Show I FIRE INSURANCE RATES II I I Boston Underwriter Declares that They Arc Entirely Too Low 11 Milwaukee Aug 31 lMiiilons for comfort but not n cent for style said President ood worth as ho called to order the convention of the National Association of Local Fire Insurance Agents today taking off his coat and conducting the meeting attired In at shirt waist The first speaker was Henry H Putnam Put-nam of Boston Discussing the present situation lire Insurance ho said The business today Is in a state 0 turmoil and distress which we arc told by veteran underwriters Is unprecedented since the Chicago and Boston tires Tariffs are far too low to provide for a normal rate of burning expenses are higher than ever before agents are multiplying industrial changes arc threatening the interests of both companies and agents brokerages and overhead writing are undermining the I business of agents while legislation J I promises n revolution in the rate making methods which have been pursued I pur-sued by the companies for throoqunr j I ters of n century He recommended that In view of the extraordinary circumstances confrontIng confront-ing the business of lire Insurance as aI whole the time was ripe for the appointment ap-pointment of a fire conference committee com-mittee by the national association representing rep-resenting the different aactiona as well as nity und country agents to meet with similar conference committees from the national board of fire wrltcro the New England Insurance exchange the Eastern union the Southeastern Tariff association the Western Union and the Pacific coast board during October Oc-tober or November for the purpose of discussing and If possible formulating n programme upon the following subjects sub-jects Hate legislation compensation multiple agencies overhead writing brokerages and trust lines vAt this afternoons session George I3 Sheldon of tin National Underwriters1 association delivered an address The call of States was then continued and condition In fire Insurance circles from all over the country were recited President Wootiworth said that the Idea of the suggestion made by A I Styles of Texas that ugtnlB organize and afflllnto with tho American Federation Feder-ation of Labor was simply for tho protection of agents from hoatllc legislation legis-lation In States where antltruut laws are applied to Insurance organizations In Texas Missouri and Arkansan labor organizations arc exempt from the provisions pro-visions of the antitrust Jaws and so the local insurance agents form labor unlonH The plan 1ms been successful in Texas Chairman Pcllette of the resolutions committee said there would be no radical measures recommended In the committee report The reports of tho nominating and resolution committees will be made tomorrow President AVoodworth stated that It Is likely the choice of the next meeting place will be iaft with the executive committee |