The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-22
DRAMATIC SCENE OF
ABSORBING INTEREST
Hearing Before Agricultural Commit.
tee On Bill to Drive Out south
eastern-A Bit of History.

Columbia, Feb. 19.-The one ques-
ton that absorbed more interest than
any other in the present session of the
legislature which is now drawing to
close was the State warehouse sys-
fem and the insurance rate which mas
been agitated in consequence Of the
esta ablishment of the warehouse sys-
tenn. Of interest in this connection
will be the proceedings at the hear
ing before the agricultural commit
tee on the bill to abolish the South
eastern Tariff association or rather to
put it out of business in South Caro-
lima. The legislature has passed The
bill putting the association out Of bus
mess in this State. The only filibus-
ter in the present session was on the
passage of the bill 70 abolish the
Southeastern or to put it out of bust
ness in South Carolina 1t lasted all
of Friday night though there was no
doubt a! any time of the majority be
ing against the Southeastern, or of
the final passage of the bill AS part
of the history of legislation at this
session on account of the hearing be-
fore the agricultural committee will
be of interest.
Dramatic Hearing on Insurance.
One of the most dramatic scenes
that has occurred in a long time in
the South Carolina legislature was
the clash between Senator McLaurin
and the agents of the Southeastern
Tariff association, at hearing before
the agricultural committee of the
house on last Monday afternoon. The
hearing was on the bill which had al
ready passed the senate to drive the
Southeastern Tariff association out OF
the State. When this bill reached the
house, it took its regular course and
was referred to the banking and in
surance committee Later, on motion
of Mr.. Odom, chairman of the agricul-
tural committee, who is staunch
friend of the State warehouse system,
the bill was recalled from the insur-
ance committee ana referred to the
agricultural committee, of which Mr..
Odom is chairman.
Senator McLaurin denounced IN un-
measured terms the fight which had
been made upon the system aud upon
him. He charged tnat the official Or
gan of the insurance combine, The In
surance Field, had published an article
inspired from Columbia and sent to
the banks in New York with which
the State receipts had been placed, for
the purpose of shaking the confidence
of the banks in the State receipts and
breaking down the State system. He
said that the insurance situation in
South Carolina was absolutely con-
trolled through Mr.. seibels' office, and
that Mr.. Harrington, of the Germania,
who was present, and who mad said
that his company was not a member
of the association, was really as much
a member as anybody else, and that
when Mr.. Seibels demanded that Mr..
Harrington come up and fight with
the Southeastern he came, and That
he would not insure State cotton ex-
cept through Mr.. seibels' representa-
tives. That so far as the claim Of
Mr.. Harrington that his company was
losing money was concerned. that the
official record showed tnat last year
this company declared dividend OF
two hundred thousand dollars on a
capital OF one million dollars, and ac-
cording to the statement OF the in
surance commissioner this was other
peoples money they made this 20 per
cent on. MT. Harrington was pretty
good man, said Senator McLaurin, and
he would like to do business with him,
and some of the insurance ne had Ill