The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-29
THE INSURANCELAW
The Most important Act Passed
at the Late Session.
KNOCKS OUT THE TRUSTS.
1t Prohibits Insurance Companies
Doing Business in this
State Combining to
Control Rates.

STATE Combining TO
Control Rates.
The Legislative Acts, which has re-
ceived more attention than any other,
is that intended to drive the South
eastern Tariff Association out Of bust
ness in this State. The Act, which
has been approved by the Governor:
reads as follows
An Act to prevent ire insurance
companies, associations or partnerships
doing business in this State, or the
agents of said companies associations or
partnerships from entering into combi-
nations to make or control rates for fire
insurance on property in this State. and
providing punishment for violation of
this Act
Section /. Be it enacted by the Gen
eral Assembly Of the State Of South
Carolina that it shall be unlawful for
any fire insurance company, association
or partnership doing fire insurance
business IN this State to enter into any
compact or combination with other
fire insurance companies, associa-
tions or partnership, or to require or
allow their agents to enter into any
compact or combination with other
insurance agents, companies, associa
tions or partnership, or to require or
allow their agents to enter into any COM
pact or combination with other insur-
ance agents, companies or associations
or partnerships for the purpose of gov
eruing or controlling the rates charged
for fire insurance, charged on any pro-
perty in this State; Provided that moth
ing herein shall prohibit one or more
of such companies from employing a
common agent or agents to supervise
and advise of defective structures or
suggest improvements to lessen fire
hazard.
Section 2. That all fire insurance
companies, associations or partnerships
doing fire insurance business in this
State shall cause to be filed on the 1st
day Of March, 1900, and in each year
thereafter, with the Comptroller Gen
eral of this State, the affidavit of some
officer or agent of said company, asso-
citation or partnership, who resides in
this State, setting forth the fact that
that the company Of which he is an
officer or agent has not in the twelve
months previous to the date Of the said
affidavit entered into any trust, combi-
nation or association for the purpose Of
preventing competition in insurance
rates in this State. The said affidavit
shall be made before some officer of this
State authorized to administer oaths,
and any false statement made in said
affidavit shall be deemed perjury, and
punished by fine Of not less than one
hundred dollars, nor more than one
thousand dollars, and by confinement
in the Penitentiary for one year, or, in
the discretion Of the Court by oon6ne-
ment in jail for period Of not less
than thirty days nor more than twelve
montns: Provided, further, that any
attempt to evade this Act by agreeing
upon any one person, or number of
persons for the purpose Of making rates
for all such insurance companies, asso-
Citations or partnerships, or by buying
rate books made by any person or per-
sons, shall be deemed violation of this
Act, and shall be punished as herein
provided.
Section 3. The Comptroller General
or other official to whom said company
association or partnership are annually
required to report to this State, shall
forthwith revoke and recall the license
or authority of such company, or COM
panies, association or associations,
partnership Or partnerships to do or to
transact business in this State for any
violation of this Act, and no renewal Of
authority shall be granted to do it for
three years after such official revocation
Notice Of such revocation to be duly
published for one consecutive week in
three or more daily papers published in
this State and for violation Of any OF
the provisions of this Act by any such
company, Or companies, association or
associations, partnership or partner
ships, they shall, on conviction thereof,
pay fine of not less than five hundred
dollars
Section 4. 1t shall be the duty Of the
Attorney General or the solicitor, upon
his request, to cause the provisions Of
this Act to be enforced.
Section 5. 1t shall also be the duty
of the Comptroller General or other
official, now charged, or to be charged
with the enforcement Of the insurance
laws Of this State, to require every fire
insurance company, association or part
nersbip doing fire insurance business
withip this State, to file with the an
nual statement made to him state
ment duly sworn to by the manager or
president of each company, association
partnership, legally admitted in this
State, that it has not in the year inter
vening between the issue of its last Ii,
cense and that applied for violated the
condition Of this Act.
Section 6. This Act shall be in force
from the lst day of March, 1900, and
all Acts or parts Of Acts inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed.
Will Pay for It.
Gov. Ellerbe Thursday gave out the