Evening journal., 1921-08-18
SEEK INSURANCE
RATE REDUCTION
C. H. Ten Weeges' Com
mittee Submits Report to
Chamber of Commerce
TO TRY TO HAVE 13
CENTS PENALTY CUT

lily Councn ana other city gov
ernmental departments will receive
for their consideration copies of
the report OF a committee appointed
by A. d. Warner. Jr. president of
the Chamber Of Commerce, to inves-
tigate fire insurance rates in Will
mington and endeavor to secure a
reduction of those rates, now that
paid fire department is being cre-
ated.
The report of the committee, of
which Charles II. Ten Weeges is
chairman, was submitted TO Mr..
Warner yesterday afternoon in
the rooms OF the Chamber of Com
merce. The report was received,
fully considered and discussed, and
the committee dismissed with
thanks.
w. T. Budd, secretary, was directed
to send to the officials of the various
city bodies a schedule of deficiencies
with the request that each depart
ment use its best efforts to secure to
the city as much credit as possible
against the city deficiency rating Of
13 cents.
It was pointed out that this de-
fciency. or fair defense penalty OF
1S cents would cost the assured ap-
proximately $4,000 per year based
on 500. O.OOO.O 900 of insurance. of
which about 10000 could be saved
by the Department of Public Safety
when the new paid fire department
is in full operation and is approved
by the National Board Of Fire I'm
derwriters. and approximately $685.
600 can be saved with the adoption
Of approved practices by the Water
Department. The balance. about
SIS. 900 is accredited to deficiencies
in other departments.
The responsibility OF the individ-
ual for the penalty imposed for per-
| sonal negligence was also empha-
sized. These include such items as
faulty electric wiring. bad house
keeping" etc. The deficiency men,
toned in the report. for which the
13 cents penalty is added. applies
only in the mercantile and business
sections. and does not affect private
dwellings, 1t was pointed out. THESE
penalties will be removed when It is
shown that the deficiencies have
been remedied. The base rate is 2C
cents on each 800 of insurance car.
ried. to which penalties are added oi
from which credits are deducted.
During the conference It wa'
brought out that the installation oi
paid FIRE department will reduce
10.
regardless OF whether the paid de-
partment is better equipped thar
the volunteer department. The tota
penalty for deficiencies in the fir'
department is s.0S96.
The deficiencies pointed out, foi
which penalties are imposed include
organization. OF which lax disci-
plne in the volunteer department is
large item; inadequate fire sta
tions. membership, hose. fire engine
capacity, maintenance Of pumping
equipment, apparatus, deficient
number OF triple combination trucks
combination trucks or wagons)
type and condition OF apparatus
minor equipment. chemical equip
ment, propulsion OF apparatus GO q
dehcient). fire alarm telegraph sys
TENS. The hose is listed as 42Ss
deficient; fire engine capacity, IL %
maintenance of pumping equipment
5Ocs; number of trucks and wagons
Use; chemical equipment, 1870
minor equipment, 40S6. The lad
der trucks are described as unsatis
factory.
Penalties are imposed for stree
pavements. excessive grades, rail
road crossings, etc; inadequate siz
OF police department and unsatis
factory cooperation; hazardou
overhead wiring. 30 per cent. de
hcient; lack OF adequate building re
quirements, and deficient laws o
non enforcement OF existing law
covering explosives and innam
mables
Penalties for inehiciency in tn
Water Department cover the fol
lowing items; Records and maps
reliability OF supply, pumping sta
} tion (faulty construction) suppl
. mains deficient 40 per cent. Wit,
( largest supply main out) adequac
! OF distributing system, steel mains
! valves Ono regular system OF in
spection) hydrants Oax mainten
} ance. unsatisfactory type, smal