Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21
ms URINCE NOTES.

The suicide clause of life insurance
policies is attracting more attention on
the part of policy-holders and compa-
MES than ever before. During the
present year, life insurance men say,
suicide claims have been double tho
usual number and more than double in
amount. 1t is asserted that large poll.
cies and incontestable features are
powerful stimulants TO the crime
Fire insurance men declare that the
years when fire losses amount to go per
cent OF the premiums are years when no
money is made in the business. The
premium receipts Of American COM
panies reporting in New York last year
were $60,000,000. About 81 per cent of
them went to pay losses. Practically 104
per cent on $52,000,000 of capital was
paid in dividends, which absorbed about
z per cent. Commissions and agency
expenses absorbed 90 per cent more.
Officers and employees took n per cent.
Taxes took nearly "a per cent, and all
other expenses, such as advertising, rent
and supplies, about s per cent. So il
seems that the entire premiums were
used up without including the dividend
and without providing for increasing
liabilities. In the history of the fire in
surance companies of the United States
there are very few that have paid go per
cent OF their premiums in losses and
have made money. The exceedingly
rare exceptions are the companies that
have great age and an immense busi-
ness, and their money has been largely
made from investments and not from
insurance.
James r. Wadddill, superintendent
of the insurance department of Missouri,
has written to President John A. Nc
Call Of the New York Life, notifying
the latter that as soon as possible after
January 1, 1894, he will furnish the
Missouri department with a schedule of
all policies of insurance and endow-
ment, and annuity bonds issued by the
company, and remaining in force at the
close OF business December 81, 1893, for
valuation upon the actuaries' table of
mortality, with four per cent interest.
The fee fixed by the insurance law of
that Stale will be $40 per million of
Insurance in force, or fraction thereof.
For annuities three cents per thousand
dollars, of their present value or re-
serves, In cases of contracts for which
valuation tables are not in print, or al
ready computed, the cost of the compu-
tation will be added. In making this
request the superintendent adds "rhis
valuation is ordered because of the
abandonment by the New York legis-
lature of a strictly uniform standard OF
reserve upon the basis of the combined
experience table OF mortality with four
per cent interest, which elements are
the standard of reserve in this State;
and tine rule will be continued from
year to year, until that basis is restored
in the statutes of your State, or is aban.
doned in this"
Life insurance men are much amused
over story that is circulating the
rounds concerning costly cat which
is on exhibition on Broadway. This
story has to do with the rebate question
and here it is; "In brief, it is to the
effect that certain life agent was So
Letting u prominent business man tC
insure his life, and was informed that {
rival agent had offered rebate of $3.50
The agent replied that the law prevented
him from giving rebate, and his com
pany warned him that he must not b.
caught doing SO. Therefore while h,
4
was willing to give the rebate, he die
not wish to be caught at it. Casting hi
eyes around the store,h beheld dilapi
dated looking office cat, that seemed t.
have been out late the night before anC
was then quietly sleeping off the effect
of midnight booze He said to hi
customer, i can't give you a rebate
but will give you $500 for your ofiic
| cut The nrnnoaitinn xyaa ancantad ~,
the transaction concluded on that basis
The agent didn't take the cat, but hi
competitor secured il, and it is now OF
exhibition, wearing tag which state
the price paid and the name of the pur
chaser. There is an old saying tina
there Is more than one way of skinninG
cat but this is the first instance eve
heard of dissipated feline beinj
counted among the assets of a life in
! surance company"