Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-07
FROM TRUST VIEWPOINT
Insurance Paper Discusses
Local Situation.
COMPANIES MAY GET OUT
Correspondent Insirstes That Sue.
cess Of Prosecution VIII Cause
Members Of Trust to Withdraw
from State.
InsImstes That Sue

The Insurance Herald, an insur-
ance paper published in Atlanta, Ca
the home of the Southeastern Under
writer's Association, prints the iol-
lowing under a Newport News date
line:
That those of the executive com
mittee OF the Southeastern Under
writer's Association and OF the Viz
ginia committee who were arrested
and placed under bond at Hot
Springs. Va, on May Is for an al
legged conspiracy to fix fire Insurance.
rate will have TO appear at Newport
News in person on june seems as
sured, unless some totally unlocked
for change comes over the spirit oil
the Commonwealth Attorney Berke-
lev the cases against the underwent
sers will certainly be called on that
date and for the alleged conspirators|
TO forfeit their bonds will only serve
to more deeply impress Attorney
Berkeley with the single idea that he
Is the one and only champion OF the
most righteous cause, that OF punish
ing the insurance companies for pre-
suming to control the price OF their
own product The fact that the
Chamber of Commerce and city coun-
Gil and the Merchants Board OF
Trade. having had nothing to do IN
the inception of the prosecution OF
this case against the underwriters
appears to have no weight with. with
whatsoever He is In the limelight
now, and means to stay there until
the last flicker He Is handling mis-
case against the insurance men with
all the seeming interest Of q child
with new toy. II is by long odds
the best thing that ever came his
way, and he will make the most Of It,
Encouraging Insurgents.
at is understood that the leading
local fire insurance agents OF New
port News are not in sympathy with
the movement against the underwrit-
ers but for the first suggestion OF an
attack, and that they are still behind
the firing line encouraging the in
surgents to give the companies he'll.
1t will be interesting to note whetn-
ed or not any Of these enemies 20
their own profession will have the
courage to come out in the open and
show their colors on the day The
members of the committee ere
brought into court. There has been
suggestion advanced here to make
public the names Of those agents.
who are responsible for the trouble
and expense the companies are now
compelled TO stand for, so that the
insurers may known where to pace
the blame for any inconvenience they
may possible experience IN securing
tire insurance in the future. On the
other hand II Is suggested that this
would appear as retsliatory step on
the part OF the companies. besides sp-
pearing as an admission. that they
have in the past allowed themselves
to be represented by birds Of Ill
omen. who befoul their own nests 1t
is beginning to be understood here
that. come what may. there viii be
no retraction from the recent ten
per cent increase in rates without
corresponding reduction in city T.
cense and taxes. The more intelligent
insurers do not ask for 1t. and will
not expect ii. even II the local courts
should decide the case unfsvorably to
the companies"