Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-29
DENY RATE IN CREASE
WAS IN RETALIATION
President Prescott insists That II
Was Business Proposition; That
Additional License Tax Had to be
covered--capt. Berkeley Refuses
to Agree to Delay.

w. r. Prescott, OF Atlanta, Ga
president of the Southeastern Under
writer's Association, and four other
prominent members of that organiza
ton. ali OF whom are under bond 70
appear In the police court of this city
on June S to answer the charge OF
eonspiring to control insurance rates,
arrived here yesterday TO consult win
o. ID. Bachelor. their counsel. one
of the results of the first conference
held was request by Mr.. Bachelor
that Commonwealth Attorney Berke-
ley agree to continuance OF the
cases, on the ground that the defend
ants would not have sufficient time Ia
which TO prepare for trial Captain
Berkeley declined TO agree to any
postponement, but the visitors remain
cd over last night and Mr.. Bachelor
still Is hoping to bring about the con
tinuance.
With Mr.. Prescott are A. b. An
urews, of Atlanta. manager of the
Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton; l.. r. Warren. of Richmond,
chairman of the Virginia committee
Of the association, and E. II. Jones.
of Richmond, and George Me Good
rich, OF Norfolk, members of the Vir
ginia committee.
Here AS individuals.
When seen by a representative OF
this paper. Mr.. Prescott laid stress
upon the fact that he came here be
cause he was accused of violation
of the law and as an individual, not
as president of the Underwriters As
sociation. He and his associates
sreut practically the entire day in Mr..
Bachelors Office at the Silsby build
ing. and Mr.. Bachelor invited various
well known people in to see them.
During the morning City Attorney
Massie was among those VINO called,
md when one of the visitors laugh
,ngly inquired about tho condition of
The city Jail. suggesting that he would
like to have the establishment white
Mr.. Massie replied that there
would be no embarrassing IN this
case."
During the afternoon Mayor Jones
called and was Introduced TO the
gentlemen, and later lengthy con
ference was held with the visitors,
Mr.. Bachelor, c. n. West, chairman
of the finance committee OF the coun-
Gil, w. 4. Cottrell. secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce, w. T. Chaplin,
]. L. Patton and a representative of
This paper present. Messrs. West,
Co;trell, Patton anu Chaplin are insur-
hnce agents.
"A Business Proposition"
Messrs- Prescott and Andrews dis
cussed the insurance situation at
length, insisting that the recent In
crease OF ten percent in rates was
made simply as a business PROPOSE
ton. to cover the increased cost of
doing business under the license tax
imposed by the city council They
declined to discuss the question of the
legality of their organization. although
when the subject was first suggest.
ed Mr.. Warren declared rather heat.
eddy that the criminal proceedings
would De fought to a finish.
Mr. Prescott denied that the under
writers association controls rates. Hs
said that If the association made ex
csssive rates the independent com
panies would get all the business. and
named plumber os mon board" com
psnies, which. he said. could carry al
the insurance in Newport News.
Mr.. West said that. while personally
he was not in sympathy with the
criminal proceedings public senti
rent around here was so hot that 3
man hardly dared express his own
opinion. He went on to say that he