Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-01-14
AN INSURANCE AGENT
WHO ENSURES POOR PEOPLE At
THE VERY LOWEST RATES.


Make q Fair Livingstone Light on
Industrial Insurance in q Big City.
Making q Profit
A day or two ago the writer was intro
duced to well fed and fashionably dressed
man Of about DO in a prominent cafe. The
pair met once since the introduction. On
this last occasion the gentleman Of 40 was
clearly but very shabbily attited. He
smiled upon shaking hands and looking down
the front Of an ulster four sizes too large for
him, said: This is my business suit"
The writer is highly endowed with curios-
ity, but as it would be manifestly pronounced
bad taste to ask question relative to the
gentleman's reasons for getting himself up so
shabbily, he limited his curiosity to throwing
an inquiring glance at his new acquaintance
The inquiring glance did the business.
"When we met the other night" said the
other, showing his hands deep in the pockets
Of his ulster, ~ was logged up, but 1t wouldn't
suit me to wear such clothing in my business.
don't wish to appear prosperous before the
people mostly do business with. 1t might
injure trade and then again it might not
Pm not disposed, however, to take any
chances"
AT FIVE CENTS A WEEK.
"Might ask your line Of businessf"
81 am collector and agent for one Of the
large life insurance companies" and he
chuckled very softly.
The writer could not see how shabby
clothes could help an insurance agent along
and said so.
"The great majority Of the people with
whom l do business are quite poor and ID
that do the poverty act in endeavoriug to
increase my business. l am connected with
what is called tho industrial branch Of our
company. That Is, we issue policies as low
as cents per week. You would like to
know, en- how money can be made on so
small margin where the expense of running
the machinery of so large business must
necessarily be great? If the people were to
keep up their payments In the long run the
company would lose heavily. Now that's
exactly where profit comes in. Say, for in
stance, a child of 9 years is insured at the
rate of 10 cents per week and lives. You can
safely wager that the policy will be allowed
to lapse before the young one is T." 4.
Given SO, can't see how man can make
a living climbing the stairs Of tenement
here, there and everywhere, sometimes to
find the parties out just to collect nickle
or diner
"My boy" remarked the agent, With a
broad smile, sit Is nothing when you get
used to it, should say there are about 500
persons employed in this business right here
in Brooklyn, the large majority of whom
make q fair living. cleared over $4,000
last year and have that sum made this. You
can Judge of the magnitude this industrial
insurance business has grown to whom I as
sure you that our company employs 40
agents and collectors In this city alone. /
should judge about three times as many are
engaged over in New York As to what i
make on collecting, that would barely sup
port me. have been ten years at this occu-
patton aad have made by collecting about
$40 per week on an average
TAKES NO NEW RISKS.
~ never canvass for new risks. I find it
unnecessary. I am given the case of Mrs.
John Doe who has herself, husband and
three children insured at the rate of S cents
week. I go there and collect IS cents weekly.
The chances are large that before l have
made five visits Mrs. Doe has for me the
pleasing intelligence that her sister, Mrs.
Richard Roe, wishes to have her family in
sured on the weekly plan. make note Of
Mrs. Roe's address and call upon her. She
insl:res her family on an aggregate payment
of so cents weekly. / collect the first pay
ment and the Office pays me S5-ten for one
for securing the new risks If the amount
of the payments were to be but 10 cents, then
should receive but 81. For collecting re-
ceive Is per cent, which, think, is about
the rate paid by the other life insurance COM
paniss engaged in this business"
snow suppose, after making two or three
payments, Mrs Roe should discontinue;
would you be required to return to the COM
pany the premium paid youi"
"Yes, would have to make it good; but
an old agent like myself could take his own
time about it. There is very little chance of
a person lapsing before paying what the
agents commission amounted TO and more.
Do have much travelling to do? Well, yes.
l have two wards to collect in and have
1901 names on my book. / don't mean to
say that have to visit 1,001 different par
ties. 1t is almost universally the case that
where one member Of the family takes out
policy the others do likewise. l have, how
ever, called at over sixty different residences
in one day. The rates paid vary according
to age, as you can easily understand. 1t is
seldom person insures and pays as high as
so cents a week. Say a young man Of 81
years paid that amount and died at the end
of a year; his heirs would receive $3.50. If
a person dies by suicide or capital punish
ment the amount of policy will not be paid.
When person is insured that in case OF
death 5000 or over has to be paid, then they
are examined by one of the doctors en-
ployed by the insurance company. For less
amounts we take chances in nearly every
case. "-Brooklyn Eagle.