The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-03
SOUTHERN MUTUAL SHUT OUT.
STATE BUILDINGS WILL DE INsUR-
ED FOR THREE YEARS.

That Company Does Not Issue Three
Year Policies, and Its Agents Are
Kicking-SOme Big Policies to BE
Taken Out-OmciaI Changes at the
CapitoI-COI. Brown and Col. Byrd
Assume Their New Roles.
Atlanta. Jan. 2.-(speciaD .-To-day was
officially observed as a holiday at the
state capitol. being legally the New Year;
but this observance did not interfere with
several interesting events marking the
change of administration in various de-
partments. Neither did it prevent Gov.
Gambler from spending a very busy day IN
his office, in fact one of the busiest he
has seen since he assumed the reins of
state affairs.
The first Of the year Is the time for the
renewal of the insurance policies on state
institutions, and it was this important
work that kept the Governor busy to-day
The state has about $3.50 600 of insurance
in force, for which 1t has been paying APP
proximately 5000 a year in the past
This insurance covers the State Lunatic
Asylum, Girls Normal and Industrial
the Academy for the Blind at Macon, the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Cave Spring,
the Neurological School, Atlanta, the
Governors mansion, the State Library and
several other items.
Placing this insurance has been occu-
plying the Governors attention for some
days past on account OF the fact that the
conditions were changed by the act of
legislature in making the appropriation
this year.
Had to Gut on the Southern.
Thinking to save the state money on the
insurance bill, the legislature appropriated
enough to pay two years premiums at
once, thus taking advantage of regula-
tons of the insurance companies, which
permits them to sell a three-year term pol
icy for the price of two years insurance,
payable in advance. This effects a saw
ing of one years premium less the inter-
est chargeable to the advance payment
Ii was found that the state had been
placing considerable insurance with the
Southern Mutual Company at Athens. This
company does not issue term policies like
the stock companies, and as the action OF
| the legislature made 1t incumbent upon the
| Governor to get three years insurance for
| the price of two, there was nothing to do
| but cut off the Southern Mutual policies.
Gov Gambler was 10th to do this, how
| ever, ana wrote to the manager of that
| company asking If a special policy could
not be issued to the state that would per
| nit the placing of the usual proportion of
| the states business with that company.
| If this cannot be done the stock companies
| will get all the states business for the
next three years.
Southern Mutual Kicks.
The Southern Mutual representatives
! here are not at all satisfied with the new
| plan of placing the states insurance. They
| declare it not only costs the state more, in
| fact based upon Southern Mutual rates
| by the single year, and is, therefore, no
! economy, but at the same time its effect
Is to bar out of competition one of the
| greatest home enterprises in the state. as
| the Southern Mutual could not issue three
| year policies without complete change in
! its system of doing business.
new form by which the various COM
panies writing the policies will each bear
a pro rata share in the risk on all classes
| of the states property, is to be used this
year. Gov Gambler did not complete the
business to-day, but expects to close it
up tomorrow, when the Southern Mutual
| will probably be heard from on the Gov
| ernors proposition.
New OfHciaIs Sworn in.
While the Governor was busy with the
state insurance in the executive office. the
change in officials took place in the office
| of special attorney for the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, and in the adjutant
| generals office. Both Col. Ed Brown and
! Col. Phil Byrd came to town this morning,
each to assume the duties of the offices
to which they have been appointed. Col.
Brown was sworn in as special attorney
ri
administered the oath TO Col. Byrd.
Col. Obear. the retiring assistant adju-
tant general, spent the day in showing
! the new officials through the records and
routine of his office. The venerable Col.
| Kell. adjutant general of the state, was
on hand to receive his new assistant, and
| although not able to do any work, he re-
manned in his Office throughout the day.
one of tine first things Col. Byrd will do
will be to issue the circular TO the ordina-
ries requesting information in regard to
the location of Confederate cemeteries, in
| accordance with the recent request from
the war department and the instructions
of Gov. Gambler.
Brown Relieves Wimbish.
Col. Brown was received at the Office of
the Western and Atlantic Railroad attor-
ney by Col. w. A. Wlmbish, the retiring
official. They had an informal talk about
the office. but the official transfer of the
records will not take place until to-mor-
row. Col. Wimbish has formed a law
partnership with Col. w. D. Ellis of this
city, and will locate here, removing from
| Columbus.
Col o. B. Stevens, commissioner of
agriculture, came up from his home at
--------
!
MoA1D nj