Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-21

morning by President Alex Meyers. OF
the Merchants Association; george
helms Wise. chairman OF the Cham
Der of Commerce committee on tax
alton and legislation, Councilman h
w Milstead, ]. L. Patton, an insur-
ance agent; W. T. Chaplin. an insur
lance agent: NJ r. Lash, Walter Is.
lLlvezey c. B. Nelms. W. s. Copeland
Or. s w. IIobson and $ Il. Buxton.
During the day practically all OF the
insurance agents In the city called o"
the commissioner and at 4 o'clock.
Col Button held second conference
with Chairman Caleb ID. West, OF the
finance committee of the city COUNCIL
Councilman Il. w. Milstead. and Al
derman Clarence c. Nelms.
At the morning conference, COL
Button was informed that neither the
business organizations of the city nor
the city council had instigated the
legal proceedings against the ihsur
ance people He also was told that
the council had spent 5000 in I'M
provements 10 the city FIRE depart
ment during the past year, and Pres
ident Meyers. of the Merchants Asso-
citation. showed him that the insur-
ance companies had advanced their
rates 21-2 per cent more than the
Increase in tax and that they were
penalizing the property holders OF the
city TO that extent for the action OF
the council.
Col Button made an informal ad-
dress to those present, stating that
he did not think relief from the exist
ing conditions could be had by means
OF "non.board" or independent insur-
ance companies. He DECLARED that the
case was hard one. but that he
would try to use his best influence
with the Virginia committee on be-
half of the people.
Mr.. Livexey's Proposition.
Finally Walter r. Livezey. OF the
Old Dominion Land Company, put the
following question TO Col. Button:
Upon assurances that neither the
commercial bodies nor the council had
anything to do with the legal action
taken against the Southeastern Tn
derwriters' Association, will you un-
dertake to act as mediator between
the people of Newport News and the
Insurance people with u view to ef-
fectiDg a settlement on basis OF a
fat license tax Of s25 and 9 IL per
cent?"
Col. Button said that he would be
glad to put this proposition to the In
surance people and requested that un'
til he could see the committee the
city council take no action in the
matter.
Mr.. Livezey's question caused much
speak for the city council nor. 1t is
said. had he any assurance whatso-
ever that the council would agree TO
the reduction of the license tax On
the contrary. the idea OF the com
mercial organizations of the city up
TO this time has been to let the H.
cense tax stay where II is and fight
I. out with the companies. The Mer-
chants Association went on record as
taking that stand and the Chamber OF
Commerce referred the insurance
matter to the committee on taxation
and legislation with instructions to
make an investigation of the matter
and report to the board Of directors
with any recommendations 1t thought
proper to make.
There seemed TO be some effort on
the part of a few yesterday TO put
the commissioner under the impress
sion that the community did not ap-
prove of the course OF the common
weslths attorney in his fight against
the insurance people. However.
there were others who informed the
commissioner witt as much emphasis
as possible that the community as a
whole not only approves, but APP
plauds the action OF Captain Berkeley
that Csptsin Berkeley did not go on
half cooked az some express 1t. but
that he conferred with other lawyers
and with them made an exhaustive
search CT the law on the matter
Larger Interests"
During the morning conference be.
tween the commissioner and the citi-
zens. the feet was brought out that
large interests In Newport News get
insurance at lower rate than the
smaller interests. The larger inter
ests" referred 20 the shipylrd Local
insurance agents gay tia; the insnr'
ance on the shipy,rd is written under
an entirely different rate than that
gene ally prescribed fer Newport
News. They also declare that che
y ten per cent increase made by the
Trust does not apply 10 the shi7yard
Much Of the shipyard insurance Is
written by local agents for a Jersey
City brokerage firu. and the impress
sion has prevailed thst ,; was written
at the same rate as other risks In