Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-25
Who Pays ?
RUTLAND. Sept. 90

Editor Rutland Herald: | regretted
to read in your issue of the 18th an arti-
Gle which, although well enough in the
main, brings down upon all life insu-
rance companies and agents some very
severe criticisms which must have been
intended for the defunct Eclectic Life
Insurance Co.
You say, when the policy holder be-
holds detachment of these agents boring
the people, he should say | sup
port these men," | have supposed the
laborer was worthy of his hire as long as
he pursued his calling with energy and
zeal, no matter whether in the counting
room, at the anvil or the pillow, or even
writing editorials for a daily journal
Shall we not accord the same considera-
ton to the life insurance agents The
calling is certainly an honorable one, and
the results of the life agents work needs
no higher encomium than the fact that
there was paid to policy holders and
their heirs the sum of S27 600 600 in tha
. ~ 1oTo, anu grand total OF about
$3.50, 900, 900 since the introduction of life
insurance into this country.
1t is true there exists in this, as well
as all other kinds of business, unscrupu-
lous agents, and, too, there are compan-
les that put forth ''gilded features" to
allure the uniformed into their little
''parlors," but the aoh0Ie should not be
condemned for this.
Instead of advising policy holders to
beware of agents, gilded signs, advcr-
tisements, circulars, ETC., because of ex-
pcnse, would it not be better to point
ont a remedy-to show them the way,
that in the future they may steer clear
of the rocks and shoals
The only short method | know of, to
judge intelligently of a company's sta
bility, is:
LIST. The ratio of its assets to its liabil-
tiles.
2nd. The ratio of its losses to the
main amount at risk
3rd. The ratio of its expenses to in
come.
If policy holders will investigate
merely these points, there will be less
failures, and less croaking in the future.
JUSTICE.
COMMENTS.
If our correspondent win carefully
consider our article that he so much
takes exception to, we think he will not
feel so bad over it. We acknowledged
the business as one of the blessings of
life, and not only an honorable, but
highly meritorious institution, and we
cannot but think that the writer of this
letter is over sensitive in interpreting a
criticism upon what he acknowledges to
exist in the business, into a sweeping
condemnation of what we spoke of in
such high terms as we did of Life Insur-
ance. We repeat, that it is business
in which the highest good faith and the
most thorough financial integrity should
be exercised, and this grand total of
100000, 900, paid (back) to policy
holders and their heirs in this country.
has alleviated much distress and suffer
ing, and we do not see how it is lower
ing the public estimate of the blessings
that widows and orphans have derived
from Life Policies, to speak plainly of
where the companies got their money to
pay (return) that enormous sum in death
losses.
Policy holders furnish all the money,
IN premiums, by which to pay death
losses, the expenses of administering the
trust, and the interest and dividends to
stockholders, if the company has capt.
tai stock, and officers salaries and agents
and we believe they should
at all time hold their Companies to the
strictest accountability for what they do
with their money. The avocation of
life Insurance. agent is an honorable one, s
md many good men spend useful life
n that aVocation, and we commend
such to the consideration of discrimi-
hating public. These men work with
energy and zeal but do not bore the peo-
Die. No one that we know of ever took
exception to their way of earning
livelihood, but on the other hand
here arc INSCRIPTIONS agents that
warm about the country, and these
men are supported by the money of
he policy holders, and we do earnestly |
all the attention of the public to this
lass and advise that they be given a
vide field in which to operate where |
hey will find few. victims Let every
nan who is approached and pestered by |
be day and week by those hungry |
wolves, determine not to g support these |
men, but place their risks with some |
ompany that employs modest an truth