The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-10-28
LIFE INSURANCE.

No better evidence of the culture and
growth of the finer feelings of human
nature in our country, could be desired,
than is found in the fact that life poll
cies to the amount of billions of dollars
are held in the United States.
The system of life insurance has been
so perfected, its beneficent results have
become so apparent, the law power has
placed around it such safeguards, that
life insurance is no longer question of
policy, but is one of duty, to all those
upon whose lives the welfare and COM
fort of others depend.
No system has been devised SO well
calculated to prevent pauperism, and its
attendant vices. That widow, those
orphan children, would not be objects
of public charity, had the husband and
father, while in life and health, made
such provision for their future welfare
and comfort, as was in his power, by
procuring a policy on his life, which
would have provided the necessaries of
life to them, after death had robbed
lllCLll Vi Ills CetEO 1LIo GuPPOAOs
That helpless old man would not now
be dependent upon the cold charity of
the world, or, perhaps, the colder chart
ty of relatives, had he in prosperous
days wisely secured competency for
his old age by an endowment insur-
ance.
In the selection of a company in
which to effect life insurance, the same
care should be exercised as in any 9TH
err business matter. The first consider
alton is absolute security. Amy company
that reserves and keeps securely invest
ed an amount sufficient to pay its pol
icies as they are expected to become
claims, should the rate of interest be re-
duced to four per cent, may be consid-
cred secure, as no doubt but the aver
age of human life is very closely ascer-
tanned.
The cost of sustaining a policy de-
ponds upon the manner in which the
business is conducted, and the kind OF
company, more than upon the rate OF
premium charged, as it is apparent that
any company to be absolutely safe must
to cover all contingencies, exact larg'
err sum, or premium, than will ordinari
| Iy be required.
| The actual cost of life insurance de-
ponds upon the rate of interest received
upon investments, the ratio of early
deaths which occur, and the expense o
doing the business. When the rate o
interest received is greater than was as
sumed, or the ratio of early deaths, Of
the expense of conducting the business
less than calculated, there arises a sur
plus. In stock companies this surplus
constitutes the stockholders profits. II
mixed company it is divided between
the policy holders and the stockholders
In purely mutual company it is al
equitably paid back to the policy hold
er, either in cash or additional insur
ance, as he may choose. 1t is, there
fore, apparent that only purely mutua
company can furnish life insurance a
exact cost.
But the cost in a mutual company de
ponds upon the economy of the mana
gers. That company which is most care
full in taking members to get onl.
healthy ones, that does not pay exhor
bitant salaries to officers and agents
and that receives the highest rate of in
terest on its investments, will unques
tionably afford the cheapest and mos
secure insurance.
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insur
ance Company, of Milwaukee, Wiscon
sin, an institution of which the Yves
may well be proud, has, by its superio
management, won its way to the yer,
front rank of American life companies
This company, by pursuing the just an,
liberal policy of loaning its accumuls
tions, (Which now amount to nearI
| $4,000, 100000 throughout the west i
Iproportien to the amount Of insursnc