Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
FIGHTING ARSON
BY FREDERIC J. HASkIN.

Fighting fires is one of the major
municipal activities in the United States.
How important 1t is was strikingly
illustrated during the World War when
the f1remen of Pittsburgh went on
strike for one day. The whole Nation
shuddered at the thought that that
great center of munitions production
was to be left without protection against
the fire menace for even a few hours,
and the people of the western Pennsyl-
vania metropolis were nothing short OF
historical.
All the powers of the State and Ma
tional Governments were invoked to
bring the strike to O speedy end and
city authorities that had been adamant
in their opposition to the demands of
the firemen were instantly begging for
settlement or compromise of any kind
just so the firemen would get back
on the job. Fortunately no fire disaster
threatened Pittsburgh during those llec-
tic hours and the firemen returned to
their posts the moment they were as
sured of fair consideration of their
grievances.
Fighting arson. Insurance underwrit-
ers declare. should be no less an i'm
portant national activity, and would
be If the American people realized
what illegitinate fires cost them in the
course of a year
No one knows just how much this
cost totals. because no one knows how
many fires of that character there are
In the United States In twelvemonth
period. But insurance experts say that
insurance rates In this country could
be reduced so per cent II the hazard
Of illegitimate fires could be eliminated.
Some 1900 suspicious or fraudu-
lent fires have been investigated by
the National Board Of Fire Under
writer's during the last decade. and ar
| rests were made In more than 5000
cases. OF the individuals arrested.
,445 were convicted, an average of
| about $50 convictions year. However,
the authorities say that the convic-
tons represent but 1.-THE Of the IL
legitimate fires. because 1t Is extremely
difficult to make a case even when
there is little doubt about the guilt.
Also the insurance companies do not
prosecute case unless they are alb TO-
'utelv certain of securing a conviction,
for they know they viii be In for a
damage suit II they fail to prove the
charge.
Overinsurance a Cause.
Overinsurance is one of the princi-
nal causes OF arson. 1t Is stated The
| United States Is the best insured coun-
| try In the world. but there are nurner-
| Gus instances OF gross overinsurance
! The insurance companies are In no
small degree responsible for this be-
cause they accept unwarranted risks
without close investigation. When a
man knows that his property, Of what
| ever character, Is insured for more
than It's worth. and he Is pinched for
money, he finds himself wishing that
he might have fire in order that he
could realize on his insurance, and 1t
is not long step from wishing for a
fire to making arrangements TO have
one.
| In the larger cities, adjtisters state,
| there are organized arson gangs that
make a business OF starting stores.
| stocking them In way to enable them
to secure heavy insurance. and then
removing most of the stock and touch
ing match where 1t will do the most
good. Likewise there are what might
be termed professional incendiaries who
will do the actual arson Job for a nomi-
nal fec. The fees are wholly dispro-
| portionate to the risk run. for con-
viction means long prison term, and
| imposed. or the death penalty may be
| inflicted In some cases.
| III recent years. most losses have
| been on small merchandise stocks and
In numerous instances the incendiarism
/ may be attributed indirectly to chain
stores. Small independent merchants
| ind that they cannot meet the COM
petition Of the chain stores, their
creditors are pressing them, and bank
ruptcy threatens them In such cir
elimstances II is a great temptation to
! overinSure the stock on hand and have
fire, and not infrequently the temp
tation is too strong TO be resisted
| Merchants who are overstocked with
wares that are moving slowly comprise
| another group that attempts to solve
| financial problems with a torch Ad-
| tusters have also found that heavily
mortgaged property of any kind has a
remarkable affinity for fire. Paving off
q mortgage with a match Ia the way
| they characterize this line of incen-
diarism. and they say that quite often
| the holder OF the mortgage Joins I'm a
conspiracy with the nominal owner of
the property because It is only through
| insurance money that the mortgage can
ever be paid.
Farmers Not Such Good Risks.
| Fire losses on farm property have
become so great and SO frequent within
| the last few years that the farmer and
| his property are not looked upon by
| the Insurance companies as wholly de-
| sirabie risks. In communities whore
| the agricultural industry h In an espe-
| eially bad way. It is stated, farmers find
| it ditflcult. II not impossible. to get fire
! insurance. the companies preferring not
to put temptation IN their way. Tenant
la rnera In NAV he IN anainsi n elIsIA