Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-07
Fire Insurance Corporations Dis.
satisfied With Fireman's Relief Act.
FORM OF LITIGATION UNDECIDED
insurance Commissioner Button Has
Information That Corporations
Have EmpIo,ed Lynchburs and
Atlanta Attorneys.

now an open secret that the fire IN
surance cumpani, 5 dong business In
! this state purpose fighting the act
passed BY the last legislature with
! the idea or creating fircman's relief
| funl and designed T. increas,s the Ell
| ficiency OF fire departments in the
! cities. towns and counties CT thc
state.
Just what form the litigation will
assume is not yet known, though the
insurance commission r. Joseph But
ton, has information that Randolph
Harrison, Ct Lynchburg, and King
Spauiding & Little. OF Atlanta. have
been employed as counsel by the cor
porations TO take the matter to the
! courts
The new statute. which was ap-
proved March II. 1905 and became
rominally effective June 25. 1908. has
not yet been put into ptaCt.cal opera
lion: that is to say. Mr.. Button Will
first have to get certain preliminary
information, after which he will en-
deavor to make the insurance compa-
MES pay the required one per cent
tax On their premiums and thtn the
money will be turned over to the
state treasurer The next legislature
is required tc pass an act providing
for its apportiC nment.
Under the circumstances. the cor
porations may decline to furnish the
preliminary information and thereby
bring ON themselves q mandamns. or
after having supplied the required in
formation. they may decline TO pay
up. To tbs, outside world ii will make
but little difference what tactics they
pursue. as the matter. at all events.
will get into the courts.
The new law is applicable to any
city. town county or mag.sterial dis
trict which has a regular organized
fire department under the control OF
t.e mayor. city council, or other gov
erning body OF the county, city, town
or maeisterial dis riot. and which has
in service able condition for fire duty
in valns' to $500 or more. and which
enforces the fire laws to the satisfac-
tion CT the commissioner.
Future Beneficiaries.
Colonel Button has ascertained that
the following cities and towns are
! ( ntitled to become beneticiaries OF
, the new law:
Alexandria. Bedford City. Char
lottesville, Clifton Forge. Colonial
Beach. Covineton. Danvile. Front
ROYAL, Hampton. Harrisonburg. Lex
ington. Luray. Lynchturg. Manches-
ter Martinsville Newport News. Nor
folk. Petersburg. Pocahontas. Ports
mouth. Richmond, Roarok". Salem.
! Shenandoah. Staunton. Strasburg.
Suffolk. Woodstock.
The state insurance bureau has
notified all concerns. both mutual and
stock. 20 furnish him with sworn
statements showing the amount CT
premiums collected in the cite; and
towns above mentioned between JIne
25th and December u 1908. Upon
the answers 10 this demand depend
the rext phase II the situation.
Provisions Ct the Law.
Section > OF the nsw law contains
the following provision:
> That every fire and lightning in
surance company. cooperation or as
socia ton as aforesaid. shall. in addi-
tion to such other amounts as NAV
be requirtI by law TO he pad by
them. within ninety days from De
"iSt IL 'dN u ~ -, o''
paw 10 the treasurer of the state Of
Virginia the sum of one dollar out
of and from every one hundred dot
lars Of premiums received and AT
that rate. upon the amount G. all
premiums written OF sutt cities.
towns and coun7ies during The ys2r
| ending December 3lst in each v, ar.
| or for such portion OF each year as
said company. corporation r. aisocia-
, ton shall have done business in sTch
| citiis towns ami counties. The
! amounts so paid by the said compa-
riss, corporations and associations
from each city. town and county. re-
80 -;iyelv shall constitute a fund Tor
the benefit OF the frcmep'S relief as
, ISOLATION OF each city. town or coln.
~. resps c'iveiy. h reir2fter provided
for. and the funds 30 acqutrs shan
be used for ~ other pI-pcs" end
shall ~ Iraid ever 10 Tho said ASA
ciationS upon sp;,TupTaf ions % b"
from tim. To time made by 'he leg
isis'Ure ot Virginia
Heavy peualtFs To the Wv Of fines
! are provided for the E0n1ot~"rSance
! q. the statute
Section Of thr act provides hat
he LEGISLATURE. fF-m time 70 time.
| shall 1ac- I,Ss prov d.ER for tie
transfer o. the D1ney into 'h. 'ress-
urics OF the Respective relief sssoCis-
4 ions. which shsI! have 'IIs cTntro
1 Of the furds
The individual bFuchciari OF tn"
tar shall Re injured CT d'zabl"d hr'
nen. AMI tho isE also provides relief
Cor these ACTUALLY .cPs ni'nE mn The
Tcrv.c-z Of any hrctsss who has lost
/ his life In ne DISCHARGE Of driy
|