Another instance is recalled of a claim for a thousand dollars covering
on lodging house furniture in a building on Sixth street, with the loss
made payable to the owner of the building. I supposed that the policy
was collateral for payment of rent. It developed that the claimant was a
widow with one child. She was without a cent in the world, and called to
request payment. By this time the company was running short of ready
funds to such an extent that instructions had been issued to adjusters
that all claims hereafter would take the customary sixty days before
payment. She stated that the fire had canceled her lease, that she had
seen the payees and that they would waive the claim and that she was
absolutely destitute and would be willing to take whatever we would
offer, if she could get the cash. The position of the company was
explained to her with the result that she felt that we were working for
a discount. But it was not the intention of the California to take
advantage of people's necessities and we informed her that such was the
case. Her claim was a just one. I accepted her proofs, paid her
twenty-five per cent cash and the balance at the end of thirty days.
These are but isolated instances among many.
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