Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-03-01
THE INSURANCE SITUATItDld
Growing Serious Even Before Him. Bill
Becomes a Law
Already Several Companies Have Withdrawn FROM
the State and Al! Announce Their
Yn.ention Of Quitting

It was stated by every Insurance
man in the country that The fire in.
surance companies would Withdraw
from the state if the King antitrust
bill became a law. and 9aost everybody
except the legislators was ahlo 10
see that thc companies y I'D te fareaa
to, Withdraw. if tie bill Deean5e laW.
1t has practically passed bod! houses
and that the governor will
aHn:aso IL t,eeso il IL dau}t. as
it is iiis net measure. Already Tie
Insurance companies are announcing
thai tbes i'll Withdraw from tue stare,
AMI after ii is too late Il may dawn
upon the law-mallins aggregation thai
the corporations can he actually Griy-
Gn out of Arkansas by legislation,
and to the detrment of the state.
A Vice President on the Situation.
The Mills agency has received the
following from F. NJ. Mikell, assist
ant manager Of the Southern depart
ment of the Royal Insurance company.
of Liverpool, in which he says that
his company means business, and
that il will quit the state, as all 9th
er responsible companies will do:
Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 25, 1a03.-Messrs.
R. II. NJ. Mills & Sons. Agents, Pine
Bluff, Ark.-Dear Sirs: We are adj
vsed that the antitrust bill has pass
ed the senate Of your state, and that
it includes insurance companies in its
provisions. We are further advised
that. it Will pass the house and be
.,sIghed by the governor It it becomes
d law. we must retire from your state
The time for giving bond. filing an
nual statement and procuring licenses
for agents expires on March next,
and We are not prepared 10 go to the
expense Of having this done until we
find out definitely whether or not the
bill will become law. IT, however.
we 90 not file this statement and give
bond, we cannot do business in your
state. We beg to ask, therefore. that
you will not write any business for
us, issue any new policies make any
endorsement or cancellation or per-
form any of the duties of an agent
Of this company after Saturday, the
2Sth of February. 1908, until further
advised. You will understand that we
do not take this action with any idea
or coercion or any desire to oppress
the good people Of your state. We
are law abiding company and if we
stay IN your state We propose to obey
its laws. Now, however, they are about
to pass a law which puts up to us two
propositions, O, to stay in the state
or Arkansas and abandon our organi-
cations all over the world, or (2), to
/. leave Arkansas and keep our organi-
cations. The question is simply a
]. business one and does not admit of
a single minutes hesitation in COM
! ing to decision. If the law passes
we must quit the state. If it does
/ not pass, we will Immediately file our
y statement and give bond and will at
Y once notify you by wire to resume
business, but, until we so notify you,
4 please do not act in any capacity for
Y us after Saturday the 2Sth inst.
III Regretting the necessity for this
s*action, and asking your careful COM
S9pllance with this request, l am, dear
aBsirs, yours very truly
INT INIT F: NJ MIKELII
Ssa Assistant Manager.