The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-12

Mr. CASTOR insisted that it would
be better for the State to bear the
cost of the department and made 8
strong argument along this line.
Mr.. Lide declared that 1T is a mat
ter of no small concern for the. bust.
ness man to know that he is getting
gilt edge insurance. The value Of an
Insurance policy Is q mere promise to
pay without any security and it Is
wise to have an insurance commits
SiOner.
SAW A TROJAN HORSE. ,4
Mr.. DeBruhl spoke against Mr..
Mauldin's bill on the ground that 1t
gives one man the right to say
whether or not fire is incendiary.
He does not believe in sacrificing toe
many rights to secure reduction In
rates. He declared that it is strange
that those who advocate this step get
their statistics from the insurance
companies themselves. He wants the
law let alone, and wants the comp.
troller general to remain in control OF
the department. 1t is better to pay
a little more In premiums and get the
full amount of the policy.
Mr.. BOmar said that the reduction
OF third in the rates would mean a
saving.of S300,00O or 100000 a year
without cent of cost to the State.
The manner Of fixing the pay could be
fixed later If it proves unsatisfactory
at first.
Mr.. DeBruhl wants to know what
guarantee there is that the bill would
save money to the State.
MIR. DEvoRE SUSPECTED SOMETHING.
Mr.. DeVore asked If this bill is ia
vored by the insurance companies,
and pressed the question In such a
way that it indicated that he sus-
pected that the bill would do more
good for the companies than for the
insured or the companies would not
favor it.
Mr.. Sinkler declared that there Is
no Trojan horse in the bill. The in
Surance companies favor the bill be-
cause it would give them greater pro-
tection-for which they are willing to
pay.
DIR. j. B. Black thinks that the du-
ties of the department should be put
given the clerical help to enforce the
law.
DIR. Mauldin admitted that this is
an insurance company bill," aud he
introduced the bill last year at the re-.
quest of the companies, because as au-
thor Of the anti-compact law he had
seen that the law had served It's pur-
pose and had brought the insurance
people to condition where they are
willing to deal fairly with the people.
There were practically no fires before
insurance companies came into exist
ence, but when a man is we'll insured,
or over insured, he becomes careless
and fires are of more frequent occur
ence. If laws can be passed to pre-
vent such carelessness, it will be to
the interest Of the companies. and
also Of the people. That Is why the
companies are willing to have reduc-
tion in premiums.
BOTH BILLS PASSED.
The previous question was then Or
dered. Mr.. Rainsford's proposed
amendment to have the Office OF bank
examiner included was voted down.
Mr.. Aycock's amendment to have the
commissioners salary paid by the
State instead of out of the receipts
from the companies levied for this
purpose was rejected. Mr.. Johnson's
amendment to have the Office elective
by the general assembly instead Of
appointive by the governor was adopt
ed by vote Of 53 to 81.
BY vote OF IS to 33 the house re-
fused to continue the bill on Mr..
Gaston's motion.
Mr.. Beamguard wanted to reconsi-
der the vote by which the Office is
made elective. The legislature has
enough of elections, and the governor
could not afford to appoint an un-
worthy man. The house voted down
Mr.. Beamguard's motion.
The bill then passed second reading
and will come up Friday for final con-
sideratiOn in the house.
Mr.. Mauldin's bill WAS then taken
up and passed with but slight modi-
tications.