The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-02-03
THE FIRE INSURANCE SITUATION AND A LITTLE
HISTORY.

iho1ONi'
Its the duty of our public men to study political, economic
ana social conditions and to present these matters to the people
regard as to how their presentation and the issues involved may
affect their public or political fortunes.
Likewise it ii the duty of newspaper to study questions that
arise from time to time and to present the issues or conditions
growing out Of or pertaining to these questions as its best judg-
have made many mistakes. Editors are just as frequently in er-
ror, but when one has studied a question or an issue with all the
lights he can get on it, then it is his duty to present that question
as his Judgment dictates: One who is charged with any sort of
Judgment which should be formed after mature thought and
earnest investigation.
Public sentiment is tickle thing. What the people think
this year, they may stoutly condemn tomorrow. What they do
today they may brand as folly next year. As an example Of the
change IN the public mind and the attitude Of the public to-
wards conditions. one needs only to recall the wild, spending
OF the people OF Mississippi, indeed Of the whole country, and
the Tetrenchment sentiment. that exists today. All of which
and that policy is the same today that it was a hundred years
ago, that is: Live within your income and commit yourself to
will effect the present and the future.
With this premise. We shall undertake to present the fire in
surance situation in Mississippi today as we see it. 1t IS an i'm
pOrtant' a very highly important question Not only is 1t import
ant in itself, but it is important as it touches and relates to other
questions of public policy and business.
In speaking of business we refer to it in that high and bet
the State and the happiness and the welfare Of the people. The
great number of suicides and many other narrowing things
which have been happening throughout the country during the
past eighteen months, show how intimately business conditions
connect themselves with the contentment and happiness of the
conditions in Mississippi fully realizing that we are treading on
what some may regard as hazardous ground and that it S one
of the most discussed now before our people.
But let's first look at a little history in connection with the
matter;
The present Revenue Agent was elected by the people, He
took the oath Of office, gave bond and assumed the duties of the
Office as defined by the laws of the State. He had naught to do
with shaping the laws pertaining to the office of Revenue Agent,
hence il is fair to assume that he is doing no more. nor any less,
than any other citizen OF the State who might have been elected.
du~rious.
The records show that in six years the present Revenue
Agent has collected 81 $50, 1880 on suits filed by him and that
many Of the suits Went to the State Supreme Court for final adj
Indication.
Under the law that has been in force for 26 years, this Of
fcial has received 20 per cent of the back taxes collected by HIM,
out Of which he has paid the attorneys who represented the
State, his office force, travelling expenses and all other things
incident to the conduct of his office.
Suit after suit has been filed by him against individuals and
domestic concerns and corporations and IN each and every Such
case, as we understand, the ltigants have submitted to trials IN
single exception OF the suit against the FIRE insurance Com
panies. These Fire Insurance Companies had long been doing
laws and had prOfted to the extent of many millions, perhaps in
the last twenty years more than a hundred million dollars, out
of the State.
They never did bring money into our State. They always
did and always will take money out and leave only a mere pit
tance as compared to what they collect.
They never came into the State for benevolent or phllan-
thropic purposes. They came here because they thought it a fer
view their relations with the State is on the very basis they
themselves made. When the suit was filed against these COM
ing out for them, why they created a barrage of persecution OF
business and tucked their tails and ran. The threat was made
that 1.-The people will be left without fire protection and the
business of the State will be ruined" because these companies
were charged with a violation of law They had not at that time
State of Mississippi will ever have to keep" any OF their money
is for the enforcement of the law by the State Supreme Court OF
assuming that the lower court correctly interpreted the law,
which assumption is greatly strengthened by the fact that these
skins but while they were going, the State grabbed what funds
they left and that is really the issue which they are now strug-
Cling over.
ran. the property owners of the State became apprehensive
about fire protection. Il Rfa ~ I'M inns, Du uhG insurance mind and c to- terrorz
ie the people of the State. Profting by the lesson learned from
~ i r" order to divert attention from himself, cried, "catch
him. the Fire Insurance Companies followed, "catch the Reve-'