original appropriation of $4,000, $25,622.60
has been transferred, leaving approximately
only $4,000 for the purchase of hose during
the year 1917
IF this statement be correct, we regrt {
that the important character of such Il
transfer was not brought more strongly t.
your attention.
Two or three years ago the National
Board of Fire Underwriters made a special
report on the conditions in Philadelphia and
partly through the efforts of this committee
penalty charge was avoided by the
Finance Committee of Councils agreeing to
continue the purchase of a certain minimum
quantity Of hose each year, for which-at
the old basis of cost-from $4,000 to S20,
900 would be required annually
IF our first statement be correct and only
$4,000 has been expended this year, the
supply of hose next year will be insufficient
and the business men, especially in the cen.
tral district would be subjected to a penalty
charge in the form of advanced premiums
or special charges, which would amount to
several hundred times the value OF the sum
transferred.
"The Fire Department is not yet up to
the standard demanded but in recent years
the appropriations have been regular and
satisfactory The committee strongly urge
that immediate attention be paid this uues-
ton OF hose supply, and that sufficient furds
pS ldllSleIItu 10 purchase the usual
quantity and that orders be placed for same
Immediately, so that no criticism can DL
made or action taken by the underwriters
f the report Of the department shows
that there is a sufficient stock of new hose
on hand to equal the quantity usually pur.
chased, we should be glad to be informed
as to this fact and also as to the quantity on
hand.
we have also ascertained that an item
Of 100000, appropriated for the purchase of
horses for the Fire Department has been
transferred in the same bill. Does IN
mean that the horses were not required, An,
was any of the sum appropriated for the
purchase of motors. will the transfer n,
this entire sum reduce the efficiency of the
department."