Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-24

OF the Maryland Casualty company Of
Baltimore. whose license was revoked
by Insurance Commissioner WelCh,
was another leading witness at the
probe this morning. Skipwith eX-
pressed the belief that another insur-
ance man OF this city was behind the
action Of the insurance commission in
causing him to revoke Skipwith's lie
censeo Skipwith testified that he had
been an agent for various insurance
companies for ten years at the time
Welch refused him u new license April
49, 1914
Skipwith Went to Court.
Welch charged that Skipwith was
writing insurance below the schedule
of rates and manipulating facts. Skip
with went to the district court and Sc.
cured favorable judgment and upon
an appeal being taken to the supreme
court by the Insurance commissioner
that body upheld the district court
and ordered the insurance commis-
sioner to issue license to Skipwltn.
Advised To Submit
The witness introduced n letter ne
had written to the president OF the
Maryland Casualty company in which
he expressed a desire to go after the
insurance commissioner and have his
acts Investigated by the legislature,
also asking the presidents advice II
IL would not be well for him to sue
the Insurance commissioner for dam
ages. "The president of my company
advised me TO make peace with the
Insurance commissioner" said the wit
ness. He expressed the opinion that
the friendship Of the insurance com
tn N
surance company to risk antagonzing
him and advised me to not to take any
action"
Skipwith expressed the belief that
all the opposition To him was brought
about by another agent, who he de-
clared had great influence over
Welch. The witness further testified
that Claude Stringer. attorney for
Welch in the Skipwith proceedings,
told Skipwith that the other agent
paid all his attorneys fees.
Was Easily Influenced.
Skipwith showed an inclination TO
modify his statements against Welch
by expressing the opinion that the in
surance commissioner when he went
into office did not understand much
about the insurance business and was
easily Influenced. The witness stated
t0dt ne ndu Uol ntuIu OF any laNOIll-
ism being shown 10 companies by the
insurance commissioners since that
time.
J.. u. Mitchell. an attorney Of Okla
homa City. testified that he was en-
gagged as counsel for Forbes and Van
Hook, local agents of the National FL
deity & Casualty Co. and who
were formerly agents Of the Maryland
Casualty company and who he stated
were seeking to transfer business to
the former company.
The witness testified that Insurance
Commissioner Weich took the side Of
the Maryland Casualty company to the
extent that he told the agents that
they would have to stop this practice.
The attorney said that he tried to get
affida Wits to show that these agents
had not attempted to transfer business
from the Maryland company to the
Omaha concern, but that he could not
secure them and he advised the agents
TO give up their licenses Mitchell said
that Dorset Carter paid him his fee
Of $40 for these services.
Left the Case Pending.
j. W. Burns, another attorney for
the National Fidelity a Casualty
Co. was also employed by that
company TO assist Forbes and Won
Hook out OF their difficulties. but after
investigation advised them to give up
their licenses. After this Burns testi-
fled the matter Of the National Ffdel-
ity & Casualty Co. securing a new H.