The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-29

against the fire insurance companies. but publishes numerous favorable com ments made by other newspapers.
 It will be recalled that last January Mir. Robertson filed suits aggregating millions of dollars in penalties against the 159 fire insurance companies that were doing business in Mississippi They were chaged with violations of the antitrust and combine laws-all of which allegations they most stren- uously denied. and took the position that they were being prosecuted
 The insurance companies threatened that If the monster suit was persisted in they would leave the state-and did. They also predicted dire disaster to the business interests of Mississiprt following their withdrawal for the reason. as they explained 1t would he impossible for any person to get in- surance, wherefore the wheels of com mcrce would stop.
 But these disasters did not come to pass. though confidently expected, and | Mi ississippi seems to be getting all the ire insurance wanted, but Is losing the revenue derived from privilege H. cense and taXs. and which last year amounted to more than a half million dollars. according to Insurance Com missioner Henry.
 In defending himself against the as- saults of the insurance companies through the press and otherwise, MT Robertson says, in part
 The attitude of the fire insurance companies in withdrawing from the state and rebelling against the en- forcement of our laws, has made the issue involved in this litigation greater
 than the litigation itself That issua is: Shall Mississippi rule the foreign corporations which she admits to do business within her borders, or shall she be ruled by them 2' When this is sue is drawn every right thinking Nils sissippian will be found on the side Of his state. These fire insurance com- panies are charged with violating our antitrust statutes, the parts of which that have been violated being as fol- I lows:
 Section 32S2. Any corporation or- ganized under the laws of this or any other state, or country, and transact ing or conducting any kind of bust- ness in this state, or any partnership or individual, or other association of persons whatever. who are now, or shall hereafter create, enter into or become a member of, or party to. any 1 pool. trust, combine, agreement, com DlnatlOn, COnTederat10n or understand ing. whether the same Is made in this state or elsewhere, with any other cor poration, partnership, individual or with any other person, or association of persons. to regulate or fix in this state**" the price or premium to be paid for insuring property against loss or damage by fire, lightning or tor nado, or to maintain said price when so regulated or fixed, or who are now or who shall hereafter enter into, be- come a member of or party to, any pool, agreement, contract, combination, association or confederation, whether made in this state or elsewhere, to fix or limit in this state''+ the price or premiums to be paid for insuring property against loss or damage by fire. lightning. storm. cyclone, tornado, or any other kind of policy issued by any corporation, partnership, individ- ual or association of persons aforesaid. shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of a conspiracy to defraud, and sub ject to the penalties as provided by chapter 145. of the Code of 1906"
 After quoting the law as laid down in the Mississippi statute books, rev. enue Agent Robertson continues:
 My bill of complaint sets forth facts we'll known to all who carry fire in- surance. viz, that the fire insurance companies belonging to the trust have