Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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uMMTam OfSURANCK BROKER AM ACT REQUIRING LI CBHSfi. . With t?nrged in Una State,' hAjm Executive in kit U? Signature to BUI. Colnmhin, March 3 ?Oov. Man ninf yesterday approved the act ofl Ihn general aeaembly outlawing thai Underwriters' assockvl from South Carolina. The gov ir nine approved the insurance brokers' net, which requires an an aue) license fee of $15. -The general assembly," said the! governor, "enacted what la known as ?me Laaey-Odom bill, prohibiting the terwsUon of organisations or com? pact i of Ore Insurance companies to fix eist aontrol rates. This act oomee to net for aay approval or disapproval! After a fall hearing, at which writ? ten and eta! erg* intent* were present? ed fun ana againi it the bill, 1 gm con that U Is my duty to approve m it "lee ornaments agtUnst the bill do gat* hi nty opinion, furnish adequate reaooai for try withholding my stgmv tara. Teert lg svideaUy something ey/oag hi reference t? tat Are inser aate raten charged as this State. Thai till is an effort to give competition In Itjnas. 1 believe I am acting In the ' spfesyest of the people of South Cero aysh la apptovlng tain net" \V J * dev. Manning made public a letter reeaived from F. H. MoMaster. insur eommlsntonsr. The JLeney bJU will net tnn ageatd free," the commissions!. The letter re? ine governor from Mr. Me? la full! feilere so anas the bill which I tansrttmint of the Natioael lejen^OB ?I inmwatoe Coramlseion utewB at. boose bill 40, senate bill setteve, cawaa a public need for lAumy-Odem mH beeeming a law. t bfll at amen ted contains some ol important ptsvttUms of the na tftooil convention MB. The two biUi ered in the eemnttal principle that national oom enttch btB contained at i %i the principle of cooperatlot spneng the fire insurancs oompanles apt, otd rat notion to Stau control wlti guarded limitation* principle m the LeAey-ddak or aand it the* of lade on by etch tnaurahe> with mere ox lem ?tate eon earefluy guarded limit* If 1 may be pramltted fo e>) a convert to the prinelple if convention bill only aftei oontmued and earnest argument I have never been able to divest stytatf wholly a' Belief In the prtn egple of the survival of the flttepi which Is involved to Independent ac? tion of each ?neutance company. Thh to the principle tf the Laney-Odon bia "Certainly there should be a chang< from condltlone which have prevailed In South Carolina for the past ter And since .here to no oppo tjsntty to try out the national con*en im MB, I am thoroughly persuaded Of the necessity of making the Lauey Cmnm mil a law of the state. 'Vines 1104 the Southeastern Un farejriltoio* association. formerly haowe mr ?he Southeastern Tariff as? sociation, nas had practically unre? stricted control of firs Insurance rate? so South Carolina so fsr as the mass? es of the people are concerned. Through a system of local board Con? tract*, binding ehi agents hand and foot. Which 1 coo tinned , through a number of yearn i nd until a year or so ago, the com pa ties were able to ?lieh an agamy discipline which enabled the Bmtheastsrn Under writers' association to snforce its practica!I) without let or Th*? fact that not more two-thlrdi the companies be* to the So ..i, astern t'nderwrlt assoclatlon and that there were about SO Independent companies was a Action so far at It affected rate making. Initiative on the part of the and d lire re n tlation as to moral were pract. ally eliminated. 'Irbis has resulted In a system which throws Into the caldron In ef? fect good risks snd flretraps, risks owned by honest men and rlsKS owned by rascals with renultant rates suftl otent to care for the loss of tlretraps and to pay the raocila their Insurance. "Tbtrs should bo some community Of Interest, but con muntty of Interest should not be so orystalised an to enshackle completely the honest and Careful man. The conditions which have prevailed are agreeable to a wild scramble for premiums, to a heltcA* skettsr appointment of sgents, to the Insuring of risks which should never have been Insured, and In the Imposi? tion upon the careful and honest man of rates sufficient to pay losses which should never have been borne by him. Buch conditions aro most disastrous In a Stats committed to the valued policy law, where the careleee or un eemplous agent would write Into the policies of his companies vslues which did not exist. Lnuey-Odom bill will sot tho DISCUSS JTO ME. FIRE INSURANCE MSN MEET IN NEW YORK. | Companies Agree South Carolina Un? der New Statute Is Not Desirable Field. Columbia? March 3.?At an inform |al conference of fire insurance com? panies interested in business in South Carolina and Southern general I agents in New York Tuesday, it wa. I declared to be the "sense of the meeting that companies could not do business in South Carolina should the measure become a law." The bill was yesterday signed by Go v. Man king. i j\ The article concerning the effects of the Mil, appearing in the Wednesday issue of The Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin of New York city, follows: "Tho Intents and spur poses of the hill are evidently to compel wide-open competitive conditions between all in? surers. In contrast to that provision, the hill also states that there shall be I no discrimination in any manner with regarc to rates, policy conditions or treatment of any aeeured In ^ South Carolina by companies or their local representatives. This provision is eve* itretcbed to far aa to cover the fnetnod M payment of premium, so that i n agent may net extend credit to ono customer 'unless he extends credit to all for the eame length oi time. "The penalty for the use of rat? brooks or common agents Is a fine and revocation of the % company s oi agent's license. There 1? also pro? vided a requirement that an affidavit by a resident representative of eact company shall be made e*cfy year statine that the company represented ha* not in 13 months violate*! any ol the provisions of the law. The makei of thin statement is to be punished hcth by a fine of from $100 to fl.OOti id by Imprisonment in the peniten tlary l or orte year should it transpire that tue statements made In the affi? davit tare Incorrect, It la hardly sup pceahle that a company could Arid s local lufent rann chough to make suci an amdavit. The statute 1* there [fore, practically impossible for A com? pany to operate under. To make the'situation worse, the [South Carolina ?Insurance commis Jetdner in vested with power to review ar|y rate made by any company oi any risk In the 8tate to determine whether the eame is discriminatory He m*f also review a rate alleged tc be ?njuet and may'order the substi? tution of a so-called 'just rate' there? for. N A curious exception is made >r the case of the Mill Mutuals and the Factory Insurance association, whlcl is composed of stock companies. "Prevision Is also made to take care of Commissioner McLaurin's State warehouse system and any other In? surance placed by Commissioner Mc Laurln in providing that nothing shall Interfere with any Insurance placed by or through the State warehouse com? missioner, who apparently Intends tc handle farm Insurance throughout the State. "The arbitrary and careless mannei in whi< h this bill was put together U ^evidenced by the fact the section No, It the last section of the bill and follows sections 7, 8 and 9. After a full statement (ot all the arbitrary and contradictory features of the bill, and In view of the principles Involved, It was declared to be the sense of the meeting that companies could not do business In South Carolina should the measure become a law." Edwli Q. Selbels of Columbia was one of the participants in the New York conference. ATTACKS WIFE, SUICIDE FOL? LOWS, R. Lee Johnson Kills Self at Betliune After Srikliig Wife With Axe. Camden, March 2.?Following an attack upon his wife with an axe, R. Lee Johnson, 46 years of age, killed himself at Bethune this morning by shooting himself in the head with a shotgun. The injured woman has been unconscious since the attack an 1 may not recover. She has been carried to a hospital in Columbia. For Safety First. Four serious wrecks In two weoks Is a pretty bad record for tho Sea? board's "Florida Limited." Like many other things these days, this train has no doubt been goini; too fast. There ought to be speed lim? its for trains as well as for automo? bile??. Instead of forcing railroads t'> reeluce their passenger rates, there ought to be more attention given to making life more safe on their trains. -A'ce Deo Advocate. agents free, will permit lnltlativo on their part, and will give an opportu? nity for the careful and honest man to get rates graded according to the risks assumed without putting him Into a general average which knows no dlf feren tat Ion between morals and to some extent between physical haz? ards/* Great Golden Festival Officially Begins To-day. Those Who Have Entered May Send in Their Subscriptions?Now is the Time to Start Vote Gathering. CANDIDATES ARE WARNED TO INFORM THEIR FRIENDS THEY HAVE ENTERED THE CAMPA IHN?VOTES ISSUED ON SUB? SCRIPTIONS WILL ?E MAILED TO EACH CANDIDATE ? AN EARLY START IS HALF THE RATTLE. The Dally Item and tho Watchman and Southron's Golden Festival and Voting. Campaign officially begins to day. All who have entered may now send in their subscriptions and daily ballots. Votes issted on subscriptions will be majied to each candidate, con? sequently It will be impossible for any one to know how many votes the other fellow has, unless they tell it themselves. All votes on subscrip? tions are made out and mailed with? in a day or two after they are receiv? ed. In order that there may be no errors in the classification of old and new subscriptions, time must be given for the circulation department to veri? fy every subscription before the votes are Issued. Under this new system votes will be mailed periodically and Include votes due on all subscriptions up to the time (hey are mailed. As before stated, today is the offi? cial starting time of the campaign. It will be to the advantage of every pros 1 pective entrant to set his or her name ' in at once, and start right on active ' vote gathering. The First Plunge. ' Why It is easy for you: Tho first day of school or college, the first day of any new activity that brings you up against strange faces and customs, 1 Is the hardest day. But you can face your first days' work in The Oolden Festival and Voting Campaign with a k confidence that few ca,n feel, as a rep 1 resentative of The Daily Item and the Watchman and Southron you will And an open door and a courteous recep? tion awaiting you wherever you go. ' Added to your pretitigc as a represen? tative of The Daily Item fend the Watchman and Southron will be the 1 respect given to people who have de 1 termlned by personal effort to make ? ' success of the things they undertake. ' Backed by the conlldence in your pur? pose, and in the papers you represent, you can enter the first day's work 1 certain of success. ' 1 Refuse to Be Downed. 1 Your success may not be great at first, but don't let that down you. ' The first order of a young lady, wh< was the most successful candidate in a campaign conducted in a nearby town contained only one short term, ! subscription. During her second week she sent in quite a large number of subscriptions, and at the close of the ' campaign she was awarded the first 1 grand prize, which she Immediately sold for tho full market price. This young lady did not have much 1 time, she worked in a bank from 9 A. M. to 3 P. M., but she kept the tele phono wires busy, and the malls hot with letters to her friends all over the country, and too, she took advantage of the various offers of the manager to assist her. We suggest you begin work among your friends as this young lady did. Doubtless you know two or three friends who are taking Daily Item or Watchman and Southron who would be glad to give you their renewal sub? scription. From each friend obtain the name of some one else who may be interested. You will then extend your efforts among strangers, with the advantage of being able always to mention the namo of a mutual friend or acquaintance. Wc Will Do Our Part, The manager of the Golden Festl: val and Voting Campaign Is a man, with a thorough knowledge of tho work?gained from several years of actual experience in tho field. He knows the opportunities which await you, and will help you grasp them. He will do his best to help and' to suggest. The Daily Item will be sent ea<*h person who becomes actlvo in the campaign, absolutely free of charge during the life of the cam? paign. This will keep you In touc^li in a general way with the manage? ment. His personal service to you will reach you in form of personally dic? tated letters, and by representatives Who will bo instructed to go with you j and assist you In securing subscrip? tions and votes. He will send sample copies to your friends, write letters to them for you. explaining that you want their subscriptions, for which you will receive votes. He has many other ways of helping 1 you, which time or space will not per- 1 mit the details in this article. lie will I be glad to have you call at the office, write or phone him and let him help J you get started. Tho success of this 1 service depends on the amount of In- l ASYLUM BOARD BEGINS MAN? DAMUS PROCEEDINGS. Suit is to Come of Legislative Blund? er and Make Available Funds for Continuing Repairs at Hospital. Columbia, March 4.?Petition for a writ of mandamus requiring Carlton |W. Sawyer, comptroller general, "to issue and draw his warrant on the Pbato treasurer" for $7,755.43, has been filed with the supreme court by Wade Hampton Cob\>, solicitor of the Fifth circuit, acting as attorney for the regents of the State Hospital for the Tnsane. A special session of the supfome court is asked to hear the petition. The fund will ho used for repair work at the asylum. The item of $100,000 to carry on the repair work at the asylum was left out of the general appropriation bill. The attorney general's office will !represent the comptroller general if fthe session is called. The petition says that "said repairs, ! Improvements and developments have been for some time, and up to the present time are, in progress, are nec? essary and imperative for the proper care, treatment, support and main? tenance of the inmates of said insti? tution, and that petitioner has no ade? quate remedy at law." TOBAOPO SAVED FROJL FROST. J. H. Watte of Pudding Swamp Has Bed of Fine Young Plants. J. H. Watts of tho Pudding Swamp |sectlorr was In town this morning with I a box of young tobacco plants from his tobacco bed, which had been saved irom x*yjb frost during the recent cold ?pell. Mr. Watts stated that his was about the only bed which had not been killed. He had planted his down by the side of the swamp in a hollow, where it was protected by the swamp from the wind on all sides except from the east, where the sun came from to shine on the young plants. They were not injured and aro now doing well. Mr. Watts reported that he cleared I sixty-five dollars an acre on his tobac? co last year, which was more than he could make on cotton, besides the fact that It brought him some ready cash at a time it was needed. The year previous he made more than two hundred dollars an acre on his to? bacco, but the season was much more favorable than last year and the price had been better, besides potash had been easier to get and cheaper. This year Mr. Watts stated he was using stable manure, oak ashes and cotton seed meal to give the plants Ithe required potash. Mr. Watts is formerly of Sumter, but moved to the Pedding Swamp section several [years ago to make a study of tobac |co. He lives within a few miles of Turbeville, but last year brought all his crop to tho Sumter market and expects to do likewise this year. FAJ?M RILL REPORTED. 'Agricultural Appropriation Measure in House. Washington, March 4.?The annual agricultural appropriation bill carry? ing $24,501,093, an increase of $1,529, 311 over the current appropriation, was reported to the house today. The items Include $250,000 to control citrus fruit canker In tho Gulf States; $2,500,000 for use In case of an out? break' of foot and mouth disease, and $360,000 for eradication of hog cholera and enforcement of the virus scrum toxin act. tsreet you manifest in your campaign, and how the manager knows you. Write him about the problems which your work raises; ho will help you solve them. Let nothing delay your start. The manager has a record Of your nomi? nation and the Inquiries that have been* made about those who they ex? pect to become active, and is waiting some Word from you and your frst subscription f'?r which you will receive 0,000 extra vctes. Remember that a -tart, no m>.??er how small is half the battle, bo after that first subscrip? tion today. *0?S CONDITIONS 6000 FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD STATEMENT SHOWS INDUS* TRIES WORKING TO CAPACITY. Increase in Cotton Acreage Likely Unless Steps Are Taken to Prevent it ?Raw Materials Scarce. Washington, March 1.?Generally good business conditions throughout tho country are rejected in reports of federal Teserve agents made public to? night by the federal reserve board. Growing scarcity of raw materials used In many American industries is noted, however, and the Southern agents predict an increase in cotton acreage this year unless steps are taken to prevent it. The Boston district reports trade generally in continued activity, with the uncertainty as to the European situation restraining undue expansion. Unrest of labor and increasing cost of raw materials, however, are said to be disturbing factors. ^From New York comes the report that there arc more products and workers in that district, and that the industrial activity thero is of record character. Manufacturers of automo? biles, tools and firearms and the roll? ing mills show the greatest increase j In production. On account of scarcity of raw materials, however, some houses anticipate a shortage In mer? chandise stocks. Steady and substantial gains throughout the Philadelphia district in practically all lines of business is an? nounced. Prices of commodities are said to be rising and supplies scarce, with labor hard to obtam and wages high. Lack of dyestuffs is noted and raw materials are said to be advanc? ing in price. Steel mills and ship |yards continue busy. Although February is said to be usually a quiet month in the Atlanta district, the report says there has been "very little lessening" of business activity. The Richmond report describes con? ditions throughout that district as good, and points to railroad construc? tion, increased manufacturing and new credits extended to back up the state? ment. The cotton acreage in the dis? trict, the report says, probaly will be slightly increased this year, but the practice of crop diversification would not be abandoned. Conditions in Mexico, the Dallas district reports, have stimulated bus? iness in all lines in the Western sec? tion, particularly mercantile houses. Cotton acreage may be Increased. Scarcity of unnamed basic raw ma? terials, the Chicago agent says, are receiving the earnest attention of manufacturing industries dependent on them. Reports indicate a reduced wheat acreage this year, but the farm? ers are said to have an increased pur? chasing power. The automobile Indus? try is at a record pace, there is a strong demand for live stock and gen? erally there is said to be a feeling ol optimism. St. Louis reports a degree of pros? perity unknown for several years, but with manufacturers reporting an in? crease in tho cost of raw materials. Cold weather has retarded grain shipments In the Minneapolis district, and to a considerable extent the lum? ber and wholesale business. Prospects for the spring, however, are called ex? cellent. Kansas City reports railroads taxed beyond capacity, owing largely to ship? ments of last year's grain. First? In? dications that the wheat crop may have been injured by unusual weather have been offset by later and more encouraging reports. Leaders In many lines of activity look for an unusual? ly prosperous and busy year. General advances In wages and a shortage of labor arc pointed out as features of the trade situation in the Cleveland district. San Francisco reports there has been little change in conditions there. PROF. CARBERRY TO RETURN. Rock Hill, March 2.?Rock Hillians are much pleased to learn that Prof. James L. Carberry will return to this city, as will his family, as soon as he can secure a residence, the United States department* of agriculture having decided to resume the mill village demonstration work which was discontinued a year ago. It will bo remembered that at tbat time Prof. Carberry moved to Beau? fort, where he became farm demon? stration agent for that county. In the villages where he had gotten the work organized interest has been continued and the results have been splendid. Du Rant Hardware Company has on display in their show window an ex? hibit which has attracted quite a lot of attention during the past two days. This exhibit is one hundred and sev? enty-five little chicks which were hatched out of an incubator set in their Store. The brooder and Other necessary paraphernalia has been placed in the window and the specta? tors have watched with much interest the biddies feeding and rannt"* about. ftSOCitilDN ELECTS OFFICERS SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION ADJOURNS AFTER SUCCESS? FUL MEETING. C. L. Cuttlno Chosen President and OL E. Sttibbs, Vice President and Secretary and Treasurers?Talks by Mrs. Moore, Mr. Webb and Mr. Her? bert at Afternoon and Night Ses? sions?A ttendance Better in After? noon and at Night. From The Daily Item, March 3. After a successful meeting last night the Sumter county Inter-denom? inational Sunday School Association adjourned its session. Three very in? teresting meetings had been held, tho attendance in the afternoon and at night being much better than at tho opening session Thursday morning'. Upon report' of the committee on nominations the following officers were chosen last night for the en? suing year: President, C. I*. Cut tino, Grace Paptist Sunday school; Fi?>t Vice President and Secretary and Treasurer, C. E. Stubbs. Trinity Methodist Sunday school; Second Vice President, H. L. Scarborough, Presby? terian Sunday School; department su? perintendents, elementary, Miss Mamie Chandler, Trinity; secondary, ; P. G. Bowman, Trinity; adult, Judge T. B. Fr?ser, Presbyterian; district i presidents: No. 1, B. P. Cuttino, Sa? lem Baptist church; No. 2, J. C. Dun bar, Dalzell Method st church; No. I, l W. H. Ramsey, Wedgefleld Baptist church; No. 4, Walker Newtnan, Gra? ham Baptist Church; No. 1, Hugh Witherspoon, Brick church; No. 6, H. W. Beall, Baker school, The execu ? five committee consisting of these of? ficers will meet later to name dele? gates to the annual meeting of the i State Sunday School Convention in Charleston. The afternoon session was" featur? ed by the Ulks of Rev. R. 6. truei ; dale, Mrs; S. P. Moore itid R. D. i Webb, all of which wert- Oh sub? jects of vital interest to the Sunday school work and calculated to stimu l late interest of the workers; Mrs, Moore and Rev. W. 1. Herbert and Mr. Webb were the speakers at the night session, which was especial* ly well attended. Much interest was : shown in the remarks of the speakers, i whose addresses were very instrue [ tlve. The officers for the ensuing year i were elected at the close of the ad* dresses and the convention then ad? journed. RED CROSS SEAL FUNDS. Amount Received from Sales in This Suite Totals up to $2,386.00. Columbia, March 1, 1916. Mrs. A. C. Phelps, Sumter, S. C. Dear Mrs. Phelps: I feel sure that as one of those who aided in the Red Cross seal work, you will be in? terested to know the final result of the 1915-191? campaign. In? all 238,672 seals were told. Of the 42,386.72 thus realized, Duly 10 per. cent, or $238.67 goes %o the Nat? ional Ited Cross. Tfc^ rest remains in South Carolina, anu -s * xpended by i the local anti-tuoerculosif leagues and the Red Cross Seal Commission in advertising and relief work jn tie i fight against tuberculosis. The Commission met with gener? ous assistance on all sides, and it was through the splendid work of the 150 agents that the outcomo of \)\c sale this year was so'successfid. The Na? tional Association, for determining the pennant winners each year, classi? fies the towns as follows: Those with a population of from 300-600, 600-1, 200, 1,200-2,000, 2,000-8,e00, 8, 000-25,000, etc. Selecting the best record for each class In this State, we have the following list, though this does not mean that these are pennant winners, according to tho five classes given with their population, seals sold and agents' names: Society Hill, 475, 2,000, Mrs. T. S. Lucas; Saluda, 610, 1,200, Mrs. E. W. Abel; Seneca, 1,313, 3,500, Mrs. W. J. Lunney; Orange burg, 5,906, 6,300, Mrs. Philip Rich; Sumter, 9,145, 22,012, Mra. A C. Phelps. With thanks and deep appreciation of your share in the work, and with the hope that next year will witness even greater results, I am. Cordially yours, Julie Heyward, Secretary. GERMANS BUY PHOSPHATE. Said to Have Contracted for Florida Kock to be Delievered After War. Tampa, Fla., March 3.?As an earnest of German thoroughness of preparation for future conditions, con? tracts have been closed in this city during the past few days for 200,00'? tons of phosphate, to be moved out of this port as soon as steamers are available after the close of the war. Philip Shore, head of a firm of for? warding agents, is responsible forth? statement that agents of big German firms have been here and closed con? tracts with some of the oigpest mines in this territory fot future deliver).