Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-27
GETTING THEIR LIVES INSURED
The Tricks OF Insurance Companies-A
West Virginia AIiadiD.
From no Philadelphia Recon,

From tho PHILADELPHIA Record.
WASHINGTON, Jan. III am told that
especial agent at New York lite insur-
ance company, who was sent here last
fall for the purpose of getting members OF
the government to insure in his company,
has already written policies TO the amount
of nearly S2,000,0OO and that he has on
his list the names of the President, sever
al of his Cabinet, many of the judges, the
Speaker of the House, the President pro
tenn. Of the Senate and large number of
Senators and Representatives., as well as
subordinate officials. His plan of insur-
ance, as outlined 10 friend OF mine last
night, is certainly sufficiently attractive
to ensnare the most wary. He says to a
Congressman:
1--WE want you insured in our company,
and we are willing to give you a special
bargain. We viii insure you for $4,000
for ten years at a premium OF 81 900 year.
II you die before the expiration OF ten
years we Will pay your legal representa-
tlVes not only the full amount of your pol
icy but the full amount OF all your premi-
ums up to that time. If you OutliVe the
ten years we give you a paid-up policy Tor
the amount of your premiums, with inter-
est" Do you wonder that he has written
which troubles me Is, what does the in
surance company expect to gain by 1t?
Some years ago an insurance company in
Boston got many members OF the Massa-
cnu5ettS State ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
legislative and judicial, on its list Of poll
cy-holders by Offering somewhat similar
inducements. Butt was directly sub
iect TO the control OF the State govern
ment, whereas this New York company
is not directly subject to the control of
Congress. That Boston company made
It's scheme still more attractive by a rath-
er novel device. It's agent visited per-
sOnally every member OF either branch of
the state government. After he had laid
before them his new plan OF insurance, he
added: 1--WE are getting up memorial
book on the State government of Massa-
chusetJs. We will have pictures of all
the public buildings and portraits of all
the members of the State government and
descriptive sketch Of each. This book
Will be published exclusively for MEM
bers Of the State government OF Massa-
chusetts insuriDg in our company. Your
portrait will be IN the book, OF cOurse,
whether you insure or not; but you can't
get copy of the book without taking out
policy. The book viii be royalty print
ed and bound, the company having gwen
the publisher carte blanche" This cap
tured a large number of them. the book
was really aVery handsome one. The pub
Usher told me il cost between $3.50 and
$500 a copy.
EX-Secretary of the Navy GOf, of West
Virginia, now member OF the lower
House OF Congress, is getting rich very
rapidly and very pleasantly by inherlting
fortunes. He had number of rich Tela-
tIVes, several OF whom have died within
the past few years, leaving him handsome
legacies. His good fortune has not pulled
him up. He is the same quiet, kindly,
modest man. He is small in size, ana
his smooth, young face makes him look
like boy. But he has "A strong mind and
strong voice, and he commands the at
tentiOn OF the House whenever he chooses
to speak-which is seldom. don't won
der that he is very popular with his con-
stltuents. lie lives very quietly, butVery
comfortably, and his home has most at
tractiVe atmosphere. The other
day Mr.. Golf narrowly es-
capped serious injury. Had it not
been for his presence of mind he might
have been killed. He was riding in his
coupe when the horses took fright and ran
away up Fifteenth street, Just where
there are more vehicles than in any other
street in Washington. 1t seemed likely
that his horses would run into some car
rage or wagon and wreck his coupe. He
saw the danger and with the utmost cool
ness as the horses dashed along, having
thrown the coachman of the box, he quiz
city wrapped the cushions OF the coupe
around MS head. When the crash came,
as 1t did finally, and the cOupe was knock
ed TO pieces, God emerged from the ruins
almost without injury. Somebody was
| telling me to-day that not long since the
horses Of Senator Joe Brown, Of Georgia,
ran away on a side street, and that Brown
| folded his arms and with all the imper-
| durability of his ordinary manner quiet
| ly awaited the end. Fortunately, his
! horses were stopped before they damaged
| themselves or the carriage.