Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-01

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ins, the distinguished South Carolina
; soldier, by the president Of the United
States at the Charleston exposition on
February IL. The sword, which will be
very handsome one, having engrav-
ed upon it what the president himself,
Major Jenkins colonel in the war with
Spain, said of the South Carolinian, has
been ordered and should arrive In a
few days. Major Jenkins is now teach
ing at a military school in Virginia,
but will be on hand to receive the tes-
timonial to his bravery from the hands
Of the president.
The MauIdin Insurance Law.
Columbia special of Tuesday to The
News and Courier: The banking and in
surance committees Of the house had
a delegation Of fire insurance managers
and agents before them this afternoon
in reference to the insurance laws on
the statute books. The agents urge
that the Mauldin act, after being tried
for three years, has proved a failure
and is really working to the detriment
of the people of the state. The Mauldin
act prohibits the joint making of rates
or inspections by companies, the South
eastern tariff association or agents.
The city of Greenville now has paid
fire department, but no reduction i4
rates has been made for this, as the
companies are afraid Of infringing the
Mauldin act if they made any change
in rates. Electricity Is now considered
the greatest incendiary of the age and
the electric wiring Of all buildings
should be carefully scrutinized. The
fire companies have trained experts,
who inspect all risks, and If they are
not safe the owner of. the building nluss
remedy the defects at once or policies
are cancelled, thus affording protection
to the citizens Of the state. After a
very thorough discussion the insurance
men made this proposition: That If
the Mauldin act were repealed and the
bill to investigate incendiary fires be-
come a law, a reduction Of rs per cent.
to 33 per cent. would be made on all
rates in South Carolina. This same
proposition was adopted by North Car
olina four years ago and the people Of
that state have been enjoying these
lower rates ever since. This offer, If
accepted, would be of the greatest ben
eft to farmers anAtother owners Of
country property. Tie present rate on
country dwellings is SIS per thousand
dollars per year, while under the above
rate it would be but $40 per thousand.
1t is understood that the committee
have agreed to act favorably on the
proposition and will report a bill to
carry it out.
Should be Punished For Bunglins.
News and Courier, Wednesday,: II
hate to see a complete fizzle Of any sort
of an undertaking, whether it pertains
to building a railroad or robbing a
railroad train," said Mr.. Frank N.
Howard, Of Omaha, Nebraska, to re-
porter for The News and Courier at the
Charleston Hotel lobby yesterday after
noon. IF the perpetrators Of the
Branchville hold-up are ever captured
they should be put away for life, SIM
| ply to make an example of them for In
| competence and worthlessness If for no
other reason. The robbery from start
to finish shows that 1t was conceived,
planned and executed by an aggrega-
| ton Of raw beginners or ignorant
han nlyu D,,k nj oil bot I
cannot be denied that the highwaymen
were blessed with an ample quantity Of
| nerve and audacity, and for unique
| robbery 1t certainly overtops them all.
The idea of backing up a two-horse
| wagon to the door of the express car
and loading the vehicle with two safes
is about as absurd and laughable as it
is unwise and foolhardy. A few sticks
| of dynamite, with which, Of course,
they never had the forethought to pro-
vide themselves, would have obviated
all that trouble; the desperadoes could
have divided up the spoils then and
there and scattered In every direction.
Instead they drive off post haste with
|
countrymen for ballast. The whole
thing is enough to make poor Jesse
James, Dave McGill and the other
members Of the old western gang, turn
over in their graves. We have had
few more or less successful train rob-
berries in Nebraska in days gone by; but
| nothing Of the nature of this South
Carolina affair. This crime was COM
mitted by band of men thoroughly IA
miliar with the section Of country In
which the robbery took place. Now is
splendid opportunity for the authori-
| ties Of this state to break up this gang,
which has already, believe, undertake
en- similar job on two former occa-
sions. l make my living travelling on
| railroad trains and l am interested in
| this case. twenty-five years ago fig
| ured as a victim in q western stage
| coach hold-up, in which 1 was reliev-
ed of a gold watch and chain and $2S5
in cash. One man only performed this
task; but he did his work we'll and so
far as know ne is still at large. These
Branchville robbers are sure to be
caught, and If they are ever tried it
does not seem to be that anything
short of life sentence would fit the
deed"
MERE-MENTION.
1t is now reported that Secretary