The Spirit of 1906 | Page 9

of which I was the
representative to go on record for the second time, publicly, as pledging
itself to pay so tremendous an amount of money out of the pockets of
its stockholders; that I was present at the meeting to carry out the
expressed instructions and wishes of these same stockholders and that
they intended to be scrupulously careful in keeping their promises,
backing their words with their deeds and dollars. This statement
brought from the dollar-for-dollar companies a gratifying amount of
applause and the "six-bit-ers" sank into silence.
As the days passed and the "tumult and shouting" died, it gave a certain
amount of satisfaction to find that amongst the jeerers and sneerers at
the memorable Reed's Hall meeting, those who had battled most
vigorously for the horizontal cut of twenty-five cents were those who
afterward developed into the worst welshers and shavers in the entire
history of the loss settlements of the San Francisco or any other
conflagration. The "sparkling" Rhine, the "still" Moselle, the far-famed

"Dutchess," the German of Freeport, the Traders of Chicago, the
Austrian Phoenix, the Calumet, the American of Boston and others
soon after sought the seclusion which a receiver or cessation of
business in California grants, and like the Arab, they folded their tents
and silently stole away.
At the termination of the meeting, President Chase of the Hartford,
President Damon of the Springfield, Chairman Spencer and several
others, all leaders in dollar-for-dollar ranks, some of whom are alive
and some of whom are gone, gathered around and congratulated the
California upon its attitude. Individually, it gave me a feeling of pride
and satisfaction to be the representative of a company which manfully
stood up to the rack with the best traditions of American fire insurance.
It may be well to recall to mind as a historical fact that it was at this
meeting the term "dollar-for-dollar" companies was born.

Coming Back to San Francisco

Early in June we made arrangements to vacate our quarters in Oakland
in the Blake and Moffitt Building, and on the 5th of that month the
California was moved to an office in San Francisco. This was a
temporary frame structure erected on identically the same site which
the company had occupied prior to the fire, and where the magnificent
new skyscraper known as the "Newhall" Building now stands. As
things go now, it was not much of an office either as to style or
appearance, but it was roomy, light, well ventilated and comfortable
and in every respect preferable to the two crowded rooms that had so
hospitably housed us in Oakland. The return to San Francisco
heartened us. The daily trip from the city to Oakland and return had
been a hardship, in addition to the time lost when every minute was too
precious to be wasted. Less time was lost in crossing the bay than in
getting to and from the Ferry. The street cars were not in operation and
I was compelled daily to make the walk over the hills and through the
ruins threading my way through the ashes and over brick piles a
distance of quite two miles, from my home to the water front. This
twice a day for six days a week, and often seven, was exhausting in the
extreme, so the wear was not altogether mental. The thought was very
often in my mind that I had about the most trying job of anyone in the

business. Other managers seemed to me to be paying very little
attention, if any, to the detail of settling claims and, of course, had
nothing whatever to do with providing the sinews of war. They were
fortunate in being able to pursue the even tenor of their way, their
entire business and time being occupied with current routine, just as if
nothing of an extraordinary nature had happened. This condition arose
from the fact that the companies in the East hurried to San Francisco
and Oakland all the adjusters, both near and alleged, that they could
obtain from any portion of the United States and a few from abroad, in
order that the losses might be promptly taken care of. The home offices
saw to it that the funds were provided. The special agents and field men
of these offices were not disturbed in their usual work and were rarely,
if ever, made use of at headquarters to make adjustments. With the
California it was quite different. Our entire field force was called in and
promptly clothed with authority to adjust. This left our agency plant
entirely unprotected as to cultivation. Financially, we were in such a
crippled condition that we felt we could not afford the expense of
employing independent adjusters. These were a luxury in any event and
some of