Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-03

these various boards anu administrative
heads is without blemiSh, and their abso-
lutte integrity is uuQucstioned and unIues-
tionable. desire 10 thank them for the
rrankness and courtesy with which they
have accepted official visitationS, and re-
piled TO official inquiries.
LIFE INSURANCE.
The magnitude of this interest may be
estimated by the fact that in the years
1880 and 1881 the regular life companies
of this and other states authorized to do
business IL Pennsylvania received premi-
ums from their business in this state
amounting to $i0, 4s3,S36. Of this sum
s3.O25, 10D was received by companies OF
this state, and s7,35S, COG by companies OF
other states, upon which last named sum
a tax amounting to $221, .6S.SS was paid
into the state treasury for the privilege OF
doing business in this commonwealth.
During the same years companies or
ganized under the laws of this state to in
sures lives upon the assessment plan, re
ceiyed, in premiums and assessments, the
sum of $500, $50, upon which no tax was
paid to the state and paid for death
claims the sum of 81, $50, BOP. The balauce
of s., J4l, 9S1 was appropriated by these
companies to agents, officers and expenses.
Most OF these companies engaged, without
warrant of law, in business of Il purely
speculative character, and entire commu-
ri:ies were dcmoralized by their ncfarious
operations. The evil attained such mag
nitude that it was fo,lnd necessary to Ill
stitute legal proceedings for their suppress
sion, which has been happily accomplished
through the inStrumentality of the proper
authorities. 1t is to BE- hopod that this
| impressive lesson will not be lost or for
gotten, and that it will in the future deter
| the public from placing their trust III
methods of lifo insurance, Or spcclons sub
stitutes therefor, which arc without solid
| foundation in morals and mathematics.
The act of 1878, establishing an insur
ance department., prescribes Il standard Gi
sOlvency without conformity to which no
regular life company is permitted to do
business in Pennsylvan This standard
is one universally recognized wherever
| life insurance is treated rs :. science, aud Is
absolutely exact, inaSmuch as it cOmp:ls
each company to have assets equal to its
present and future liabilities. Without
such computation OF future liabilities ant!
| the possession of present assets life insur,
ance is based upon nothing actual or tan
| glbie, but becomes mere venture or eX-
pertinent. What is known rs CO. operative
Insurance, more commonly as grave yard
insurance, is not, in fact, worthy of the
name. In many instances it may operate
as 4 beneficial society, and when honestly
conducted worthily answer present aEc
pressing emergencies but Il, y system OF
insurance it is withcut substance or stable
foundation, ana may degenerate into mere
speculation, OF fall to pieces at any mo-
ment. Without cohesive power other than
the voluntary action of members, compa-
MES conducting business upon this plal
may dissolve without much warning, ant
entail losses and disappointment Gp0,
hundreds coniidiug III them for the future
maintenance Of themselves aid their fam
lilies.
These cooperative insurance cOmpaD;c
claim warrant for corporate existence
under section thirty-scvcn, act of May |
1876, being i supplement to the act o
1878, "to establish al Insurance depart
ment." Justice to the good name y; tii'
state, and protection to the people, q:
mand that the recommendation Of the IN
Surance commissioner il this behalf shout
bs acted upon. The 1irmness aud intelli
gence which have marked Nj. Forster
administration Of that responsi:,lc off;
are worthy Oh all praise.
THE NATIONAL. GUARD.
AS now constituted, the national guar
) is composed Of I. single divisioli thve
b.igaocs, fifteen regiments, three comp:,a
les of cavalry, three batteries Of art lll"l }
the battalion state ienciblcs, and tw
independent companies, aggregatinE Glib
Thousand two hur,ircd and twcrty Ole +
and enlisted m.n. They are GistlIbutc
through the sta;c il such numbers ai4d i
such localities as seemed likely best
aubscrvc any duty to which they might b
assigned. The guard is we'll equipped
and armed in an approved manner. III
mobility ana efficiency OF the whole com
mand has been well attcsted, both in cam
and III route. on more than one occasion
The auartcrnaster ard COME isSary de
paltments have b2cn fully provided i
their capacity to fnri:i>l. prompt an
;, economical supplies.
There is Il great degree of piide III Lii
>. organization on the pa,t of Off an
men. They are citizens Of the state, an
q it is no Overstatcmcnt TO say that they al
among tho best of cur citizens. The
, have had p common motive to reach th
, great excellence they have low attained
They have spent monthS and years in tit
= votion TO their respective corps, for wAic
they never have and never will receive an
: compensation, except the consciousness {
: public duty well done on their part.
1t is scarcely conceivahic that in 4 sta;,
great and prosperous rs is PennsylI2ni;
with interests and properly OF such mag
D nituhc, any lawful Iaears of protection
o unter the forms OF law, should be oynl
t leaked OF refused with brave and chiva
rnns instincts in her children, Which ca
+ best take fern! III military duty, is is in
Q conceivable, think, that such stat
9 should dispense with her citizen SOldicrj
| The fact that the national guard has !,
actual existence will always prove to L
among the best of rcasons why il Will Ut
/ be called into actua! use; and il it is {
: be maintained at all, every motive of Drid
!, economy and usefulness dictates the higl
est state Of efficiency. To-day it is prob;
bly, as compact, as harmonious, :nI
:, highly disciplined body of men IS mel
+ volunteer soldiely is ever likely ~ s,lbD
!, itsc!: to be moulded into.
: NJ legislation is required in relercncs
this subject. No voice Of protest h;
come up FROM the people indicating III
, dissatisfaction with the guard itself, or {,
;. earnest desire to dispense with it, in I'll
. absence Of 4 well tested substitute
!, continuance, under such conditions a. WI
enable it to hold its own present state
usefulness and efficiency, as we'll as I'll
/, confidence of the public, seems ilesirab
: in al points Of vies:.
> REMAINS OF WILLIAM PENN.
Is joint resolution of tho Senate Il.
=; H"usa OF Representatives, on the sixtecnt
), tiaT of May, 1881, tho governor Was r
uuystcd to COMMITMENTS with the trIlStC,