THE INSURANCE INCENDIARY

THE INSURANCE INCENDIARY

How far the Insurance Companies are responsible for tho numerous fires occuring all over tho country, is a question which is not only interesting Firemen at the present time, but also the insurance men themselves. It is not to be supposed, of course, that insurance companies employ incendiaries to burn up property which shall involve them in loss, but the rockless manner in which some of the companies over-insure property, is offering a premium to the owner to turn incendiary, and burn up his property for the sake of tho insurance. The fact, too, that persons guilty of arson are so seldom brought to punishment, is another inducement to tho porpetration of the crime. If this was a matter that affected only tho insurance companies and the assured, we would say let incendiarism rage, for those companies that insure property away bell ut, large

has an interest in tho subject, far beyond that of either the insured or the insurer. Every tiro that is stared, either intentionally or accidentally, places in peril all contiguous property. Indeed, tho peril is not confined to property in the in,mo-1 diate vicinity of the origin of the fire,I as has been demonstrated in the great disasters which have overtaken so many cities within the past few years. A man who sets fire to his house, worth $10,000, e c ,r ,. lor tne purpose of recovering #25,000] worth of insurance, endangers the party and the lives of all his neighbors. As a consequence, tho public at large has a direct interest in prohibiting the insurance companies from offering pre miums for incendiarism.