The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-12

HudiOS SeLiinS SZU $1,000 ike
men, At another time a mutiny occur
red and SIS guards threw down their
guns and ran Int sJme never came
back for their pay.
The vote resulted-ayes, IL; nos, IS.
A great many explained their votes Of
no" because they thought the price
g to be left to the board of direc-
tors, where it belonged.
The bill to provide for the revocation
OF the License of any insurance COM
pany which shall apply for the remov-
al OF n action at law from q court of
TINS state TO a court of the United
States and to amend the Craig law so
that it shall not apply to insurance
came up for action.
Mr.. a said he was not willing
TO grant license to those insurance
companies which refused TO domesti-
cate under the Craig law unless they
paid a tax of 2 per cent on the gross
receipts of their business in North Car
olina for the last two years. They have
been carrying money out Of the state,
although they claim not to be doing
any business. All policy holders, my
self included, have had to send their
premiums out of the state.
Mr.. Allen said he was at first oppos-
ed to the bill, but IN examination he
ends it will not weaken the Craig act
and bring some S12, 900 or S14, 600 in tax
es to the state annually. The tax was
imposed to. permit companies to solicit
business in North Carolina. Would it
nave been right to have cancelled all
those policies in North Carolina? 1t
would have been unjust to both.
These companies which did not domes-
ticate ceased to solicit BUSINESS, and
this bill is not a question of collecting
back taxes.
Mr.. Willard explained his bill and
Cnf1 he rr-nr crrrr-;--l 49, IL
cate of the Craig act should object to
this amendment to the insurance act.
Companies that went out of the state
had lost all of their office plants and
If they re-enter the state they will have
to invest a large o of money to
begin business again. If you tax them
on what has been paid in premiums for
the past two years you simply say they
are not wanted back, for they could
not afford to come back, and the very
object of the bill will be defeated.
Mr.. Graham offered an amendment,
providing that any company applying
for license under this act shall first
pay a tax of 2 per cent on it's gross in
come for business lone in the state
since it's withdrawal from the state.
Mr.. Craig explained the object and
purpose of the domestication act and
said he favored Mr.. Wizards bill, be-
cause it would not only be of great
convenience to the citizens of the state,
but woul bring an additional revenue
of $40 900 a year in taxes. The bill
would not weaken the Craig act. Mr..
Graham's was sentimental
and he sympathiZed with the spirit, but
in this matter it would destroy the pur-
poses of the beneficient law. Those
companies paid their taxes in the state
in which they did business and were
willing to come into this state and pay
taxes.
Mr.. Britain said in last campaign he
yelled mo trust" so much that women
and children could not sleep of nights.
This bill is against the insurance trust
and / hope it will pass without any
amendment.
Mr.. Winston said the main idea of
the Craig act two years was to pre-
vent the removal of suits from state to
federal courts. and it was debated be-
tween him and Mr.. Craig in drawing
the bill as to whether insurance COM
pa les should be included or not, as the
Willard insurance law regulated insur-
ance companies. Ut is absolute protec-
ton to MIR Graham and other policy
holders to let these companies return to
business in this state. They only pur-
sued a careful, prudent business course
in declining to come into the state
when the vast fiduciary funds in their
hands were thought by them to be jeo-
pardiZed by so doing.
Mr.. Hayes opposed Mr.. Graham
amendment and advocated Mr.. Will
lard'S bill.
MIR. Graham said there would not
have been such a powerful lot of lob
bying for this bill if foreign companies
were not anxious to come back and
come back without paying taxes.
The previous question was called.
MIR. Graham called for the ayes and
noes and the call was sustained. The
amendment was defeated-ayes, 5;
noes. 6S.
The bill the passed it's third and
final reading. 1t is as follows:
That in chapter 81 of the public
! laws of 1899 insert the words or if any
foreign insurance company shall apply
! to have removed from a superior u
of any county in this state to the
United States circuit or district
| court any action instituted against it
or shall institute an action or suit in
! equity in the United States . court
| ing out of or in any way connected
with any policy of insurance issued by
said insurance company.
That the Craig act be amended by
striking out, wherever it occurs, the
word insurance"
Mr.. Blount s bill to amend the Jim
Crow" car law of 1899 so the races
shall be separated in mixed trains
carrying both freight and passengers
was amended by committee so that
1.-The corporation commission should
nave such power to exempt such trains
as they thought entitled to it."
The bill then passed its second and
third readings-ayes. S4; noes, 8.
/ On motion that the republicans be al
; lowed to vote they all voted aye"
Bills passed to allow commissioner
Of Beaufort to levy a special tax; to al
low Dunn to issue bonds: to allow
Beaufort county to issue bonds; to al
authorize Arson county to levy a spe-
cial tax; TO incorporate Snow Hill
Banking and Trust Company; to incor-
porate Trent River and Cape Feal