Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-06
MADE WITNESS FOR
DEFENSE BY COUNSEL
There Can Be No Monopoly In Fire
Insurance, He Says--Continual Tilt
ina Between Opposing Attorneys.
Court Adjourns to Reeonvene Next
Wednesday Morning.


thc time 10 debates between counsel
over the admissibility of testimony
Col j. Il. West. of Suffolk. who was
under cross-examination wnen court
adjourned Friday afternoon. spent
yesterday on the stand as a witness.
first for the commonwealth and later
Tor tie defense. In the case OF the
commonwealth against the Office rs and
committeeman of the Southeastern
Underwriters Association. Colonel
West gave great deal OF testimony
concerning the insurance business in
general the insurance business In Vir-
ginia and the Southeastern Under
writer's Association, but the attorneys
did more talking than he during the
day. To meet objections raised by
the commonwealth. the defense made
the colonel its witness, and when
court adjourned In the afternoon the
commonwealth was just beginning
what promises TO be an extended
cross-examinatiOn on the testimony
given as witness for the defense.
Colonel West will resume the stand
"Wednesday morning.
Court adjourned at 4.3e o'clock yes
terday afternoon until 10 O'Clock
"Wednesday morning. as Judge Bar
ham must devote half d. Monday
to- the stamping of ballots for Tues
days election and the Southampton
jurors desired to go home to vote
The jurors, most Of the defendants,
Mr.. King and Mr.. Harrison. of coun'
sci for the defense. and the out-of-
town witnesses left the city during
the afternoon or evening.
Reason For Using Rates.
When court convened yesterday
morning Mr.. Bachelor, continuing
the cross-examination asked Colonel
West why he considered 1t good bush
ness policy to use the rates of the
underwriters association. An obje c.
ton by the commonwealth was over
ruled and the witness explained in
seine detail the difficulty in arriving
at reasonable and safe rates for in
surance, and said that the associa-
tons rates were made by experts on
a scientific basis in the light of the
experience of years OF many COM
panies.
No Force Used.
The witness was asked why his
company, the Interstate Fire Insur-
anca Company. joined the associa-
ton. The commonwealth objection
to this was sustained; then the wit
ness answered in the negative to a
question as to whether any force was
brought to bear upon his company to
bring it into the association.
At this point the commonwealth
again objected to the line of cross
examination, insisting that the defense
make the witness its own IL he was
TO be examined about matters which
had not been touched upon In direct
testimony. Mr.. Bachelor agreed and
Col. West was made the defense's
witness. The witness knew of no rule
of the association to compel compa-
MES to join.
Counsel for the defense at this point
introduced in evidence a COPY OF the
constitution and bylaws OF the South.
eastern Underwriters Association and
list OF the insurance companies do
ing business in Virginia. The latter
showed that of 80 companies % are
L
witness said that the ''non-board" com
panies could carry all Of the insur.
ance in Newport News. and that there
was no such thing as monopolizing
the Insurance business. Court adj
journed at ! O'Clock for the midday
recess.
Afternoon Session.
Colonel West resumed the stand
when court reconvened at =: 80 O'Clock.
Answering Mr.. Bachelor. he told OF
methods used by the Southeastern
Underwriters Association to reduce
fire risks. and said that the rates oil
insurance are reduced as tf.0 hazard
goes down. Witness said that tho
Southeastern Underwater Assoc's-
tion hzi reduced rates In he territory
since tf.a association cane ha~S into
Virgins. The tendency. h. s7ii was
for rates 20 go down all Ire fire IT..
rrrPnce CONF aries. be sad prefer
the low rate and low ries 10 no hi-a
-sta and h gh risk. WifEev- said thu,
the item OF taxes Ia to BE- conSid
cred in the matter q ccef ~ d0in-
business and. therefore. IN tho mat
ter cf fixing rates. he I'D rn' - ~
ary system Of fixing rates TO- 'nsrr
snce tazt cid not take into considers
tior the item Of taxes would be 3 SAT.
system.
Mr. Bafchelor asked the witness
20 slate whether. knowing n. iusur
ancr business IN Newport News ss M
did. the gross premiums last wear be
ing shout $4,000. he thought "a
tax Of $50 a year on about sixty com
panies doing business was fair av
rraga tax a. compared with the take
IN other cities 81 virginia. witness
thought hts was fair average tar
He thought inc tax imposed bv New
port News this year. 81 Hat and
per cent on the gross premiums. wa
very Expensive.
Mares q consHittesrcn-
CAPTAIN Berkeley zrked the wines
ho~ be refreshed his memory az Z