Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?ATION. Self* The* They Placed Exorbitant Mi Oawatsslni Rotes on Cotton, ins god to Bodno??Do HJn Kildonie Before II. Ie> Me report to the general ueem at* John U McLeurin, State ware- 1 adoee commissioner, haa the follow, taw be aay relative to Insurance: ?The tawaranee feature hae entailed a wary etnwjurt teak. Starting ae we ?ln the mldat of the cotton season, I ef the cotton en storage In the which wa took ever had al? les* lasarsd locally. We found malform rates. The rate for eetton wee M.ld per hundred and in some instances as high Si,' Tahv la oar Judgment was aad oppressive. We began I I lewer rates, and the com meeenint of rates submitted ?> the* repeat shews what hae been s^eaeaaleaasd along this line. The egg ell J race ef 11.10, with chert term gsjasasmttea, haa been reduced to fiee, wKh ere rata cancellation, the nae rasa cancellation In itself being a* aa?Henil saving of about II per Ssjst Other rates have been substan tfhJty tgjsjail end we expect to se a etm farther reduction of II to work which ef t* per seat, .in contreUed warehot however, that the by Use great insurance as the Southeastern Un sasetaUon, were practi? sesafthtllrc of the advantageous f cotton. Their enmity was by oar efforts to lower the ef the largest agencies In the etty of Columbia, with we were doing business, re* laagar to carry the country cover cotton In the vicinity which had been parceled lojillcry to parceled cat ander to the Sumter part be quote you the followlni of which wee cent me ?during Maren, of sastneat hours: -?l-le-ll. ,ft'.W. Beten, J. & Bollla * iewa,oeeamea*ac, -?'W Br. Wa ere advised that H. T>. Barnett of Sumter, & C, aettflsi by the Slate warehouse under dato of March 10, be lac effect that his cotton had been In the Colonial Fire Under We farther understood that 1 parties at Sumter, or points there, namely, Messrs. Thomas F. K. Holmen, C. O. Rowland. O. A. l^msaon aad U D. Jennings, have eat her beam quoted rates for la* saraaos aa their cotton, or have been that their Insurance hae been hi the Colonial Fire Under j ** There is souie misunderstanding aha at the Insurance which it Is stated ?ae been placed, ae this office has not hJeued any binders of policies to anyaf I Owe parties named, nor have we been I ffcqsistidl to do so. Under the clr f e^swawancee, therefore, we would sug ejmt aad request that you immediately* the Impression which Mr. Dar-, aad ethers may have gained, to the effect that they ere protected by fate company, as euch Is not the 'An Indicated to you last wsek In ?vernation In our office, and again ewer the phone today, we arc not will bag to insure any country cotton ; wa weald further say thst we will not ha la position to assume any liability ea cotton la Sumter. or the territory around or adjacent thereto. " 'Yours truly, M Edwin O. Slebels. Manager.' "Aa a matter of fact. I did have binders on the cotton signed by the Bethel agency, which was ample pro? tection, but In order to be on guard In the matter of the cancellation clause, It was necessary for me to make other arrangements, which 1 did. "I deelre particularly to call your attention to the last paragraph In the letter above quoted, which speaks for Itself In regard to the parceling out of the territory by the Insurance com? bine. They do not allow oae agent to go Into another's territory, but give each s complete monopoly. "Now that we have secured the cheaper Insurance, on a pro rata can? cellation basis, they are offering to writs It st the same rato, and have dene so In some instances; so thst it may readily be eeen bow grsal had been the moral effect of the State sys? tem In reducing Insurance rates gen* ?rally In the State. "I had prepared a report, from my records, giving the details of this war which has been waged against us by the Insurance trust, but I have re? frained from embodying It here be? cause I do not care to do anything to mm mat mm GIRLS TAKE EASIEST WAY BE? CAUSE OF LACK OF MEANS. Illinois Investigation Committee Re? veals Perils of Employment, Both in Domestic Service and in Industrie?. Springfield, 111., Jan. 19.?-Poverty Is the principal cause of immorality, a minimum wate tor girls and wo? men should be $8 a week and unregu lated conditions of domestic employ ment render the home. In many cases, a breeding place of vice, according to the Illinois senate white slave inves? tigating committee report. Thousands of girls, it says, are driven into pros? titution "because of the sheer inability to keep body and sou^ together on the low wages they receive" The system of domestic employment in America is condemned in positive terms. "Unregulated conditions of domestic employment. uncertain hours, absence of definite social status and luck of creative opportunities ren? der the home In many cases for the woman servants a breeding place of !?-irallty," says the report, estlgatlons disclosed that more in of the underworld fell Into nor from domestic employment from any ether work. Of 181 sent to the State training school ?neva. 111., who had worked for a i previous to commitment, the nlttee found that 115, or 6S.65 cent, had been engaged In do? le service, te report says wages were found s dlscouragingly short of the $8 i considered necessary. Attention Jelled to testimony taken by the mitten "of wages running as low t a week; of foremen who pro ly abuse girls In short dresses; of anager who found hie factory be ?d with the agents of professional is slavery.' he report says there can be no dls lement as to the effects on the as women of the alternate drlnk aml dancing as practiced In many donable restaurants, he committee found that the high - standard of morals exists among girls In the high school, college* universities of the State, he committee makes the follow recommendations: innotment of a> minimum wai;e 1 repeal >f socal laws fallen into Its) and strict enforcement of s 11 era; encouragement of uniform te social legislation; improvement conditions fos girls in domestic vtoti; establishment of homes for ral and tndustrUl schooling of te? amed women; extension of vocation? al education; abolition of the "finlag system" In the treatment of immoral worn n; reiflstration of minor boys and girls in employment; prohibition of printing in newspapers of details of court oases involving moral lapses; creation of a State athletic commis? sion for the encouragement of patho? logical establishments. The report concludes an investiga? tion that began In August, 1913. Historic Hotel Burned. Mercer, Pen.? Jan. 18.?The historic Humes hotel, which housed Washing? ton and LaPayette, was burned this morning with seven other blocks. The damage is estimated at ninety thou? sand dollars. <sjSafJawMawTlP^ew?^"e?^^ | , ? injure the'1 various individuals em? ployed by these companies, and who have obeyed their mandates. A great many of those gentlemen I know per? sonally, and others I know by repu? tation; and for many of them I en? tertain the highest respect, and I know that they arc not Individually responsible for the condition which is prevalent. "If this legislature desires to look Into this trust, composed of 82 com? panies, in clear violation of the fed? eral law and of article 9, section 13 of our own State constitution, and of our statutes in conformity therewith, I am prepared to furnish them all the Information In my possession. I would not drive these 82 companies out of the State, but they should be made to obey the law, und the Iniquitous com? bine which they have entered into should be dissolved. "I have succeeded in securing probably the most advantageous In? surance arrangements In the history |Of cotton insurance. In view of tho persistent fight against us in this re? gard, backed by unlimited millions of dollars, I have felt that a more com' plete report along this line than I am making would only result In placing in the han*is of our enemies Informa? tion which they would employ in tho attempt to crush tho companies with which we have made our arrange? ments, and in this connection I beg to submit a statement from the in? surance commissioner, which was published In tho dally press on tho morning of December 22, and a per? sonal letter which I received from him . . ." (The statement to which Mr. Mc Laur refers was printed in Tho State Decjmber 22. The lottor from Commissioner McMaster supplements that statement.) FLEET HEEDS INCREASE. WHAT THERE 1? OF IT IS FOUND EFFICIENT. Fletcher Reports Atlantic Squadron Well Balanced and Good in Shoot lug?IockH Scout Cruisers and Air? craft?Some Problems Met. Washington, Jan. 19.?Stripped of Its military secrets, the annual re? port of Admiral Fletcher, Com? mander-in-chief of the Atlantio fleet, was made public today by the senate. It aays that on June 30 last the fleet was better balanced and doing better shooting than ever before in its history, but lists 15 specific recom? mendations as to conditions which should be remedied, ranging from I shortage of men and lack of swift scout cruisers and aircraft to elim? ination of the compulsory feature of the navy's educational system. With the admiral's report was a letter of transmlttal from Secretary Daniels stating that many of the con? ditions referred to already had been remedied and that steps had been I taken to carry out other recom? mendations. The secretary also pointed out that Admiral Fletcher said most of the weaknesses were of long standing, and that he had omit? ted discussion of "the many excel? lent features of the navy" in the in? terest of brevity. The report was sent to the sen late in compliance with a resolution offered by Senator Lodge, but was held to be confidential at the sena? tor's request. Today Chairman Toll? man of the naval committee asked that the document be made public as it had been censored by the navy department of military information deemed wise to wlthho'i. Senator Lodge agreed. The report said there are now In the Atlantic fleet lift veasels of vari? ous types manned by a force of more than 27,060 men. Referring to the summer ma? noeuvres, the admiral states that "nil the operations of these manoeuvres were successfully carried out with the exception of the movements of submarines. One suggestion in the report which attracted considerable attention *T consider it important that the der part me nt investigate the possibility of providing grape shot or a elmi|ar form of ammunition for use1 of the turret guns in repelling destroyer at? tacks." Admiral Fletcher , devotes consider? able space In Ms report to taAt practice of the fleet, saying that when dae allowance is made for varymg conditions of practice from year to year, "it is believed the scores are higher than ever before made in open sea." It is known that the spring target practice of the fleet will in? clude this year work at 18,000 yards, I the maximum distance at which the battle of the North sea was fought when the German armored cruiser Bluecher was sunk. Admiral Fletcher recommends that the ten armored cruisers, now scat? tered on various details, many of them on the Pacific coast, be assem? bled to operate with the fleet as a unit. The report discloses that several I chips of the Connecticut class have had repeated accidents to their shaft? ing while running at speeds between 12 and 16 knots. For this reason I they can not be operated with the fleet at cruising speed, although fully [efficient at their maximum speed of 18 knots or more. Vibrating of the shafting is assigned as the cause and a special board has recommended in? creasing the strength of the shafts. WILL EXPLAIN PREPARED? NESS. President Wilson Will Make Speaking Tour Through West. Washington, Jan. 20.?President Wilson plans to leave Washington January 29 for a swing about the mid? dle west In a speech making tour, sup? porting his preparedness policies. The trip will consume about a week and will probably include Cleveland, Cin? cinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Sioux City, and Des Moines. Representative Bailey, of Pennsylvania, a close friends of W. J. Bryan denied today that the pacifist!! are planning to follow behind the president, speaking against his poli? cies. O. A. A W. PAYS BIG FINE. Admitted Violating Federal Statutes Regulating Working Hours. Charleston, Jan. 16.?Judge Henry A. M. Smith, of the United States District Court yesterday ordered that the Carolina, Atlantic and Western Railway pay $1,100 and the costs of the action for admitted violations of tho federal statutes regulating the number of hours which a railroad em? ployee is allowed to work. Thirteen counts were filed against the defend? ant company, which admitted all but the sixth and seventh. The district at? torney consenting, these two counts were ordered dismissed. BERNAUS DtSRESARD L?W. BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANSWERS BARALONG CHARGES. Ceils Attention to Number of Oases in Which Cruelty is Alleged?British Sailors Wantonly Killed. London, Jan. 18.?The British of? ficial view of the German note re? garding the Baralong case was given out tonight In part as follows: "The Germans claim that their army and navy have observed the principles of International law and humanity and that the German authorities take care that all violations will be care? fully investigated and punished. "Some surprise is, expressed that the nation whose armed forces have been responsible for the sack of Lou* vain, the murder of hundreds of un? offending men, women and children on the Lusitanla and other ships, the ex? ecution of Edith Cavell, the introduc? tion of poisonous gases, the poison? ing of wells, attempted torpedoing of hospital ships and countless other atrocities should describe their meth? ods of warfare as humane. It is further pointed out that it would be interesting to know how many German subjects, if any, have been -punished for these atrocities. The Germans claim that the Arabic was torpedoed because the commander of the submarine had the conviction that the Arabic waa deliberately sunk the submarine. ' The true facts are thta the Arabic was deliberately sunk by a German submarine without warn in.. "With regard to the destruction of the British submarine E-13 in Danish waters by a German torpedo boat destroyer, it is claimed that it came to a fight between the war vessel and the submarine defended itself with gunfire. The true facts are as fol? lows: . 'The Germans found the submarine stranded in neutral waters and in? capable of. either offense or defense. The German destroyer fired a torpedo at the E-13. The torpedo exploded close to her. At the same moment the German destroyer fired with all I her guns and the commander of the 15-13, whose submarine was afire fore and aft, gave orders to the crew to abandon her. Whi^e the men were in the water they wero fired on by machine guns and with shrapnel. ("The Germans defended their ac? tion in the case of the* Ruel on the I ground that it* was an issue of re? prisal. The Germans thus maintain [ their submarine policy In consequence of the British measures against Ger? man trade. "This is, of course, quite untrue. As far back as December, 1914, Ad? miral von Tirpritz foreshadowed the Submarine blockade of Great Britain and submarine attacks were made on a merchant ship and a hospital ship on January 80 and February 1, re? spectively. Moreover, back as far as September, 1914, a Dutch ship, with a cargo of grain for Dublin and Belfast, was sunk by the Karlsruhe, and the American ship W. P. Frye similarly was sunk on January 28. "Further, on February 4 the Ger? man government declared their in? tention of instituting a genuine Bub marine blockade /of Great Britain and Ireland with the avowed purpose of cutting off all supplies from these islands and this blockade was put into effect on February 18. "It was only on March 11 that the British government put into force as a means Of reprisal measures against German trade. "The Germans maintain that in the case of the Arabic, the E-13 and the Ruel they were only aiming at the destruction of hostile ships and in nowise the destruction of helpless persons. The death roll of the Arabic, the shelling of British sailors as they were swimming ashore after abandoinlng the E-13 and the firing on the crew of the Ruel who were at? tempting to save themselves In the boat sufficiently answer this claim. "With regard to the German re? fusal to submit the Baralong case and the three cases put forward by the British government for investigation by an impartial neutral tribunal, this action seems hard to explain if the Germans arc really so convinced as they say of the guilt of the British commander and the innocence of the perpetrators of the three outrages cited by the British government. So far as Great Britain is concerned It Is entirely untrue to stato that the British government have left unfilled a just demand for investigation. They have proposed it and it is the Ger? mans who have rejected it.* WHO IS MILFORD? South Carolina Attorney Tells Presi? dent Wilson That This State Bocks Taft. Washington, Jan. 20.?J. P. Milford, a South Carolina attorney, urged President Wilson to appoint Former President Taft to fill tho supreme court vacancy today, saying that Georgia and the two Carolinas solidly favor him. The president asked for fuller particulars. THE GQTTOH WAREHOUSEMEH. J. A. BANKS HEADS NEW ASSO? CIATION, Principles are Declared?System is Highly Praised and Commissioner McLaurin Endorsed for Re-election. Columbia, Jan. 18.?The South Car? olina Warehouse Association was formed at a meeting of warehouse managers and friends of the State warehouse system in the office of the commisloner this afternoon. Perma? nent organization was effected by the election of Senator J. A. Banks, of St. Matthews, president; C. G. Rowland, of Sumter, first vice president; J. P. K.'rven, of Darlington, second vice president; John K. Aull, of Columbia, secretary and treasurer. The presi? dent and secretary, with W. A. Stuckey, of Bishopville; Don McQueen, of Marlboro county, and R. M. Coop? er, of Wlsacky, compose the executive committee. The warehouse commls- j sioner Is ex officio chairman of this committee. A declaration of principles and a set of resolutions were drafted by a committee of seven and adopted by the Association. This committee con? sisted of W. A. Stuckey, chairman; O. W. Dukes, Senator E. R. Ginn, J. C. Duckworth, Newton Kelly, E. E. Rem bert and P. D. Bates. The resolutions commended Senator McLaurin and en? dorsed him for re-election. The declaration of principles adopt? ed by the association was as fol? lows: That It is the intention of this as? sociation to maintain a permanent or? ganization based upon the following alms: "Believing that the State warehouse system is the most advanced step In the South for the protection of the farmer in a business which is the basis of the South's prbsperity, this asso? ciation stands for the continued de? velopment of this system. "The specific matters in which this {association desires to be of assist? ance to the commissioner at this time are: "An adequate system for grading all cotton in South Carolina. "Arrangements to borrow money In large amounts at low interest "Making the warehouse receipts more liquid in money markets outside of the State. "Adequate support of the system in every department "This association shall meet annual? ly on the first Tuesday in January. "The membership of this association shall be limited to State warehouse managers and those who have shown such bona fide Interest In the State warehouse system as in the judgment of two-thirds of the members of this association, or a majority of the exec? utive committee when the associa? tion is not in session, may entitle them to membership. The following resolutions were adopted: "Whereas, we, the members of the State warehouse system, in public meeting assembled, consider that we have been greatly benefited by the said system; and that, considering the small appropriation, the great opposi? tion by large financial interests and other self-interested individuals who are against the prosperity of their country, the short length of time It has been In operation, it has been a most marked success; "And, whereas, the State warehouse system originated in the great brain of one man, the Hon. John Lowndes Mc? Laurin, who has given his entiro time to the perfection of this plan that has benefited so many and is capable of doing so much additional good; "And, whereas, we endorse all the acts of our State warehouse commis? sioner, John Lownv es McLaurin, and have the utmost confidence in his integrity and large business ability: Therefore, be it resolved: "First, that we petition our legisla? ture, now assembled, to re-elect the Hon. Lowndes McLaurin State ware? house commissioner. "Second, that we petition that the present State warehouse law be so amended as to meet all of the recom? mendations and requests of our State warehouse commissioner. I "Third, that we consider the State warehouse system the most progres? sive and far-reaching piece of con? structive legislation that has ever been undertaken in the State of South Car? olina." At 6 o'clock the delegates recessed until 7, when they reassembled in the Supreme Court room and listened to an address from Senator McLaurin on a rural credits plan in connection with the State warehouse system. CALIFORNIA FLOODS CONTINUE. Millions of Dollars in Property Dam? age and Twelve Lives Lost. Los Angeles, Jan. 20.?It is estimat? ed today that at least twelve persons are dead, and a property damage well Into the millions has resulted from the incessant torrential rains In southern California. Relief work is progressing. San Diego county is isolated by high water. DISCUSS MILITARY SERVICE. COMPULSION" BILL OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT STANDS TEST. Effort in Cabinet to Modify Premier's Pledge to Exempt Married Men. London, Jan. 17.?The proceedings in committee in the house of com? mons today resulted in no modification of the military service bill. The gov? ernment strongly resisted an attempt to Include married men in the scope of the measure. * The most important amendment sought to include Ireland. This ahm' was negatived after a debate, In which' John Redmond, leader of the Irish Nationalists, eloquently appealed to the house not to endanger Ireland's loyalty, displayed in her splendid re? cruiting, by an attempt to employ force. The only amendment accepted pro? vided that men married before No? vember 2, the day Premier Asqulth gave his pledge, should be regarded under the bill as married men. An amendment exempting single men above the age of 30 years was de? feated. Premier Asqulth was again in com? munication with the Labor party to? night with a view to arriving at an agreement upon amendments which would be acceptable both to the gov? ernment and to Laborites, providing safeguards against the bill being util? ised for Industrial compulsion. TO SUPPORT BRITAIN. Canada Strong In Defense of Empire, Ottawa, Jan. 17.?The determina? tion of Canada to continue every pos? sible effort to send aid to Great Britain I until the war is brought to a victorious conclusion, was given expression in parliament today, first by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the opposition, and I then by Sir Robert Laird Borden, the premier. The two leaders declared' that while war continued in Europe there shall be no political questions fought out in Canada. Sir Wilfrid Laurier declared that he did not think it would be neces? sary to have conscription in Canada and he promised the support of the opposition to all desirable government measures. I REVENUE LICENSES TURNED Uf? Constables Report Total of 71 Sur? rendered?Recent Scttareb, < Charleston, Jan. 18.?A total df 7t raids, resulting in the seizure dt JA quantity of beer and whiskey are re? ported for last week by Chief of Con? stables S. M. Duncan. A report which Chief Duncan has mailed to Gov. Manning gives the seizures for the week \as follows: 90 bottles of beer. 83 quarts of whiskey, 191 half-pints of whiskey, 3 gallons containing whisk? ey, 6 pints of brandy, 22 bottles of Ja> maica ginger and 15 glasses. ? T Three revenue licenses are reported as having been turned in recently, bringing the total up to 72. On 12 of the 72 raids made last week liquor was found and 43 indictments for vio? lation of the liquor laws have been made in the last thirty days. In the 30 days previous 38 cases were made out. OBJECTS TO ARMING SHIPS. Likely to Make Protest Against Lin? ers' Carrying Guns for Defense. Washington, Jan. 17.?The Austro Hungarian government, according to authoritative Information received here today, is prepared to take up with the United States the questions involved in permitting merchant ships armed for defensive purposes to leave American ports. A com? munication to the state department upon the subject probably will be sent immediately if another Italian ship follows the lead of the Giuseppe Verdi and enters an American port with guns mounted. In such a note, it was said in Teu? tonic diplomatic circles, the Vienna foreign office undoubtedly would In? form the United States that any arm? ed ship encountered by an Austrian submarine would be subject to attack without warning. PRISONERS ATTACK JAILER Four Negroes in Laurcns County Jail Overpower Keeper and Get Away. Laurens, Jan. 18.?Four negro pris? oners made their escape from the county jail this afternoon at 5 o'clock, after overpowering and assaulting Jailer Jack Glynn. One of the negroes was being returned to the cells for the night when three others within rushed on the jailer. While two of them held him, the third prisoner, George Watts, dealt the jailer several terrific blows on the head with an iron bar. Though badly stunned and bleeo!ng profusely, the plucky jailer clung to one of the men to the outer steps, when he lost his grip and the four fled from the Jail yard. Within an hour one of the es? capes was recaptured, and tonight the officers are making efforts to run down the others.