The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-03-11
JUSTICE STEVENS
SIDES WITH GOV.
Strongest Testimony Yet Given
In Substantiation of Rus
sells Claims.


Gov. Russell signed the Stone
bill abating the billion dollar anti
trust suit recently filed in the Chan
cery Court of Covington County a.
gainst the insurance companies do
ing business in this state.
In returning the bill to the House
with his signature the governor sent
a message setting forth his reason for
giving 1t his approval.
Governor Russell did not appear
before the investigating committee
but submitted a written statement.
The quiz body has been examining
witnesses, the list having been ex-
hausted yesterday evening.
Governor Russell had referred the
Committee to State Revenue Agent
Robertson, for information, and 1t
is expected witnesses will be further
supplied by him.
There has been continual denial
by insurance agents of charges made
by the Governor.
Fire insurance men, it is stated,
had nothing to do directly or indi-
rectly with the fling of the billion
dollar antitrust suit against the
life insurance companies by District
Attorney A. J. Browning in Coving-
ton county.
JUSTICE MORGAN STEVENS
TESTIMONY,
The testimony OF ]. Morgan Ste
vens, former justice of the Supreme
Court and general counsel of the
Mississippi Fire Insurance Company,
lasted two hours at the morning ses-
sion.
Mr.. Stevens testimony was more
Illuminating as to what took place
at the meeting of the Mississippi
Fire Insurance Agents Association
February 20 and 21 than the insur-
ance agents who took the stand on
Thursday. His relation of what took |
place there and of his conversations
with Governor Russell and State Rev
enue Agent Robertson afterward in
volved little incidents which created
the impression that certain things
happened which caused the governor
to write his famous message Of Feb
ruary 23 to the Legislature.
Mr.. Stevens described the insur-
sance agents, meeting, the governors
charges and the investigation as "an
interesting tea party"
He supplied the strongest testi-
mony yet offered in substantiation
of the governors charges when, he
admitted that he reluctantly con-
sented to an endorsement Of the bill
by the officials of the Mississippi Fire
Insurance Company. "Yet, gentlemen
/ will say frankly that I consider the
Stone bin as the best insurance
measure which has been introduced
at this session." he told the commit
tee.
My reason for not wanting the |
Mississippi Fire Insurance Co, to en-
dorse any proposed legislation was
this:- This company was organized |
in the state; Mississippians had put
up $4,000 to organize it, and it has
been my endeavor to keep it out of
the bitter factionaI politics which
have disturbed the state. -
Asked if he knew anything of I
whiskey being used to influence leg
islation. Mr.. Stevens replied in the
negative. He said he had never
beard anyone suggesting it had been
used until he read the governors
message. Il think i did remark to
someone in the lobby of the capitol
that I smelt whisky on the breath of
one of the agents, but did not make
any report on that" he said with a
smile.
II told Mr.. Robertson that the
agents had strong organization in
the state, and as they contributed
IS per cent of the business of the
company he could appreciate our de-
licate position when they requested
the company to endorse the rating
bill" he continued. II cannot deny
that, some of the agents said they
would take their business away if +
the comuany did not endorse the bill.
I will not say that they demanded
that the company endorse it, but
that they requested 1t in writing
letter."