Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-21
President Jones Thinks Com
monwealth's Attorneys
Course Should be Approved.
COLONEL BUTTON AGREES
TO ACT AS MEDIATOR
After Conferences With Representa-
tlves OF Commercial Organizations.
and Others Commissioner says He
Thinks He Can Have Rate Reduced
N Council Lowers Tax.

President ID. S. Jones last night IN
structed City Clerk FLOYD A. Hudgins
to issue call for special meeting Oh
the common council for Monday night
ct s O'Clock at the city hall for the
purpose OF discussing the insurance
matter and taking such action in the
matter as the council may deem wise
and proper.
There was some talk yesterday OF
effecting a compromise between the
council and the Insurance Trust, but
President Jones said last night that
be personally is unqlalifedly opposed
to any compromise and that he hopes
the council will take the same view
OF the matter and go on record as
approving the course pursued by
Commonwealth Attorney Berkeley
IN this matter Mr.. Jones declared
that he believed that Captain Berke-
ley did just the right thing at the
right time In serving warrants on the
members of the Southeastern Under
writer's Association. and that he pro
poses 10 do everything in his power
70 support him throughout the fight.
Following Is copy OF President
Jones' letter 10 the clerk:
Newport News. Va. My 20. 1903.
Floyd A. Hudgins. Esq,
City Clerk.
Dear SIR
"You are hereby directed to call a
special meeting Of the common coun-
hnr be- ~
the evening of May card. 1910. at s
O'Clock D. m. for the following pur-
poses:
ITO take such action as to the
council may seem wise and expedIent
concerning the recent increase in fire
insurance rates in this city by the
Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
ton. and any and ali matters apper-
tanning thereto
Very truly yours.
ID. S JONES.
president Common Council"
Would Act as Arbitrator.
Following q conference with insur-
snce agents. representatives Of the
Chamber Of Commerce. the Mer-
chants Association and other persons
interested. Col Joseph Button, the
State Insurance commissioner, who
arrived in this city yesterday MORN
ing told Daily Press reporter yes
ter6ay afternoon that he will arrange
fer a meeting of the Virginia commit
tee of the underwriters association
Tuesday at Richmond and that he Will
seek to act as an arbitrator in the
Insurance fight lie thinks that he
cln set the ten per cent increase
a reduction of the license tax on the
Insurance companies
Col. Button was asked how the IL
cense tax in this city compares with
that Of Petersburg and Norfolk, but
he stated that he was not familiar
with the taxes Of those cities. He
was also asked about the difference
in the rates between the three cities
and replied that he was not familiar
with the rates He commented upon
the small fire insurance loss in New
port News Cor the past ten years and
stated that he world use that as an
argument In the city's behalf before
the Virginia committee.
Conferences Held.
The State commissioner remained
in this city from 1890 o'clock yes
serday morning until SECS O'Clock yes
terdsy afternoon and during that time
he was called upon at the Warwick
Hotel by a number OF business men
and others. He was met yesterday