The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-25
MAN DIES YOUNG.
That Is Why Insurance Companies
Discriminate Against Him
Governor Werts' Veto.
special % TAe Jsrsey city Nslcs.

SUectQt 20 Inc JefSeN Cttu -sStos-
TRENTON, April 25, s93.-An exannina-
ton OF the. causes that prevented Gov
ernor Werts from signing the bill which
had for its purpose the prevention ofsln-
surance discrimination against colored
people, Is interesting. Nearly every year
there has been a bill similar TO the one III
troduced by Senator Stokes OF Gunner
land County. Governor Werts, IN MS
epistle giving his reasons Tor not signing
the bill, says
The title of this bill is defective. It should be
an act to provide for the regulation and locor-
poratioE OF insurance companies, instead OF ~,
corporation and regulation, etc, 5apprenenn
that the practical operations OF the Dill wo4iu
prove disadvantageous to the colored race, that
its effects would be o denial to them or.
insurance In frst-class companies
If there be companies, as alleged,
called for as TO others. If there be companies
that do discriminate the competition OF the
others will soon compel an equalization OF rates,
unless such Determinations are rounded upon
substantial grounds.
FACTS N FIGURES.
The Governor files with his reason q
letter and a long statement from John
Lupger. Actuary of the Prudential In
suyauce Company, of Newark. He states
that he bus made a special study of the
mortality among c0lored people as COM
pared with thar Of white. and from
itdeducts a table OF figures he mas
sons insured in each class from 1888
to 1891, ipclusiye, aud he finds the
death rate as follows;-1883, white,
1880. coIored. 23.41. 1884, white.
1921; colored. 1875. 1885, white, 6.Q4;
colored, 22.47. 1886. White, 1870: colored.
24.44. 1887, white, l6. SO; colored, 2l.o6.
1883, white, 1850; colored. 2l;4a. 1867.
..ls~. 1 z a. n1loroa Of 40 1900 vphif9
1z,II; colored, 21.40. 1891, white. 1907;
colored, 21.44. j
He further states that the colored peo-
pie rarely insure In old-line companies,
but seek to secure policies In the indus
trial companies, and h attempt TO
.equalize the rates of insurance is aimed
at the industrial companies. TO further
prove that the mortality is much greater
the colored people than white, ne
secured vital statistics from the principal
cities In the South.
OUR CLIMATE KILLS THEM DEF.
His reasons for not getting vital stalls
tics from the North Is because they are
not Kept with O division In reference
to color. The figures obtained from the
but figures from the Northern localities
would be stronger, it is said. In the
South the colored psople are acclimated.
La the North they are living IN an uncon-
genial cline. There is a high rate of
mortality among negroes 10 the North
from consumption and respiratory di-
seases.
Mr.. Lunger observes that if insurance
companies were forced to give the same
rate TO coiored persons that IL would
necessarily cause q discriminatory
against the whites, for the increased
losses would result in a general rise in
rates all around. 1t would also affect b
reciprocal plan OF insurance.
For instance" he says. 'Kentucky
has an Industrial company, and should 1t
open an office in New Jersey for in
surance business the law would be oper,
alive as to that company In this Stale,
and. therefore, under the reciprocal
legislation OF Kentucky the New Jersey
law would be enforced against the com
panias OF this State doing business in
Kentucky"
AT the present time the industrial COM
pauies give to the colored people 66 2-3
per cent. of the benefit granted to the
whites for the same premium, and, 1t IS
believed. that the business on that basis
is net Ms profitable as their business with
the white people.