Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-19

lcommon law in Kentucky as in Vir-
Iinia, and Captain Berkeley replied
that Il was not the same and he re-
lfcrred the court and the defense TO
certain statutes. MIR. Lett said he
didn't care whether the same com
mon law applied in both states or not.
The Virginia cases have decided these
points, declared the speaker, In the
Crump case, the Everett, Waddy case
and In the case OF the two justices
who conspircd together to,put q man
in office. Besides these Virginia cases.
he said that the Buchanan case and
other cases have decided the same
point "All We desire on the one hand
is the Crump case and Everett Wad-
fey case as a line of de,2arkation,
continued Mr.. Lett. THE line is
clearly drawn by Bishop and Whar-
ton.
Now nay friends say that the in |
surance association was invited back
after an absence from the State OF ,
four years. They were kicked over
the fence In Virginia and remained on
the outskirts for four years. but some
how they have thrown their provis-
ions over the fence just as steadily
while they were on the outside. II is
well defined principle that where
statutes are appealed the common law
rises again"
Coerce Municipality.
Turning his attention directly tol
the association, Mr.. Lett declared
that they blacklist companies that
won't abide by their rates and refuse
to give those companies any reinsur-
aIce. ''They say to- the outside com
panies that II you won't use our rates
we won't. re-insure for you. They say
TO the agents II you don't use our
rates we won't allow you 10 handle
the board companies. They nave an
understanding with the agents that
not more than fifteen percent COM
mission Is TO be received by the
agents In violation of the statute of
Virginia, which prohibits them from
making any agreement about con-
missions with the agents. They will
coerce the municipality TO levy what
taxes they desire and not what taxes
the municipality desires. say they
combine against the city, combine
against the non-board companies, com
bne against the agents and combine
against the people.
Insurance is an absolute necessity.
Mr.. Lecky sat on the stand there and
told you how the homes of the poor
people of this city are mortgaged ard
how those people who are trying to
pay for their homes must carry fire
insurance TO protect the mortgage.
We say that this combination works
by coercion in all four branches-it
is an agreement to maintain
monopoly of necessity: 1t uses
means amounting to boycott and
checklists to carry out It's end; 1t has
en- evil purpose and does thing preji-
)dicial to public policy and the promul-
cation of the pink slip shows malice
and evil intent. Had they imposed q
percent increase on our city that might
have been alright and might have
shown no malice But the Ten percent
increase shows malice and let Mr..
Bachelor do all the figuring he can,
he will not be able to explain or figure
their increase of profits away.
Sought to Penalize City.
II say that the purpose was evil.
They we're not seeking to protect
themselves. but to penalize the city of
Newport News. When Eddie Ford
told Mr.. Harris that he hoped the
association would not penalize the
city. Mr. Harris made no reply. but
went back TO Richmond and sent this
clip, No. i45. They tell you that
there'll be ten percent decrease In
premiums collected this year Why
Because its oppressive-because its
njIrioas-because its against public
policy. These men knew when they
imposed that penalty that the poor
pan would have to pay II. My Idea
df the men In this insurance associa-
tion is that they have been 50 &C
customed 20 getting the last penny
out OF the peoples pockets that they
do IL with a smile"
In concluding, Mr.. Lett said that
when this association combined to
control rates 1t acted illegally-that
the associations acts by coercion and
that's illegal and that Il is against
public policy and acts with malice.
Mr.. Bachelor Sarcastic.
In opening the closing argument
for the defense, Mr.. Bachelor said
that the Prophet Joel, who Is spoken
OF in the Bible. said that young men
see visions and old men dream
dreams" Our young friend Stuart
has been dreaming dreams and our
old friend Lett Il use the term old In
order to complete the comparisonl r.
dreaming dreams. Our young friend
berkeley Is seeing snsits. not from
the usual cause attendant upon the
seeing of snakes. bu: he sees them
nevertheless They are crawling in the
jury box. We don't see th.m.
This whole prosecution was the
outgrowth OF hasty determination
that seized the public when conserva-
tism lost control, passion ran rampant
and reason was dethroned The com
munity has cooled down. Our friends
have not cooled down yet because
fn0y m ~. hat ~ h.. fra-