The Press., 1892-02-18

An Example in Conservative Life Insurance.
 The Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company is not only far the largest mOn- eyed institution in Hartford, but in.New England; and it's progress and policy from year to year are of public import ance, since the business reputation of this city must of necessity bear 8 close rela- tion to the reputation of it's greatest busE ness concern. Y Y
 The company's forty-sixth annual state- ment appears elsewhere this morning. It shows gross assets of nearly $60, 0,00O, 900, an income of nearly $8, GOO, ,000, surplus of over $6, 900, 900, and a membership of nearly 65, ,0O0 policy holders. During the year the policy holders have been paid over $5, ,800, 900, and yet the assets have increased practically $1 1000, 600. The cost of conducting the entire business of the company has been less than teh per cent. of it's income-a record of economy in which the Connecticut Mutual has for years stood first. These are the chief and very satisfactory figures of the statement.
 But really more important than the statement is President Greenes report to the policy-holders analyzing the state ment, explaining in detail the business and the condition of the company, and, as it happens this year, going quite fully in- to an exposition of the conservative meth cd upon which the Connecticut Mutual is conducted.
 Years ago the big New York companies opened war on their big rival here, and, since they failed to force the Connecticut Mutual into line, the divergence has been growing yearly more evident. And, as this company grows year by year in strength and builds up among conservaL tive people 8 growing reputation for soundness and safety, Colonel Greene's return criticisms upon his critics come yearly with heavier weight. The Con- necticut Mutual is not a stracer.'' It is pursuing safe and consistent policy, and it's business, as he says, is peculiarly stable" The s.racers'' boast, on one side, of the business they are doing, but turn right about and admit that 1t is cost ing them so much that reform is absolute ly necessary. Colonel Greene describes their course as burning the cargo to force the speed, and the Connecticut Mutual, as the phrase goes, s'isn't in it.n While the "racers'' are reducing their dividends to policy holders the Connecticut Mutual is increasing it's dividends
 It holds to it's safe ways, gathers the safest class of policy-holders and moves independently along it's own line. The AA1eeSatHS5 much business it may add to its already immense volume, but what is it's ability to fulfill its contracts and what do people say of the. way 1t is conducted. - As to the first question, the answer is found in. its $59, ,738, ,480 of gross assets and $6,- 059, ,156 of surplus, much of it reckoned for safety sake at Jess than the law re- quires; and, as to the second question. the universal criticism is ss..conservative. ' That is just what, life insurance itself is. Hartford CourGpt. '. .sI.
 George s. Rathbone. who lives near Stonington, shot and killed Daniel Ghese- bro Monday night. Tho cause of the crime was jealousy, as Rathbone had for bidden Chesebro to visit Nfa. Rathbone. and, on returning home Monday night, found Chesebro there Rathbone was arrested. He is 2 man of small intellect ual capacity and had intermitting spells Of being very friendly and very Jealous Of Ghes0bfp, who was son of sa very proml- ndut citizen living close by. Upon the present occasion he greeted him iIl very friendly way, and then went up stairs, got his gun. and shot him.. ss sS