Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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INSURANCE COMM1S IBWlAII Hill? AB? tW WHO CAMS to hhtlp rjf trr> York, Ostumbte, March II.?In reply to n toter from Oer. Benins. John I* MeLeerla.^ State warehouse eomials th? sntirnoia told him be one Cornwall broken of New ee nie opinion, that oompenlee wUhd:-ew thss lUte beennee of amend to the anti-compact bill teck by Inference CommUnd oner Mc Be alee eritleteed Mr. Me? ter threatening to arrest agents m here to help him In out the Insurance roud 1 esses sen Commissioner ^Mc - the governor a list of still writing buslneus In Carolina. uesgaapenfits i t below was giv? ey the governor tonight Got. nlng today dtreeted the following te tte? Bon. f. h. NcMastcr. la and lohn U ***** ireheuee commie tnsjuh iss from aAhtng me hew Is to any sestets eni that I desire this luforuee- | that they may make write nee can be obtained.' rooolvtd the follow F. It MeMaster, fe? rner: to jour letter of March led under the ssleBng view of the wtMMhws of the companies,' I would frequent publication In leaves sea Ina Oh? of Inability to answer your dsnwitily and exactly. Be I ant ******* yew a Hat at compa I an tat el ans are now I have reason to beh>ve to wriu business alter [Of ^ho year: Druggists Fire , Ineur ipany. Cincinnati, Ohio; Fire Insurance Company, eY C ; ?Georgia Beeae In ?mpany, Columbus, Qa.; Rutgers Fire Insurance ill William 8t. New York i Franklin Ftra la inany, Pltteburg. Pa; Na Insurance Company, R. I.; -New Brun?wick Company. New Prune .; 'New Jersey Fire leny. Neemrkf~M* J.; Insurance Compass). New York, N. Y.: ?PS*. Insurance Compaay, Bunt-' Rhode island fni Pre vi d twee, R. ei insurance Company C ; 'Southern Heese tn* j Company. Charlestoni 0. Qu Btock Fire- Insurance Com.- 1 wo, IS, C.; 'Southern Greensboro, N. . CU < Fire and Marine Insu ran oa! gt Paul, Minn; ?Cnder Qreenstoio, Greensboro, N. C; UntSh Fire Insurance Company, Providence, R. L 'There way be a i ?naber of other companies which may remain. Some of the above earned may retire. In these, 1 em attaching 'Kh the aames of a number of , mutual companies and Inter-msurere which ware licensed laet year and which I think will be licensed this year. The list Is too long to be cop- | led. but I can fumteh all inquirers, with printed liste. "Uet attached Includee thirty-seven mutual oompenlee and Inter-lnanrers mutual com pan leu and later-ln gaaerally cover only cotton mill property, hardware dealers, 'lum? bar gellh\ cotton seed oH saills and the like. In addition to the above. If the insurers will communicate with broker* In this State, of at the present time there are the following: W. A. McSwelu. New berry, S. C . Montagus Tri est, Char? leston. AC; D. O. Ellison. Columbia, S. C ; Lawrinee M. Ptnckney, Char leetett. f. t ; B. A. Oltfllllng. Green? ville. A C ; W. K Sease, Orange burg. 0. C.; C. 0. Edwards, Cheater, S. C. These brokers will probably be able to place Insurance In some other companies licensed In the State or la companies not now licensed In the) Stale, but which may be satisfac? tory to the assured.'' Jahn U McLaurin, Stete were horn*s^emsm* um, replied, aa fei-1 Iowa: "I have your letter of March 15 asking, mo *how Uro Insurance oaa ha obtained under the existing laws,* etc. and I ben tc say that I agree with yon that the public Is deeply inter? ested and entitled to any* assistance that can be given.' As I felt that the people were in some measure looking to me In the crisis which waa pre? cipitated by the Insurance legisla? tion of the met session of the g aeral assembly, I went north* accompanied by Senator J. irthur Banks, to see the Insurance people with whom I had placed State warehouse Insurance at very greatly reduced rates In order to have some channel through which other classes of property In South Carolina could be protected if the threatened withdrawal of the insur? ance companies took place. My deal? ings in New York have been through the Arm of Samuels, Cornwall A Stevens, one of the largest and meat responsible flrmi of Insurance men in New York. In my dealings with this firm I have found the senior member Mr. George C. Stevens, a most ele? gant gentleman, and our relations have grown to b% very cordial. I ex? plained the situation to Mr. Stevens, sad he agreed *> eCene to South Caro? lina for the purpose of advising me how to handle the Situation from an insurance standpoint. His firm gave me assoranoos of their ability to handle the entire situation in South Carolina, If necessary, but they did not wish to invade the territory of the agente If It eoeld be avoided. Neither did I wish to do this, which would have put many of these men out of business, and as Samuels, Corn? wall ft Stevens could got mean cheap? er rates than any agent to South Car? olina, I was mailing my arrangements for agents In tie various counties to place Insurance through Samuels, Cornwall ft me* ens. thus enabling Bisse agents ny continue "to do busi? ness. After Mr. Slovene got here and realised the magnitude of the proposition and my inexperience In insure not matters, ha consented to send for hie chief clerk, Mr. Phil La Ton rette, whom I know very well, and 1st aim stay here in my office untO we could got the situation Well in hand. Before Mr. LaTourette ar? rived l called Mr. McMsster, the in? surance eonrrniesioner, over the 'phone and told him that Mr. Stevens was here, and ouggjsslsrl that i bring them together In order to get the benefit of the e^perienoe and advice of Mr. Stev? ens In handling this mutter. Mr. Mc? Msster seemed to think It would be better for him not to meet Mr. Stev? ens, and told Me to handle It In my "AS Mr, Havens and Mr. LaTouret? te handle a lance part of our insur? ance 1 appointed thorn State ware? house insnecftrfy with special refer? ence to Insurance, in erder to give them some official standing In South Carolina and to protect them against "On suit Prtdity afternoon, having been away front home for three weeks, I was obftged on account of business affairs to leave for Bennettsvt?e *on the Seaboard train at t. to. The un? derstanding was that Messrs. sBsvsni and LaTourette would go to Charlee tsa for the week-end and meet me in Columbia again On Tuns is p. I mit * little uneasy over the situation and of remaining over unStt Tuee t, I came hack to Columbia on ?night. Instead of returning to Columbia these gentlemen left ttsuwleseaa far New York. .. "While they were In Columbia we had applications from all over the State, and they continue to arrive to Sines Insurance which had been can? celled or was endangered. State ware? house No. 2. la Columbia, is in one section of the old State dispensary building, owned by Mr. G. A. Gutg nard. The rate on thia house had been 60 cents per $100. I knew that at any time In the past year I could get a 20-cent rate, but Mr. Gulgnard did not care to take advantage of this on account of the personal relation be? tween him and the agent who had the Insurance. We placed through Mr. Stevens' firm in New York the in? surance on this Sttas warehouse prop* erty at 20 cents. Just one-half of what had been paid. Tc give an idea of how excessive the races in some cases were, here Is a copy of a letter from Senator J. A. B<.nks. showing a re? duction of more uhan one-half In the rate which he wee paying on his prop? erty in the town of St. Matthews, all of which goes to show most em? phatically that the ratee on other classes of property can be reduced by cutting off the excessive commissions and fees to usslese agents just as we have done with the State warehouse cotton. " 'St. Matthews, g. C., March 13, 1016. * The Hon. John. U McLaurin, Co? lumbia, S. C.?My Dear Senator: 1 have Just placed with an Insurance agency In New York at a flat rate of 1 per cent, per annum or 2 1-2 per cent for three years, amounting to S3 and 1-3 one-hundredths of 1 per oent. per annum, Insurance on property owned and controlled by me In St Matthewa The intee heretofore pre vailing on this property under the op ?ratten of the 8. K> U. A: One build? ing, $1.35; another. $2.75; another, TS; another. 72; another, 72; another, 71; another, $2.90; another, $3.50; an? other, $1.70; another, $3.15; another, $8.80; or an average of $1.96. It would appear from these figures that the fitate is not destined to gaffer greatly from the destruction of the 0, & 17. A. Insurance was placed with Samuels, Cornwall ft Stevens, 14 'Yours sincerely, J. A. Banks.' "Mr. Stevens and Mr. LoTourette on Saturday after I left were called to the office of the insurance commis? sioner In response to a telephone mes? sage to my office from the insurance commissioner to the affect that the commissioner would have to see that the law as to residence license, etc. of those handling insurance in South Carolina had been complied with. The insurance commissioner stated that iramora were flying thick and fast as to the activities of Mr. Stevens and Mr. LaTourette in South Carolina, and that it was his duty to be satis lied that they were not violating the criminal laws. Mr. McMaster met Mr, O. A. Guignard on the street and told him he would not make inquiry as to any Insurance placed by Mr. Guig? nard, but that no agent not comply? ing with the law as to license, reel* ?lenee, etc., had the right to place in? surance in South Carolina, and if they uid they were liable to rrest. \ "Mr. McMaster was entirely within Iiis technical right as insurance com? missioner, but as those gentlemen were not soliciting insurance, having tome hero purely on State warehouse business and in an advisory capacity with me, and with a sincere desire to tender as aid m handling this com? plicated Situation intelligen?y. they wrote me a letter from Charleston laylag they would not come back to Columbia, hot had gone to Now York, assuring me that my Stats warehouse cotton wotoM ho taken care of and that tt. was a matter of indifference to them whether they hot any outside business or not. "I believe that this situation can ho ltandled, through Samuels, Cornwall 4t Stevens, hat there is no use for me to bring men of that calibre and choeeoter to South Carolina to aid me tf they are to be threatened with ar? rest and made to feel insecure in the transaction of business "It might be well, governor, for ma t9 give you what I consider a correct analysis of the situation. * a patient If sick you try to diagnose the cans a nd find the nature of the dlssass "In my Judgment there are four things primarily causing high insur? ance on 'Are: risks in South Carolina. "2; Share are too many agents, and the number causes the excessive commission's paid to them. . > *$, The valued policy law, which moans that if I have a building that costs me $1,200 and It looks like it might have cost $1,100, and I take an Inexperienced agent and say, This building cost ms U,tee,V and got three-fourths of $1,84)0 insurance on It when it did not cost me but $1, 200; the value is axed by the agree? ment of the agent, and if there Is a total destruction the Insured eaa col? lect ; his full valuetion, no matter what the facts may be as to the ac? tual value, which enables a cm to over-Insure property and the hon ent man has to nay it. , *t? Tho municipal taxes in South Carolina, the fifty or more companies entered in South Carolina, probably pay an average of $600 at the lowest in municipal licenses, or a minimum total of $26,000. "The class of people the companies allow to represent them is another great source of danger?people who have had ho experience and no knowl? edge of the business. Where a big commission means meat and bread, the danger of over Insurance is groat. "As to the immediate situation here is my analysis of that: "You will recall that during the session of the legislature in a tele? phone conversation I called your at? tention to house bill No. 40, known as the McMaster bill, and that I directed the attention of Mr. Odom, ohairmac of the agricultural committee of the he use; Senator Banks, Senator Laney and other leaders of the general as? sembly to the danger of this meas? ure. 'Now, I think the trouble is not the Uney-Odom bill, per so, dissolving the Southeastern and preventing them from coming into the State and ar? bitrarily Axing rates, but the pro? visions that were put into the Laney jodom bill at Mr. McMaster's request, giving him the power of establishing whatever rate in his Judgment is the correct one and the only recourse that the companies would have being an appeal to the courts. The companies fear that this would keep them per? petually in litigation and subject them to a form of annoyance which makes it undesirable to do business In the State. "2. From the standpoint o'f the companies the provision requiring them to make oath at the end of tho year that no agent of the company has violated any provision of the act and fixing a heavy criminal penalty makes them afraid to do business. "2. The affidavits are not required to be made until Maroh 1, 1917. The companies could be given the assur? ance of the commissioner that they would be protected in their business, this assurance having the endorse? ment of th? governor, and these hard? ships imposed by the act could be removed at the next session of the legislature before the affidavits are required to be made without inter? fering with the anti-comp?ct part of the1 bill. "In conclusion I desire to say that my advice is that those who desire to place Insurance in large amounts write to Messrs. Samuels, Cornwall & Stev? ens, No. 84 William street, and that as to the small country Insurance that just as rapidly as possible mutual in? surance companies, such as exist in several of the counties of the State at present, be organized. "As soon as I learned that Mr. Ste? vens hart returned direct to New York from Charleston I sent my deputy to New York for'tRe purpose of confer? ring with him, and giving him assur? ances that he probably misunderstood the warning that he received from the insurance commissioner. "I stand ready In my official capa? city, and as ah Individual citizen of South- Carolina to continue to handle the situation so far as I may be au? thorized to do1 so under the law, pro? vided I receive the support of the properly constituted authorities in the State. So far as the Insurance on cot? ton in State warehouses is concerned, it has) not felt any disturbances, and I do not now feel any concern that it may be endangered. "With assurances of esteem, I am, yours very truly, "John I*. McLaurin, "State Warehouse Commissioner." "P. &-~Mr. F. Wade Vaughn, gen? eral agent for a number of mutual companies, and the Georgia State vice president of the National Association I of Mutual Fire Insurance Compa? nies, has been to sue me today, and assures me that there are ample fa? cilities tn this country for providing safe Insurance on every class of property in this State, and that there [is no reason for our people getting I Into a panic over this situation. Of course, it takes a little time to get the machinery ready, but Mr. Vaughn came to Columbia today to go over I the-situation, and can be reached by writing Mm In Atlanta, care of the Empire Life Building. I find upon I investigation that there ore several hundred responsible mutual insurance companies in the United States handl? ing all classes of property. I do not refer to the local mutual Insurance companies now operating for the protection of farm property in South Carolina on the assessment basis and only insure for those who have stock I in thercompar lee. The insurance com? panies represented by Mr. Vaughn In? sure all Classes of property on a pre? mium basis and cover the entire coun? try. 1 At a meeting of the executive com? mittee of the Warehouse Association, I held in the office of Senator McLaurin Ion Wednesday afternoon, the follow? ing resolution was adopted: "Whereas, the laws protecting the! Southeastern Underwriters' Associa? tion wore enacted ostensibly for the' purpose of obtaining lowsr rates of insurance, and of placing same in bona ff de companies; and "Whereas, this Underwriters* Asso? ciation has not fulfilled the purposes so clearly Indicated in the laws pro? tecting them, therefore, the Laney Odom bill became a necessity in the protection of the people of this State: "We, the executive committee of the Warehouse Association of South Carolina, give our Unqualified en? dorsement of this act, and commend the legislature and the governor in their course in relation thereto. "It is a matter of regret, of course, that this disturbance in the business of South Carolina should have been brought about, and that any persons who were dependent for their living upon the writing of insurance are af? fected adversely by it, but when it becomes a question between the sov? ereignty of the State and the sover? eignty of a fire . Insurance company, we unhesitatingly place ourselves on the side of the State, and we would view with dlsapp?val any disposition on the part of the authorities in South Carolina to take advantage of the technicality of law primarily enacted In the interest of and for the pro? tection of this Southeastern Under? writers, to embarrass any agencies in their effort to secure insurance for the people of the State In the ab? sence of the companies which have withdrawn. "We recommend that mutuals be formed tn the various counties of tho State, auch as are now In operation In several of the counties, for the pro? tection of small property owners." Atlanta, March 17.?Federal Judge Newman today signed an order throw? ing out of court the case of the White Hallway Audit Company against the Order of Railway Conductors, In which was sought an injunction re? straining the conductors from threat? ening strikes on several Southern roads, where the audit system is in operation. dkath at mayesville. James Dorn, One of Oldest Citizens of Community, Passes Away. MayesviUe, March 20.?James Dorn, probably the oldest citizen in this section, died at his home here early Saturday evening, after an Ill? ness of several weeks, lie was 90 years of age and almost blind but up to a few weeks ago he went about the streets on business. He was a vet? eran of the War Between the States, having served throughout that con? flict. The deceased was a native of Edgefield county but had been living In Sumter county and this town for the last 26 years or more. He is sur? vived by the following children: Ma? rlon Dorn, of this county, Mouzon Dorn, of Greenwood, Spann and Wal? ter Dorn, of Columbia, Mrs. Savannah Timmerman, of Newberry, Mrs. Alice Murrell, of Edgefield; Mrs. Emma Holland, of Spartanburg, and Mrs. Ina Griffln, of Mayesville. The funeral services were conduct? ed on Sunday afternoon at the Moth-" odist church, of which the deceased was a member, the services being conducted by the pastor, the Rev. J. P. rnabinet, and Interment was made In the Mayesville cemetery. Columbia, March 18.?Acting upon the recommendations of the State boafcT'bT paVdons, Gov. Manning yes terday extended clemency in three . cases. BE OPTIMISTIC. Here's Good News for Sumbnr Resi? dents, Have you a pain In the small of the hack? Headaches, dizziness, nervous' spells? Are you languid, irritable and weak? Annoyed by urinary disorders? Don't despair?profit by Sumter ex? periences. * j Sumter people know Doan's Kidney Pills?have used them?recommend them. Here's a Sumter resident's state? ment: Mrs. J. A. Epperson, 14 Lev! St., Sumter, says: "My back ached and I suffered from pains through my loins. Mornings I was sore and lame and tired easily. My head ached and I was very dizzy. My ankles became - swollen and I had other signs of kid? ney trouble. Reading about Doan's Kidney Pills I got some at Sibert'n Drug Store. They relieved all signs of the trouble." Price 50c, at all dealers. Don't simply ask for a kidney remedy??et, Doan's Kidney Pills?the same that Mrs. Epperson had. P\>ster-MHburrt ? Co., Pro pa, Buffalo, N. Y.?Advt <M> NOMINATION COUPON GOOD FOR 10,000 VOTES I Nominate . Address. Nominated by Address. 'V I ? .? ..??........?. In the Item and Watchman and Southron's Golden Festival and Voting Campaign. Only the first nomination coupon sent in for each candidate w?l be counted. Daily Ballot Good For Thirty Vote* In tbe Golden Festival and Voting Campaign. Contestant.?- vv ? ? ?? ynaR v..? ??, v.; .. ? :? ?- w ?? ? ? ?? ?? Address, ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??? ?? ?. ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? t ?? ?-? Not food nnleas received lit the office of tbe ment by Saturday, March 25, ? - 'J * f,."' w i t M t M N MMMM??M H ? H H ? Mil ft ? M3Y**4YlTWTftj That is the word upon which we base out* success. The confidence in this Bank is proven by our recent statement. \ The Fir^l National Ban The Oldest Banking Institution in the County IT r m h L!mt 1 The National Bank .of South Carolina The Bank with the Big Clock. The Bank with the Big Capital, and Surplus. Correct Time and Correct Methods Resources $905,600.00 ' We want 1000 new accounts during the year 1016. Let yours be am on* them. C. G. ROWLAND, G. L WAHREM, Pros. Cash'r. .t xumuuuuuuumnnuv.ummnr. NOTICE A small load of select KRXTl'CKY SADDLE KORSHS ?H? ar? rive in Sumter almiit March 20tli from the farm of J. T. COIiLlNS A SON, North Mlddlctown, Ky. Horses will be < gartered at the Ilarby stables on Sumter oh tint. If you are contemplating buying a pleasure or show horse don't fail to Inspect these. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED ItllllfMllttltltfttlltltttltltltl r ?s i wwweveeeeyeewww www