THE MORNING . OltEGONIAN. FKIDAT, JUNE 1, 1917,
0
Or
PortlaM
Tbt
Off
err
II 11 I i V v J
construction would be a blow In the those whose property Is Insured.
It Is easier for so-called soap-box
orators to grain audiences than persons
presenting subjects to their audience
In plain unvarnished language. The
facta that I wish to present for the
consideration of the mothers, fathers,
business people and residents of Port
land have to do with the PROTECTION
OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. Portland,
as many of you may not know, is
today a city, dreaming, little guessing
the grave danger that is ever present
along its waterfront. Owing to the
negligence of the past for which the
KIRK INSURANCE INTERESTS ARE
LARGELY RESPONSIBLE, the city Is
saddled today with an ever-increasing
burden, ar d an ever-present danger.
Associated 'n the public mind, with
the word t je Insurance is the mis
conception ; pat fire Insurance means
protection. (But as experts have de- the patriotic civic bodies who are ever
clared thousands of people today imag- ready to flock to the standard of the
Ine that the moment an insurance pol- insurance Interests for selfish reasons.
Icy is in force on their property safety Mr. Fitzpatrick goes on to say, "Is it
Is assured. As to the writer, you ask natural to expect men who make their
yourselves who I am and why I come daily bread and considerable gain out
to Portland with this story I am about of the Insurance business to do very
to unfold. I will say that It Is be- much towards the realization of such
cause I wish to relieve myself an ideal city? Do you expect them to
of the charge or suspicion of being show more than half-hearted enthusl-
actuated by any other motive than asm towards fireproof construction?"
civic pride, public spirit and National He says: "The powers wielded by these
patriotism, that I am obliged to tell companies are astounding and they use
you something of the things I have them autocratically. And yet the trav-
ten, and consequently the larger will best to get their companies to accept from them and some of the mlsguld- Twenty-four hours on and twenty-four under theold V'tern.
be the premiums. The more fires the what everyone recognizes as a ques-
better the other man's misfortune Is tionable risk." Mr. Fitzpatrick show
their gain. that the insurance companies have
A city composed entirely of fireproof made money. He stated in 1914 that
buildings and in which only some small the Insurance companies in Minnesota
part of the contents could possibly collected nearly $9,000,000 In premiums
K,,i-n wnnlil Affa, nnrtr nnnnrtnn t AH Tor mat jelir, a Bum vuua. lu 111
the Insurance agents. This may ex
plain why the fire underwriters are
able to interest some of the real estate
boards, whose members mike a
portion of their living; by writing; In-
(Signed) A. J. him. He In turn Is very apt to take bis
ed associations that they have de- hours off system. Went into effect Trodick, Chief Fire Department. cue rrom me insurance interests or
ceived. I am reliably informed that April 1. (Signed) Thomas o uonnor, city of. Kansas City. Kan. Two- -ny omciais wmi mora
the C. of C. double-crossed the East Fire Marshal. - platoon went Into effect January. 1914. energy than sense who permit them-
Side Business Men's Club, In lnclud- City of Los Angeles. Cal. (letter) Has proven a perfect success. In case yv" V drafted into the service
ing their name attached to a report The public is satisfied with the sya- of a big fire that lasts more than ? r nandy..man. . the underwriters,
issued by the National Board of Fire tem. The men are more efficient. I 12 hours we have' a new shift coming fma' 1 h c; MX ' nJoy pi rlvileges on
Underwriters under date of May 21st. flnd eacn company more reliable and to relieve the tired shift. The men do 9,3u1': lha the two-platocn system
habitant, and that the losses paid out The press fairly bubbled with stories efficient. (Signed) Archie J. Eley. not -et stale as they did. No more
were only 2 per Inhabitant. Late re- that have emanated from sources that chief of Fire Department. March sleeping In day time. Some people
ports show that the United Stock Com- were bigoted, actuated by self-inter- ip 1917. run away with the idta that you have
panies Fire and Marine took in over" ests, greed. Ignorance and malicious City of Seattle. "Wash, (letter. May not the same control or discipline. This
$210,000,000 a year In premiums. He misrepresentation, "ine local rating 2 1917) it is my firm belief that i tne height of nonsense. The two-
surunce policies. A decrease in rates, a -concludes by saying that the only real bureau has even threatened . to raise thJ twopiatoon. system will be In the platoon system has also been adopted
consequent decrease In premiums, due iunction 01 lire insurance is 10 equm- rates, dui mis as an w.. tmcat.
01,0 near future adopted in all the leading by San Francisco, Minneapolis. Buffalo,
could offer them few Inducements. I
do not mean to convey that the privi
leges that these chiefs enjoy are nec
essarily open to criticism, rather are
they to be envied by their less fortu
nate subordinate. Take the case of
Fire Marshal Jay Stevens, for instance.
A fine fellow. An estimable gentle-
to a reduction of business and better 1- the loss and 1 distribute among all that they neither Intend to carry our, , f h country, fire would have Y-. and many other man who has,-done mucn tootl
nor dare carry out. The underwriters deBtroTed a greater part of our water- la'rge"cltles. Portland is the only large
dark to some of these gentlemen. They I h'.ve been able to verify from per- base their rates on losses irom ear to front Dut wa9 prevented by having paclflc Coast city not operating there-
jr or year; now, men, tan mcy tn8 two-platoon system in our ciijr. under.
n..A,,i n t . mil nf q n 1 normlt tho Ennl . ynerl enra the lnrnnsistnffv
city of San Francisco to rebuild for 'the insurance Interests, when I became rate for the city of Portland based on Loss would have been In the millions
another 'conflagration, together with
n. ,1 i fir. nr.v.niinn I lnfmes that have not yet occurrea. ana j .1 .i itm has more v itn sucn a mass 01 tviocnct as mm
iink' Km WITH AWTC AND RESPECT with an entire absence of any parallel .,, n. h r itself. Your department the question naturally arises as to
LTUM thk lissuiiKKS AiN u inc. cases on wmtii iu "-"""" T Th strengthened at every what the reasons couia oe ior so ao- Probably directly such
u.ndekwkhuks. td closer i got xne uiiuci v.. . of fire by tne on emit. ."" celvlns- the nubile as to try to convey of greater service to
" 1 I r-irir p irn AHaisuni v-u;.. "
to the fire prevention studv the more know, that it is a too-common expe
astonished I was to note what ap- rlence for fire departments to be short rlDartment.
. . . ....... . . 1 TT" .11 1. Till t. 1... .l
pearea to oe tneir coiaDiooaea inaii- 01 men. vn mo v. .nj -
ference. I had always realized that the year in San Francisco one company
question of fire losses was not a proceeded to a fire with only three
question for Commercial Clubs or men. This was a frequent occurrence
Chamber of Commerce alone, but the in the department. They did not have
great public It
shoulder the
was in the Iroq
fire prevention in the city of Portland.
thereby endearing himself to the busi
ness man and attracting the attention
of the underwriters. It could not be
hoped that auch a man would be per
mitted to run around loose very long.
men are
the ln-
epartmeni. ,,, . . system is a failure an
City of Seattle Ma rch 7 19 statement appearing in
ss by fire in 1911 was $742,337, in that u waB a fallu
1 ne service ui wio - .
lo
1916. $625,000.
the impressioi. that the two-platoon surance Interests. They are
failure anywhere. The corrawea to advantage, ana wnen thts
morning 13 accompusnea the insurance interests
re in Spokane naTf u.-vuy to t hack the whip.
partment is just as efficient as here
" ; ...11. r,rfrtH after conversation WHILE THE USEFUL ONE JUMPS
self it was that had to men enough to raise tne laaaer at ma ,manent institution. It has
burden. Whether it lire, lives were lost, dui 1 cannot, reiau .r.tlon since April 2. 1913. and
oquois Theater in Chi- that the insurance companies maae any be.en entirely satisfactory. (Signed)
ndreds of children were protest on .this particular fire. In 1913 nr. rmnirttnint.
learned in connection with this story,
which started many years ago. To
begin with, through my business, I
nave a . comfortable income, which
places me beyond the necessity of un
dertaking this work for hire. I can.
esty of it all! It Is to the Insurance
nneen whftrA 111
suffocated, or the Triangle snirtwaisi 1 Drougni 10 mo anenwun 01 mo m-
B- T. stetson. Chief of Fire Departi
Citv of Superior. Wis. Everybody
.ith the Fire Chief of Spokane who did I,roUK.h. !h HOOPS.
. . . th. ..tm frnm holnr mat iniei Stevens is
Deen . .: . . the cltv of Portland and affiliate hlm-
aaoptea ana aia nis w 10 . -h fV,
oved after it was adopted, for tne -. ' T,
n 111 ii!u 1 rimui hi-
reason he explained to the wr'iter that "ff h'""""
the men did not consult him but had h" am toIdYhaTh
vtns sleeps at
e used to sleep
expert that the laymen, our city au- factory In'.N'ew York, where 144 work- surance companies in this city the fact ' to be satisfied with the the temerity to appeal to the public Jn f(re hou8( aU f which Bhows
ing girls died by fire, suffocation, or that the wholesale drug companies w?v
were dashed to death on the sidewalk carrying dangerous quantities of ex
as they hurled their flaming bodies plosive drugs and chemicals, but I do
thorlties, our architects and our en
gineers go in seeking information
about how building should be done and
what laws to establish. To protect
therefore, say with truth that I am themselves against conflagration losses.
not in the employ of any Insurance they may deem it wise tor a city to
company, fire department associations. Install additional fire stations, more
.nir Knrnnniinns nr individuals, machines or better equipment. The
It is a healthy thing for every person people of those cities may have begged country. As I pointed out In 1912 gard promised
to have a hobby, so-called, providing for just such things for years, and when I addressed the Oregon Mothers assist me in
change. I did not advocate tne cnange. wnu vuu i .......... --- --- that the chief is a man of sense In
Personally I believe that the two- example ot vicious memous. ... . ...- that particular. which inclines one to
, . . n,nn.riv Installed In- terestinir to note that when the city .v. . .3 .
from the eighth and ninth floors of not recall that the Insurance companies tne efficiency of the depart- of Los Angeles adopted the two- u ,s dlffIcult to beUeve that Chief
this building; or in the Collinwood protested, nor was I able to gain any ment (Signed) Olaf Johnson. Chletf platoon system by overwhelming vote stevens knovrlRK tne conditions under
of Fire Department. tne ui 1 whlcn ln6 firemen of the city of Port-
......w . v. c 117 Wa POVERTY. The City Council through ., I.hnr rnnlH rlollh.ntolv nnnnta
Ufl have vet to hear' any complaint from fear presumably of the underwriters. tnem ln their Justifiable attempt to
the public. Wo have had some build- REFUSED TO INSTALL the system. lmprove the service of the city and
ing fires in the business aistrict tnreaienea to ciusu mo . lo gain ror tnemseives a more humane
where the loss would have been greater CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and BUhl- regime. UNLESS ALREADY THE
had we not had the additional mem NESd MEN'S ASSOCIATIONS howled malign INFLUENCE AND AUTO-
wlth which to combat " the fires, and ranted. It was STATED THAT CRATIC POWER OF THE INSVR-
Under the old system we had difficulty THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ANCE WORLD had NOT STRETCHED
ln flndinu men to make application ior WOULD RAISE ihe.ik kaii-o, ult us mailed 11st and polnteu
that hobby Is a useful one to human their appeals were unneeaea; out lei Congress ln this city, the loss is a tax dlnance
eociety. Some people are Interested ln the underwriters make these same de- on tne public, whether it be sorrow and broken.
clean streets, others in pure jnilk; Jauu aim mo aumonucn ..cmc griei irom tne aeam 01 lovea ones, or icumjn
ethers in better roads, some ln Im
proved transportation, still others ln
housing, child welfare, hospital work.
etc. Many of us are interested In
number of these things to a certain
extent, but there is usually some one
Any ruling made by the local board Is and inconvenience to business.
School disaster in Ohio, or in the great assistance from John Burgard.. then a
San Francisco fire, the financial shock member of the city government, and
of which was felt throughout the fire Insurance agent, although Mr. Bur
me that he wo
having an or-
comnly. The fact is the companies are the hardahlna encountered in the de- nothing
well organizea ana mey Biana xogemer. struction of homes or the financial loss unman
1912 and
passed. The promise was
I brought this to the at
of the underwriters,' but
came of it. When the
Hotel burned here ln
man jumped from
a adhered to and sustained by all the Twenty years ago T first encountered a third-story window and fractured
i . l;,o. skull the injury. together with
It is to the former's laxity and their T ,. . r- , horrible burns causing his death, it
cause that interests us more than the willingness to Insure poor risks earlier T d,d not tnen cotnprehend the ra'mifl- was a matter of official record that
other, and that we seem to understand ln the game that must be attributed ln catjons 0f their meddling ln city poll- tno ' firo department of Portland
better. To me tne stuay ana science ercm in me cunumuui mai. now io...- t- - fact even today they take " repeatea notice on tne own
,m position on the department. From my erendum tutition was circulated and with certainty to the new duties that
i experience I'll say we have no desire tne cjty put to the expense of a sec- were to be expected from the employed.
V? to return to the old system. (Signed) ond election. AGAIN THE MEASURE Still other chiefs hope to curry favor
of fire prevention and fire protection, pel them, ln self-protection to demand at a to' explaIn that they
Involving as it does life and property, the additional safeguard they are In- lnterfere ln political matters. 1
do not ers that the STATE LAW ON FIRE
Jos. Randall. Chief Fire Department. CARRIED BY OVERWHELMING vote, by their attitude. Mill others are ln
Cltv of Yonkers. N. Y. The fire loss The f rehouses were closed. The Coun- favor of the two-platoon system
and per capita loss on fires was as cii rent the air asunder with howls WHEN NOBODY IS LISTENING. That
follows: 1912. $3.84: 1913, $2.98; 1914, that the city was ruined, but the system many of these chiefs could be easily
aws or
ESCAPES WAS VIOLATED.
braces one of the greatest Importance slsting upon. The companies are not In- ordinances. I find that this is largely recall that the owners failed to
of National resources, and points to tne terested in a city's welfare, nor in Tnai. t WHEN IT SUITS THEIR CON
blackest pages of neglect of the his- or Its cltisens. -iney exist tor tne soie VENIEXCE. Kor instance. when I
tory of this country. liiven a casual purpvsc 01 u.a.uK j -
observer can hardly help pausing ln members, salaries for their officers,
the contemplation of this National profits for their stockholders.
w ny ao me insurance companies
meddle ln the affairs of the city of
Portland? Mr. Fitzpatrick has an an
swer that applies to this question. Go
ing back to the days when Portland
was a mere village, the remarks made
their Insurance on this property nor
that the Insurance com
ln the name of human
I do not 19". $1.25: 1916, $2.05; of 21 cities
0 collect having a per capita loss during 1915 of
less man i, per cmi o. m... '
panies protested, two-platoon cities, and of the 29 cities
lity, against this having a per capita loss of more than
calamity.
fnyisifier that out of near
ly 16.000,000 buildings ln the United
States only approximately 10,000 ap
proach fireproof construction.
omo to Merlford Orearon. In 1909. I l"" ""e "i iiurnau
" ; " ":, ; to ' conditions criminal carelessness, although they o not one Deiongs in mo
th rlrd J fl orotec! new that the operations of the fire column. The health of firemen has
Improved there regarding fire protoe department were hampered by the vlo- been materially affected n our city. In
'l,It "onF insurance T interests la"on. I do recall, however, that with 1913 there were 915 days lost in Illness;
butThen I made an apnea? to them to the picture of the dead man in my In 1914. 110 days: 1915. 126 days; affect
but when I made an appeal to mem to sufficient number of af- lr,- a savin a- to our city of several
went into effect. The firehouses re
opened; the Insurance companies did
not raise their rates; the city was not
ruined; quite the contrary. About a
month ago the estimable committee,
some of whose names appear on the
special report Issued by the National
spared WITHOUT Impairing the effi
ciency of the department is Indicated
by the report that during the month
of May this year, at a second-alarm
fire in the city of Portland, which
threatened to assume serious propor
tions. NEARLY A HALF HOUR
' - , a was a mere vi.iaKc. mc icuiaiiui
There is but one absolutely perfect , ' .1 i-i,.
tuilding ln the country this being lo- UcaDle He states: -when a building
cated ln Chicago. The hottest fire you waa erected ,n tne center of a
could build about t or in " would b,ock u wa8 not particuiarly exposed
Jo hardly a hundred dollars worth of tQ external flro. lt Was most natural
damage. Listen to what t. vv. therefore that the companies should
Patrick has to say about fire condl- make a iow rate upon it, even though It
tions and fire insurance companies, and waB Dullt of inferior construction. Then
then ask yourselves If you can afford wnen another building was erected
to sro over this article unheeding. nn A hinv .lthnnirh iha
Those of you who have children in the danser to botn was increased, still the
to h-ve introduced in the City Council fidavlts I presented the matter to the thousand dollars Pennsylvania nas
I received detailed letters as to how Krand jury, with the District Attorney. JuBt passed a law making lt mandatory
Lnosslble it wil and mat I m us t de-1 George Cameron, and I made a re- upon Philadelphia to Install the system.
pTnd on my w5 tnthustasm and ?he Ouest for an indictment against the (s,Ked) Charles L. fankey Captain
intelligence of the local authorities. I owners for manslaughter but the TrUck Company No. 1. honkers Fire
found a dry-cleaning establishment ln grand jury would not indict, under Jn- Department.
Medford. This was a frame building, structions from the D strict Attorney. c, Qf Scranton, Penn.. May 21. 1917.
On the floor were five or six barrels Profiting by this experience, I returned Department of Public Safety. I am
of naphtha and gasoline. The opera- to Medford. where I found a similar an indorser of the two-platoon system
tions were In charge of a Chinaman, condition In a hotel there. I wrote s,nce seelng its benefits. On second
who drew the gasoline from the drums the Insurance people again through the alarm flres we have had the firemen
In. a five-gallon kerosene can. This Board of Lnderwr ters. I protested of our clty respond nobly and without
was a regulation square can. similar . .- : notification whatever. xours rraiwci-
- , , , attractive 10 convince a miru man mat , . H.giilnz heneh was an I1D- tnat 1
Interests ln the downtown districts and tha(. sort of con8tructlon was perfectly boiler Vith thrive goTng tempc
who any night might be awakened by Bafe and aU that wa needed. He. too. ri,"btUlalav onnd in the rear was r
IV'J"1!1?" dtht.8orC"avf rwi8tnenss thJlb'?k' a"d A"" t?'.P; Sib. MlitofTltt-toS them.
dren
that at least their policies should be Lf "ii.U- -i'-tsm has' been
1 1 a tvo-.w.. j
effect in our city since .warcn ,
. -Al AmlnAntlv
half I sue- 1913. It nas proven
.... ' - - - In everv respect. 1 ne
ages ranging from 4 to 7 years, ceeaeo. in compe.i.ns; m morals of the men are much better,
- 'i i -o ,here "V - regulation square can. similar -"y . ..
fr.T.Ventroction ".Wstuit "m?anif" .TAKL" Z to those sold by the Standard OH Com- "OU: fully. Peter J. Rosar. superintendent
. 1 1 .t,c v " nanv 'I' wn TV TftT AWAV I mm LflB vu ' .w ' ,
menace, ana those wno nave attractive to convince a third man that Y " ".. ' , 1 C.h w- .n ,,o-
nnrarllv fnncelled iintil th. abuse
eemeHled T trnt nnaistance from n
. AetAw. va. onH .a Vt A 1 f T mi. 1913.
. . . . t . n ' . i . hntiiinr were a nair-oozen cnii- ' -" - -
fire apparatus ana wno maj v. and the companies, realizing that lt
the destruction of the city of Portland was no ionKer a case of the possibility
as the fire king sweeps up from its of havlng- to pay for one building in
rotten waterfront properties, the prod- that block but that lf th6 fire started
tict of a past neglect, a present ln ono the whole lot of them were
menace. In his excellent treatise on
firs and fire losses Mr.
ora 1 r- h or Ind SDUtaDlfi. vl I . i . 1 - it nainl. r,f rvi.-. , v-... - -. - ..... , i 1 A . - .
pwt. " ' .- - WOIIUCU. E'j'O-.u, o .- .v,, - T rrt j ir I T- Tv q r t t C-T. t II C lire l-l-UI UDIU.n. A w. Ill a iusd ' ' " - . I-
.i . i -.,),,.,. vhn muRt . . , ABOUT IT. and HAD iNtoUxti.D itia . . , 1 -u ...t.m to no comments to make,
x iizpau n-a d w . i-oniana: 11 anomcr man wanicu 10 . x-- x.--, TT T .-,,m two later 1 went to xos Angeies. uuo annually unocr mo . , , , T a who on-
be listened to. His experience com- build there he had to do lt much better 1 tl f.,,.... Vv. . - , TupDPTfnH While there I received a request from $22,000 the past year. There no '".' , rTV rr, the
ih merits of the sys- vo ... ----. - - ----.-. --- ----
BUREAU. This rating bureau Is protection "' .r.t ron- !m -1 .J
J? C t1 1 .-,"J? . f "i ' , Jlr, Vh- t. slderable money ln an endeavor to start our city. Fred
w h,;.., which informed me that a chapter, and. trying to have some partment. (Signed.)
the company Insuring the property
board of fire underwriters on May 21, ELAPSED BEFORE A SINGLE CHIEF
1917 opposing the two-platoon system APPEARED ON THE SCENE of action,
in the city of Portland. This special and WAS THIS MADE A SPECIAL
committee was then ln Los Angeles FEATURE OF THE UNDERWRITERS'
conducting a survey, ln an Interview REPORT. I suppose lt is all right for
with the writer ln their office ln the Chief Stevens and the chiefs who
Citizens' National Bank building. They WERE ABSENT FROM THIS fire,
expressed a pleasure at the two-pla- and whose absence was caused, I am
toon system in the Los Angeles fire told, by their being busily engaged
department. They pointed with pride ln a campaign against the two-
to the fact that some 70 or 80 members platoon system. But I suppose that
of the off shift had reported at a large neither Chief Stevens nor the under-
fire on Broadway the week before, writers anticipated that there were
thereby preventing what might have peopla so near to Portland to take
been a conflagration ln the city of Los the time and trouble to inform the
Angeles, and they promised that this citizens of a few facts that might
would be mentioned in their report of otherwise go unnoticed. I have a few
their survey in the' city of Los Angeles, more cards up my sleeve that I am
Listen and you will learn how to blow prepared to lay on the table lf the
hot and cold with ono breath. This Board of Underwriters and business
would be a nice little antl-cllmax to men opposing the two-platoon system
the pamphlet they Issued entitled "Tke are interested. .
Shame of rittbnrr." where they en- possibly the time will come when
aeavorca 10 hhuuio wmw . w . . -j. ., f, .m !.-. w .,r
. T.nir.n- m.hr,t of Insnectlons m&de pos-
A.nm.v .f .Toclcnon one method OI inspections man- "-""-
some wisdom about slble by the two-piatoon .". ""
toon system ln that city the responsi
bility for a disastrous fire, due to a
building of rotten construction, which
they were only too glad to Insure. This
survey committee, which heralds its
coming months ln advance, misses some
proDamy nave
nor have the
?. ! ?f'UrU? XTecoSd7tioTL'"sriDiN: the District Att,
1 T, meir rsie upon mew a... -t "' , --.x. mM T A TJT tt5 TfTtfEW ALL County, ana gainea some wisuom auoui sioie o mo , . . ,k. ... Th(- orohahlv have
putable. Mr wondCrful system, is it not, people of SURANCE COMPLIES KNEW ALL insurance business. A year or fire loss has been decreased from $100- of the fine points -They probaUr have
r wno musi -Portland? "If another man wanted to -"" . " . . .... i... t to Ancrelea. nun .nnnallv under the
His exnerlence com- v....u .v.- v.- v. . i, --,oh h.tt.r PROPERTY AND O. Ki. 11. 1 couia . IXX V . ' ....
".'J. n7.i.irv v, Has oe- -T .' ...r V," not believe thts. I THEREFORE niie mere x , i7 "t4-"V ..'- .l
inanus i x .v-.... , ; : man me omcro. xin. i --o ... j. ...... e. T-t-. Tu,. prtRTT.A ND RATING the iioston oilice OI mo i-nu-iuu " " questlG
cupled the position of executive officer else than what was almost fireproof was ?SVatt "This 7l b ureau Is Protection Association to start a chap- tem.
.f the International bociety or o.-i- nrnitihitlv.. The comoanv didn't want
and Municipal Building Commissioners. to as8ume any more risks there; then
According to Mr. Fitzpatrick's com- they turned their attention to pro-
jnentB on fire insurance, he states: tection. The city was notified that lt
'Flre insurance companies by refusing wouid have to put ln a fire station
to make sufficiently discriminating near that block, more hydrants and
rates against poor building construe- greater pressure. Not that the compa-
tion have enormously increased the nel KRVr. a thought to the city's safety
v...vv Indorsement of xaci in. n' n wo-i .... . . . . -, -
leTdinr cltlTens of water tower, the year before the two
Maitfn Chief of De- Platoon system went Into effect. par
Martin, cruel or ub r...0,. , , OT,d was so corn-
had adjusted the rate of insurance
to conform with the hazard. In other
words, the customer was paying a lit
tle more for the privilege of conduct-
ordinances passed for the protection of city of Topeka, Kan., March 12, 1917.
life and. property, x mei wi.u opo- Th health of the members
sitlon. from the Fire Commissioner. Air. whole haB been better than ever before.
Yates. This- experience Is all set forth The discipiine Is the best ln the history
The San Francisco Call"
No-
. a in rrt,. ria vn l oiinnpr
-, ..T,tifieally r . .r. i .J lntr his business under criminally care- "" " . ,... year we navo naa several oau .rC put ln
-a-sr-ra SSSr H-s iSSSS jJS
em. The fires would be put out as couia get ixu musia.ih..., tomers, V was interfering with or """"ering w.m m Ti"""'-"".
as possible, ln order to minimize bis x !-,. anu m k." ...". -lro"" " T i-...-- tn the wor. x...... -
possible losses. establishment was able to laugh UNTIL their business I ZjfJ (Signed.)
, . througn tne assisianco o um nmion-i ' ' Lincoln. Neb.. March 6. 1317. our
Fi'Zt "? m"T 1 om" Fire Chief he was coi -pelled to erect York. I wrote letters to the National -. "nn. are much smaller under the
sclc to the ultimate consumer! he payo ..,iiHin. ..4 h.ir. th tank. tti,. Protection Association, and. al- rire losses are mutn
. w - - i,nn hi. niarnnn BVBiem. ,.-
and how cities were managed from the been paid to tako that chance, and lt In danger through this rotten condl-
viewpolnt of fire prevention, xne un- was nothing but tne part oi gooa dusi- '". . . , ... -
derwrlters issue very learned treatises ne8s to in turn make the city insure Fire Underwriters In New York.
of modern construction, but that ac- th
comDllshes very little because .- x soon
1X NOT MAKE THEIR RATES CON- their
SONANT WITH THEIR IDEA UN
BOUND CONSTRUCTION. There Is
not enough difference between rates
on a superior building and those on a
very ordinary one to make people be
lieve that there Is any advantage ln
building properly."
Residents of Portland, listen to this
statement by Mr. Fitzpatrick and you
will understand better some of the
jnotivea that prompt the National
Board of Fire Underwriters to send
their so-called survey committee on
nrevantion to make recommenua
Am TiMra Commissioner, he fought k..i tn nnirt.rn. maklncr it Dossible
I wrote the National Board of bitterly this proposed ordinance, and to have two or three extra Jioso com-
I stated at a public hearing mat nis vuo- panies in service, without crippling
the Insnrance rates and also the taxes con.peiied by an ordinance that I man
for the protection demanded by the tQ t paaSed by the local Coun
companies, for. their Interests. Think mTTHnTiT THR ASSISTANCE OI
Aa.cn. ...-.... .1..K1. nl9.r.r.v. .VHt.m.
though tno national -o... o. """T'Z r.-.,r. wa- 141.000 greater for the year
how stupid he is to keep on permitting 1SBVTLAVICK COMPANIES. And the Fire Commissioner of Los Angeles tem and our f re loss was J. "
both ends, as it were, to be played i.-. k w i ..,,rd that nothing could be under the two-platoon system than
! The romnanies are ln a . . r: . . ;. T.,. T- . ..- -...i.i.. nnrn- under the single system. l no men
estrfwatemorf.re0- no?V u f or he H'i. s i tion. I have given names and dates, com. to . orH
f8it?P.W-tfr.0--Sti1 Platoon Bill, but I come to you with facts and figures. are able to do better
against him
position to en
If their requ
men' r .tPP . - LA rr..i.; clean hands and I ask you to vote for
Nell T.
. , v. v. 1 t th. P,)rmn'l
Ll particular - , ,!, mil t. " . : . . . A ment.
hlnz-lr and on the whole cltv. At times " -..-- - - - - . . TWO-i'iatoon in m -
Department of Public Safety, March
rvnoie -11.. x-t un. - , Wl.v. nntl. ...llno- r.o -- ...
fire prevention to maae ' p-""'""""" they have even withdrawn entirely "Timi office with exnerience based very Dl"er' . Vv, noVltlon The 10. 1917. Atlantic City. Tha health and
pletely smothered In flowers as to
make it Impossible to use the appara
tus. Nor did the survey committee of
the underwriters know that the con
nptiftn. were removed from the water
During the last tower and that the tower could not be
service for 15 minutes and that
was located on the East Side
geles, where frequent delays
to freight trains and where
the buildings are few of them over
three stories high, because there was
not sufficient accommodation ln the
fire department to place this apparatus
elsewhere; nor possibly the survey
committee, with their astute observa
tions, may have overlooked something
that on one of their previous Inspec
tions in a certain flrehouse they in
spected the !Ose and were very much
pleased with the quantity and quality
of the new hose, notwithstanding that
this hose was not put in service until
30 minutes before their arrival and
was removed from the house within an
hour after their departure. And these
are the gentlemen who would come to
you ln Portland, leading you to be
lieve that they are eminent authorities
on fire department management. Not
better condition and
work. (Signed.)
Sommer, Chief Fire Depart-
have meddled in these affairs, and
that may be the time when an out
raged public sentiment, rising against
the Iniquities of this malicious med
dling, will demand an investigation of
the insurance interests of the United
States, exposing the lobby that is main
tained at various state capitals, and
figuratively take these people by the
scruff of the neck.
They who pretend to have so much
at stake when EVERY CENT that they
COLLECT IS drawn from THE PUB
LIC PURSE, from the unburned prop
erty to pay the burned, with a . fat
margin left over: for fine offices, good
salaries and pretty little calendars.
The public might be interested later
on to learn of some of their activities
in New York state, and of how, when
the Fire Commissioner of New York
City chartered a special train on the
New York Central to take a delegation
to Albany, the State Capital, to have
a bill passed to regulate the evils of
the insurance business, and of which
delegation I was a member.; and that
a feature of this bill was a require
ment that insurance agents be obliged
to inspect property before it was In
sured, and the Insurance LORRY WAS
THERE AT ALBANY AND BEAT US.
How does this affect Portland, you
say? It affects Portland because Fire
Marshal Stevens showed up this very
evil ln the city of Portland when he
Insured a chair and fireman's hat and
one or two other small articles of
furniture for some ten or fifteen . thou
sand dollars through an insurance
agency that never even saw the prop
erty, and vet these same Insurance
to nave tneir
. . , ., i . . v. neonie now spi"-ar
necessary subject, of their profession tcTm u
r rtrn.nt and the nrotectlon of how to vote. It is for the public to
'Mill 111UO"- aO A UCWI111111SJ " - -
iAsics -afiii.rrrif.niB. cu jui MTV TO T 1 m v nnn T n - . . t m m nuuiaiio vwo.uo . . , tt i
yiraco rt t.,u anri . ' , ' - r - , timo- thiit I aifLVA BleDt In fir nouBCS :: 7 jaAant4An nraeticcrd. the same lOlgnea; jameB rwicy, secrei-ry. iiro uepiiruuciii .n f"1"'" Vfc w,- ... . i i
HiiZ: read what i have "to noting before -d with knowledge gained by my ex- ."etabl, Tbuslnes, men', associations. .Anaconda. MonU March 10. 1917.- human live. , 1, not a .ry par o I'TltorlrZt o'ff Ire chiefs'.
1 .vnarl At.fA VOII t x. J 4..a, .V. - 4 I . J . DRnenCD ttO vv Ol-avi a vwua va. W ftf I
say from my personal experience, you hastens to do Just what lt Is ordered to Pf.rien.co f8,,a1 Jie,T8?
can consider with a greater intelligence d( by the companies. An Insidious this city, 1911-lz. J. p
when
newspaper report
resent these faot
this raid advertlsem
' of rl?i,.7 of Commerce, lined up like The two-platoon system gives better the business they represent. Ind
acts Pa"l , Id to tnT slaughter under the service, better efficiency, better class of ually. the insurance people are pi
ent. fJedt . SrtSni me men. more Interest, off shift responds bly a-tender-hearted as a Spring 1
roba- or tousiness men s ciudb. h 13 ur
amb- children, tnat nave 10 auena m pui-
U aUVBrilHClUCIil. ... . a. 1 A. a. X. -a ra 1atln TI.A III HIl- a IlllCi Via. Dll l A. w a - J . i . 1 . JU i A 4 Fx tha l- f rrt r T
wl? l7rS-Ttrv-S; bought and paid for by myself ; wjth ptlanTVhere.Tn 77 they M'"" TZXtZi K
and vou will be able to get a true question. "Do the stock fire my own free will and not by any lnjuring and retarding the city's system. (Signed) Charles ColllnB. Chief mlg Btjr r. 0"et Uect , of tho cty of Portland TO PROTECT
gauge of values as to how deeply as insurance companies really want firemen, fire department association or tn ar endangering Its safety be- Firs DepaMment - prooablV In- THOSE LITTLE LIVES. It Is your
a business body the insurance com- fire protectionr' and goes on to interested Parties. . My fbject to au OQ many of the member, have City of Colorado Springs Colo.. April ad "..'J. .rTitudt on auch homes, with their treasure keepses.
S.nies and underwriters are interested say- "The companies are con- show you the deception being practiced tn almighty dollar and 10. 1917. I am very much pleased the '"c"' !rUT k.. " "."ir master's that are endangered. It IS YOli:
in orotectlng the lives of the little stantly preaching protection to the In- In this city; to show you the selfish t y ttle tlme ln studying city way the two-platoon system has ""TnT publl naturally asks it- BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. MR. BUSI-
chlldren who attend the Portland 8Urlng public, but what are they them- greed of the insurance companies, their verment with the rights and re- worked out. Would not go back to the fw ZJ of me re chiefs in NESS MAN. upon which the INSUR-
schooTa and your good selves during selvesdolng to encourage to make Indifference to the protection o hu- pon8lbUltles of citizens. If my state- old sy,ra under any consideration. wh " mtyand "e l .apparent ANCE WORLD LEVIES TRIBUTE,
me nighl when the city sleeps under practical this protection? If the com- man life property My interest is we truo. the., rentlemen Undcr the old system It was difficult OPp08 tfon to tM. two-platoon system. AND IT IS YOUR BEAUTIFUL ROSE-
w nc or in. Tire acuari- names wanted to in . y couiu cut me -v---. ' . wnuin never jiw h to Kei uikii j v.. ...v... n , , . . . v. a wt. tia neen in tniR . .rv.v - j . ' " ... .........
the Drotecting
ment. Mr. Fitzpatrick
.the insurance compa
frankly, fear and guard
.Lcatlnn v.t In the V
things lt is human for them NOT TO vices and systems that prevent and ex
says "that they fire loss of this country ln half. Fire of Portland more efficient, better fire t( nave been parties to a deception pienty 0f high-class eligibles at all
nies), to put It protection has become an issue between service, and to give the men of the pract,ced on the public. times. The oncoming crew is full of
against con- the insurance companies and the insur- x-ortiano. ... c -.-,, read this article may also enthusiasm for their work and the off---..7
.,. f nr mt,nn The nubile is buviner de- manity and freedom from industrial 1 ou . i. .vi i. i.-n. th.t th.v . .xin.t,...
rrri V. n -r . Ann Tn RIU t I3111C 11 mill- l. ...j r "P.
v nen any
slavery and persecution.
iSiS!? ASKANCE AT VERT PRE- tlngulsh fire. When the property own- one comes to the public either for or a morni ng pap e ;
tvT SMALlT AND VERY MODER- er pays for the fire protection he ex- against a proposed change in the city 0ther ci
7 SpF FIRES.- Thev all pects to save Insurance premiums, be- government you have to consider their operated In omer c.
J A xJ- JL
asr-larntA ftTlfl llTlDrOVe. DUHineBS. JB.UOC VMC WOO . . " " - 7 " t . .aUo-r.rnl Ml STTlAu. . DV IlTft CJlieiS. Ill
roVses are so distributed that no one less fire loss, and this in turn should tneir i" "hh the two-platoon system has op- city of Great
comnany suffers much, even from a mean a cheaper insurance, . x- its- Y V Zt erated. There are too many to give 117. My oplnl
bisr fire, and the oftener fires . patrica goes on i to say tnat m .oca. -""-"V- " " all of them in detail, but I will quote that lt Is out
1 " .fi. tions occur, the agents of me aiirerent companies are out mcir m-"'-., " .-m.ii, -
Stnr certain pple are to Insure, interested, not ln good building, but ln and I will expose the deception and from them br ef ly,
more certain pcoun. . . . . , ... . , . . . - .v,-. 0T.nar . . , -i... rt, ..n
and the
larger will be the policies writ- premiums,' and they will try their very statements that appear to emanate City of Chicago. 111.
Va.a ,.. th
morning paper, in wnicn it woui. to tneir nomes anu m.ir .amines .or a
platoon system a-, whole aay or nignt. x uciicvo tno two-
ities was a failure, platoon system will be universal.
I have ln my possession letters and (Signed) P. C. McCartin, Chief Firo
Denartment.
Falls. Mont-. March 1.
on of tho old system Is
of date. Discipline has
been good in the department. The men
(telegram) do not lay off as . much as they did
fight for 16 years, lt is no new feature, grow up ln its center a festering mass
Now and then a chief has sufficient of corruption in building construction
manhood, determination, strength of that line its waterfront, endangering
character, and. Impelled by a sense of the more modern construction, threat
duty to openly declare himself ln favor enlng a holocaust, and a large part
of what he knows to be the best for the of the responsibility of which, accord
interests of the city and becomes an Ing to good authority, is vested ln the
advocate of the two-platoon system, atuocratlc power representing the in-
Before It is adopted ln the city. 90 per surance world of the T.nitel States
cent of them are I against It. After It 1. WHO DARE COME TO THE CTTY OF
adopted 99 er cent are In favor of It. PORTLAND WITH THTS GUILT OX
Their opposition is classified. Some THEIR BUSINESS SOUL AND TELL
cater to the big fellow, the chief of YOU HOW TO VOTE. VOTB X ES.
department, and take their cuo from Amendment 102.
The writer was Instrumental In havln. the Portland fire alarm telegraph
bureau, atrenarthened In 1012 and was one of those responsible for the Oregon.
State law teaching fire prevention In the schools throughout the state.
Vote X Yes, Aniendm
(Paid Adv. by F. H. Cowles, Hotel Benson. Jane 1st, 1917.)
ent 102
F. H. COWLES
Member of National Fire Protection Association.
Member American Red Cross.
Life Member Tri-State Good Road3 Association.
Member Veterans' Association Naval Militia, New York.
Member Oregon State Motor Association.
Member California State Automobile Association.
Member of Press Club, Los Angeles.
Member University Club, Medford, Oregon.
Honorary Member Fireman's Association, N. Y. Fire Department.
Honorary Member Fireman's Association, Chicago
Honorary Member Fireman's Association, Los Angeles
Honorary Member Fireman's Association, San Francisco
Member Medford Golf and Country Club.
1