Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-06-09

Brown asked the WltnesS ii ne hneN
of any fire insurance company which
writes at rates lower than those pre-
scrlbed by the association and Mr..
Pitt replied that he knew of no such
company.
Replying TO a question by Captain
Berkeley, witness said that all Of the
companies operating here use the
rates made by the underwriters as
ISOLATION. Witness said that he did
not know that any OF the members Of
the Virginia committee are paid. MIR.
Pitt said that he understood that
Secretary Harris is the head of the
Virginia committee OF the association
in Virginia Witness said that he
knew that the rates on some OF the
risks in this city were raised In
May. lie learned this, he said,
through his local agent when
policies were rewritten or new ones
issued. Some of the rates, the wit
ness said, were lowered. lie did not
know the reason for this reduction,
but presumed that 1t was on ac-
count of an Improvement in the risks
on which the insurance was written.
Company Notified Of Increase.
Mr.. Pitt said that he thought that
his company had been notified OF the
increase in rates made here in the
Southeastern Underwriters Associa-
non. He could not say who notified
the company, but he supposed the
notification came from the Virginia
committee.
Before concluding with this witness,
Captain Berkeley said that he would
ask the court to strike out OF the re-
cord the statements of the witness
about the advantages that accrued
TO the insured by this system of fixing
rates. as this testimony was not re-
sponsive 10 his question. Captain
Berkeley said that he wanted to save
this point and argue the matter later,
giving his reason then why he wanted
parts OF the testimony stricken out
Companies Made Own Rates.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Bachelor,
the witness said that when the
Wharton law was In effect in Vir-
ginia the Southeastern Tariff AS
ISOLATION did not promulgate rates in
Virginia and that during that time
the companies had to make their own
rates. Here Mr.. Bachelor placed In
evidence one OF the rate books used
in this city. The book was of date
of 1903 and counsel for the State,
after examing it, objected. Mr..
Bachelor explained that he under
stood that the purpose of the war
rants was to lay bare the methods of
the Southeastern Underwriters As
sociaticn and that he proposed to Of
fer this book to snow what the as
ISOLATION has been doing in Newpor;
News. A sharp tilt followed be
tween Mr.. Bachelor and Captain
Berkeley, Mr.. Stuart and Mr. Lett and
Justice Brown had to rap sharply for
order several times.
Counsel For State Object.
Mr. Bachelor handed the witness
the rate book and began to ask him
about the rates set forth in the book.
Captain Berkeley objected to this
evidence on the ground that the
amount of the rates has nothing to
do with the case. The question at
issue. he said. was whether or not
the association controls and fixes the
rates, irrespective of what the rates
may be. He said that he would save
the objection and argue the point
later.
Replying to Captain Berkeley Mr..
Bachelor said that he proposed to
show that the association is OF ines
Unable value to the insured, and
then proceeded with his ross-exami-
nation OF the witness. He asked how
q basic rate" as it is called. is ar
rived at. The witness replied that a
committee Of tn Virginia commit.
tee or stamping clerk make the
basis, or starting rate. by examining
the property in question. The witness
explained that there was great ad.
vantage in favor OF the insured to
have the basis rate made by experts
of long service from different com
panies and that these experts can
profit by the experience of the com.
panies in the past in making the rates
Objects - Method Of Examination
Mr. Lett offered objection to the
method of the cross-examination by
Mr.. Bachelor on the ground that he
was leading the witness in question.
Ing him on new matters not brought
out BY the State and Justice Brown
sustained the objection and admon
ished Nr. Bachelor TO refrain from