The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-27

"r. Natncarts statement follows:
Inasmuch as tax commission chair
nan A. w. Jones. ~recentiy comp
troller general. and previous to 1908
insurance commissioner ex-oficio. has
given the press a copy OF his letter
to Gov. Manning. protesting against
the approval OF the resident agents
act recently passed by the legislature.
beg the liberty OF correcting some
OF the statements contained therein,
which are contrary TO facts.
The Insurance commissioner Is not
responsible for this bill. had nothing
whatever to do with It's proposal to the
legislature. but when called upon, In
all Fairness to the local agents Of the
state. gave his unqualified approval.
Mr.. Jones statement to the effect
that this bill rs intended to still fur
ther destroy the freedom of contract
and prevents the opportunity Of COM
petition. etc." Is entirely without
foundation. +. III. McMaster, the In
suranee commissioners. In his letter
TO GOV. Manning under late OF March
.. IN the support OF the bin. stated:
In my opinion o can sign the bill
with the perfect assurance that Il
vii not interfere with the insurance
business In South Carolina and that
IL will have no other effect than TO
secure to the resident agents OF this
state he commissions on business
written In this State now going to
agents elsewhere. and to which I be-
heve the agents in South Carolina are
entitled" In another letter the In
sarance commissioner states This
biz vouih AMPLY rec ire the com-
pafes 20 DO their buf aess through
their local agents an. not through
their Northern agents
The act is carefully and adroitiy
drawn In the interest OF /. . in
surance agents." but I defy this gen
tleman TO show wherein II Is against
the interest OF the masses Of the peo-
pig or wherein II "wil secure spe-
cial privileges and levy a special tax
on insurance" In his letter to the
governor, Mr.. McMaster expresses the
opinion that this bill will not add one
cent OF cost to insurance In the State"
Mr.. Jones states: There was no
discussion of It's provisions either on
the floor OF the general assembly or
in the press" i will refer to the
journal OF the house OF representa-,
tivss Of February 16. page 20:
v'The house took up In order. I'M
der the steering committee report, the
following second reading bill:
IN. s2.-Mr. tombstone: A bill to
regulate the writing of certain classes
of Insurance In the State OF South
ctrolina, and to provide for the d.
vision OF premiums.
Mr.. Mccullough moved to strike
opt the enacting words Of the bill.
S"Mcssrs. tombstone. Beckett. Charles
sne Berry spoke in favor Of the bill.
MIR. Toole spoke against the bill.
Mr.. Tickling moved to continue the
han.
."On the question OF continuing the
hill. Mr.. Fickling demanded the yeas
and nays. which were taken. resulting
90 follows: Yeas, "a; nays. IT,"
Furthermore. there was a public
hearing on the afternoon of January
70 before a Joint session Of house and
senate committees on banking and In
%suranee at which this bill was fully
discussed and amendments were made
% the original draft. Had we known
discussion In the press" was neces-
sary TO the passage of an act. We
Would ave resorted to Mr.. Jones
method OF obtaining public notice.
Mr.. Jones quotes the insurance com.
missioner as stating that this act does
not apply To the reinsurance con
tracts made by the sinking fund and
then says hat the distinction made
by the insurance commissioner Il.
both ingenious and speclous."
Any n who has the least knowI,
edge OF insurance knows the distlnc.
zion between insurance and reinsur
ance and should furthermore. know
that an act relating To insurance
does not affect reinsurance" unles.
the act definitely refers TO reinsur
fance. Therefore the statement of tn,
insurance commissioners Is absOlutel
correct. as all who know anything %
insurance will testify.
The following letter from Edwin G
slebels contains a very intelligent dis
function between these two terms nm,