Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-01-26
Proposed Legislation Sub
ject of Discussion by
Local Business Men.
ARKANSAS BUREAU
WORK IS DEFENDED
PIP. Byrd Precipitates Lively Debate
inf Conference Here by Asking Why
Rates are Higher Since Bureau
was Established.

discussed last night at a dinner at the
Hotel Pines, attended by about 40
prominent business men of Pine
Bluff, several insurance men of Lit
tie Rock, and Senators Greed Cald-
we'll of jefferson and Gregory Brown
of Cleveland. J. G. Leigh. president
of the Insurance Federation Of Ar
kansas, defended the bureau and its
work, and explained the manner OF
fixing insurance rates, and told what
the bureau is doing toward reducing
the burning ratio" of Arkansas
which, he said, is greater than in
any state in the union" P. p. Byrd
president of the Pine Bluff Cofpress
& Warehouse company: F. G. Bridges
president of the Pine Bluff company
and Senator caldwell availed them
selves Of invitation to "ask ques-
TONS" and of these precipitated de-
BATE in which half a dozen others
Joined in, and only terminated when
Chairman S. c.. Alexander requested
that Mr.. Leigh be given opportunity
to complete his address without fur
Their interruption.
The proposed bank guaranty act
and measure introduced by Sena-
tor Brown to tax mortgages, notes
and the cash surrender value of life
insurance policies were also dis
cussed, but fire insurance rates and
the actuarial bureau received by far
the greatest amount of attention.
The event was brought about by the
dispatch from Pine Bluff several days
ago of a petition, signed by many
property-owners, asking jefferson
county's representatives in the gen
eral assembly to support the Gentry
bill providing for the adjustment OF
the actuarial bureau. Those who OPP
pose the continuation of the bureau
declare that they were led to believe
its creation ami operation would
work to lower rates, whereas rates
have been generally increased.
In response to invitations sent out
over the signature of s. c. Alexander
president of the Merchants & Plan
ters' bank, nearly half hundred as
sembled to enjoy a Hotel Pines din
ner. Enjoy is right. 1t is a joy to
dine at the Pines, especially en- masse
as it were. For, entirely beside the
astronomical enjoyment derived
from the carefully selected, and we'll
prepared menu, there is the matter
of service. Those white clad ebony
hued walters have been drilled to per
lection, almost, and the courses are
served. and the dishes removed wits
clock-like precision and no more
noise than an 1ngersoll. Any every
body is served at the same time
something that does not always ot
tain at a public dinner.
DIR. J. I. Norris asked the blessing
upon invitation of Mr.. Alexander
who then explained the purposc OF
the meeting: to discuss legislatf /.
now pending before the legislature
mr.. Alexander emphasized the fact
mat the business men do not take
sufflcient interest in legislative mat
tiers, and urged that there should be
more conferences on public affairs
more discussion of proposed meas
ures, and less argument. That's a
dlstlncion it is we'll to consider. Men
VINO discuss are willing to see both
SIDES; those who argue see but one
slde-their own.
A. D. Foster, cashier of the Mer-
cnants & Planters bank, called upon
70 discuss the proposed bank guar
AMY act, expressed the opinion thai
sucn measure is unwise, and ii
arkansas, unnecessary. He said the
erect is to have the banks under
wrlte each others business. without
having any voice in the manner II
winch the business is conducted; thai
a.. would tax carefully managed in
s.ututlons to bear the losses result
MY from carelessly managed banks
WI. roster commended the STATE
4DanKlng departments work, saying
tnat the lettering and weak banks
.ad peen "weeded out" and that there
- - nothing to be gained by the PEG
PIE or the banks through state banl
guaranty law. He cited an instance
VI bank in Oklahoma allowed tt
SSU;n.lnue business, though in bad con
uon, simply because there was no
snousn money in the bank guarant!
has u 70 pay the losses if the stat
au closed the insolvent institution