The Fire Insurance Contract ITS HISTORY AND INTERPRETATIO. Compiled and Edited by, and Published under The Insurance Society of New York PUBLIC LIBRARY 92176A ASTOR, LENOX AND R 1923 L Copyright, 1922 The Insurance Society of New York PREFACE "The wisdom of any generation," says an old writer, "is the best thoughts of its learned men." The policy contract is the most important document in the fire insurance business for it is the visible and tangible evidence of the goods sold; the bridge between company and customer; the charter of their respective rights and privileges, and the rock of safety or of wreck in their mutual relations. The simplest and clearest language is sometimes susceptible of more than one interpretation, so it is not strange that there are differences of opinion regarding portions of the standard policy. The lectures here printed in permanent form when arranged by The Insurance Society of New York were intended to include a clear and comprehensive interpretation of the debatable features of the policy contract, such as "Cash Value," "Cancellation," "Increase of Hazard," "Liability," "What is a Fire," etc., and to illumine such questions as "Agents' Authority," "Adjustments," "Coinsurance," "Trust & Commission Clauses," "Use & Occupancy" and many others indicated in the table of contents. The course was notably successful, creating wide-spread interest, and many of the lectures found their way into all parts of the world where insurance is writ ten. While the Society assumes no responsibility for anything contained therein, the character and standing of those who gave so generously of their time and thought to the various subjects dealt with and the thorough and convincing manner in which each was treated is a warranty of their merit and foundation for the belief that here will be found "the wisdom of this generation" within the limits of the matters covered. It is with great satisfaction that the Society makes them available in convenient form for the benefit and use of all those to whom these subjects are of interest. ALLEN E. CLOUGH, Chairman. Publication Committee. |