The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-14
FIRE INSURANCE ACT
DEFENDED BY AUTHOR
Senator Laney Reviews Long, Hard
Fight Waged on Bill.
To the Editor of The State:

known as the anti-compact fire in !
surance act passed by the recent gen
eral assembly because so much was
being written about it on both sides ,
But 1 have been asked as to my
views on this law by several as /
am one Of the authors of the bill and /
I take this opportunity of express
ing them.
Let me clear up one matter
introduced this bill at the instance
or suggestion of no man, and in I.
,troduced it because 1 believed that
1t was not right for fire insurance
companies ding business in this state
to make the rate and then to com
bine on that rate and thereby stifle
any possibility OF competition on
rates. 1t was fought out strenuous
ly in the general assembly and the
house of representatives. after en-
during a most notable filibuster.
passed the bill after being up prac-
tically all night at abOut a. m
! The farmers practically to a man
in the legislature stood by this bill
and so did great many of the mem
,bers from other walks of life. Ger
tain fire insurance companies carried
the fight before the governor in or
der to get him to veto the act but
he had the manhood and the back
bone to sign the same notwithstand-
ing the unrelenting fight put up by
these insurance companies, and the
people of this state should uphold
| his hands and support him in this
gigantic fight that is now on between
+ the State of South Carolina and
these certain fire insurance compa-
! nies, the great question being: Shall
this great and proud commonwealth
be governed by these certain fire
! insurance companies i'm reference TO
fire insurance matters. or shall the
state govern these certain fire in
surance companies In refernce to fire
insurance matters?" These samo
fire insurance companies say, by
their acts, that they will not only
withdraw from the state but that
they will do all in their power to
inconvenience and friehten the peo-
pie of this state and humiliate them
by bringing about chaotic conditions
as much as possible in order to force
the repeal or notification OF this
law, and now, when these certain
fire insurance companies think that
they have gotten the people suffi-
cietnly frightened, they want to rush
int othe supreme court with this law
stitutional.
! / believe that there are sufficient
manhood, brains and resources left
: in South Carolina to keep the stain
from her fair name of having beel
brow-beaten, forced and Inundated
int othe repeal or notification of this |
law by these certain gigantic fire
insurance companies. The state can
protect her people and, If 1t becomes
necessary, the general assembly can
be called into extra session for that
purpose. The state is already in the |
fire insurance business in "A limited
way and is making money In this |
business and If this fight can not
be won In any other way, the state
can easily and safely provide fire
insurance for the people
. Now, briefly. why have certain fire
] insurance companies left the state?
My answer is, for two reasons: First.
because this law prevents the making
and combination on the rate. And
second, because they desire to forcc
this state to repeal this law in order
that no other state may enact SINH
lar legislation. But already several
states have the anti-compact law I'm
one form or another. In general /,
way. let us see what is the position
OF these certain fire insurance com.
panies at present Judging from their
letters and newspaper articles as to
how the state should treat them.
They take the position first on this
important question that the fire in
surance companies be allowed to
make whatever rate they please to
make on all classes OF property In
this state without any interference
from the state. Let the state de-
liver her sovereignty over to them
in this respect. Let the people take
this rate or leave IL alone. And. to
carry this position to its final analy-