New-York tribune., 1873-02-06
NEW TIEES OF LIFB INSURANCE.
4 SECESSION FOR BUSINESS MEx.

10 the Editor Of Tae TrtbuHe.
SIR: "The easily explained and understood
principles which undere the business OF life insurance
are admirably Illustrated by writer in The Neto York
Times OF this morning. Hectes the appalling fact that
during period Of five years the life insurance compa-
MES authorized by the State of NewYork alone paid
nearly half as much 20 the they paid out dur
ing the same period for death claims. This is really
frightfu. Every Of business must see at glance
infinitely superior the financial condition Of the
companies would have been the amount paid 10 agents
had and the payments for death claims greater
Agents are compensated, universally, by a commission
on their collections The paid for commissions
beays fixed proportion TO the amount Of receipts.
Therefore, a reduced amount paid for commissions
indicates reduced amount OF business This result is
Inanfestly which every wel-cOnducted Life insur-
ance company should strive for. 1t Is an
error 70 suppose that life insurance companies
are organized 70 do business. They simply DeDevO-
lent institutions which the ordinary rules of business
do not apply and should be managed purely Utopian
principles. Again: 1t is well known fact that the
greater Of losses by death the more success
fu are the operations OF life insurance company The
writer in The Tiu1es evidently repudates 1.-THE antique
notion that careful selection OF rlsks anu corresponding
reduction In death claims SHOWS goOu lnanasenenI-
The object Of life company is 70 pay death claims
dnencisny and fbe more completeIy they fudIl their
benevolent mission Instead ot transacting new busi-
should stop new business and stimulate. by oil lawful
means increased mortality among their members
This s OF those simple problems IN life insurance
very easily understood by business men and likely 70 be
adopted by them their own business cut their bust
debts they II this is not what The Tipaes writer
means don't understand a RRDUcTIo AD AssURDUA
Eeto-IOrl Feb. s, 1873.
NEW EIELDs OF LABOR FOR THE LIFE Insurance
BORE
70 the EdftOr OF TAe Trfbune.
SIR: have read with great satisfaction an
article TAe Times Of this morning, on the subject of
life ASSURANCE and while expressing my entire concur
renee with all therein set forth, desire espe-
eay TO record my agreement with the opinions OF that
trustworthy organ Of public thought IN regard 70 the
~worst OF modern bores" the life insurance agent.
The that these frequently make fortunes out OF
their business IL be fact is certainly calculated to
create widespread alarm among the people, and TO ren
necessary the adoption Of prompt measures for the
repression Of so glarng abuse. The fact that Ren
their whole time, and 10 many cases no little
degree Of aby and knowledge in special field OF labor
the business Of importantly" Is scandal ana these
should be prevented by every possible means from
reapng any for their labor and forced to abandon
II for business in which they are not likely to
bores" They might, for instance, turn their
talents energy the Of advertising agents
newspapers These people very in
large cities, everybody knows aud there is not
large merchant officer Of corporation which makes
use Of toe for business who Is not fully
convinced that the runner for newspaper lads" Is
most genial and agreeable person. excessively modest
In his manners, and different possible from
the description gwen OF the life insurance ageut,
the worst Of modern bOres." Let insurance agents
learn gaesty good manners and truthfuness from the
advertising agents. and qualify themselves engage
iD business lh which 70 Few people already eln-
ployed that auVelsers, Ike Oliver Twist cry out for
more and 10 which s well knovu there Is no nosei
bity Of making incomes Of $4,000 to Gao 600 year
or any other suielent 10 support y decent exist
enee Then s thai other Agreeable and popular
Occupation known a. interviewing" which sadly needs
ar stcesou of new recruits rants az IN ey and
unobtrusye followers. Tins hsuess s entirely free a.
Ne well KNOWN from the Objectionable feature oil impor-
fnn,tv IN fact OF DOtOnoty that editors
are never able ~ support their families, always die
poor Let the life insurance agents tnrn editors once
md Tins beooDe blessing 10 the community instead OF
being-as We al know them 70 De 81 present. nuisance
Aesr Y0tk, FeD. o. 1915. "hSb BABY,