The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-06
CRADLE LIFE INSURANCE.

From the Washington Post.
lnfantile life insurance is a business so
fraught with possibilities of evil that It
ought not to be tolerated in any state or
country. 1t affords temptations to crime
that more than offset any possible good
that can be derived from it. No reasona-
bic mind can doubt that infant mortality,
great as ii Is, would be enormously in
creased If it We're practicable to take out
a policy on the life of any and every IN
fant. But this horror appears to have
acquired footing in Pennsylvania, where,
in times past, shameful abuses of life in
surance were n fruitful source Of crime.
i
Colonel James II. Lambert insurance
commissioner of that state in his annual
report. calls attention TO the rapidly in
creasing evil of infantlle assurance,
which, 1t is stated. is practical extern
sively by various fraternal organizations.
These associations are authorized to do
business on the lodge system, but have no
authority to insure anybody but their
own members. But, Notwithstanding this
limitation. Colonel Lambert has learned
that these organizations do issue certifi-
Gates OF insurance to Infants of all ages"
In other words, they vote babies into
membership and then issue policies 10
parents or guardians. Colonel Lambert
states further that judges of the courts Of
common pleas grant charters to these fra
ternal business associations especially
authorizing them to insure individuals
from the age of one year onward to the
utmost limit of natural life. The commits
siOner submits that. inasmuch as babies
cannot make contract of membership
for themselves, this system is clearly
without any authority to sustain 1t, and
ne vigorously protests against its con-
tinuance. He states that the insurance
department has taken steps to test the
matter in the courts. but suggests that
an act of the Legislature distinctly for
bidding the practice would make any eva
sion impossible, and would be q whole
some restraint upon the courts in the
granting OF charters.
-:l:--
1T seems strange that, in any part Of
this country, the laws should be so
strained as to permit baby life insurance
to become recognized business. 1t Is
true that the average parent may be safe
ly trusted to take care of his or her child
But 1t is also true that there are parents
who may not thus be trusted. And there
are infants who are orphans, or worse,
and are under the care of persons who
might be tempted to speculate on their
lives. 1t Is not necessary, in order that
an infant may cease to live. to put 1t to
death by any summary process. No vio-
lence need be employed. Neglect will kill
as surely as poison or strangulatiOn, and
with much less danger to the guilty.
--:l:-
The mere fact that a man or woman
desires to insure an infants life ought to
excite suspicion. Who can imagine a life
policy in connection with the cradle in
any well-regulated family? Who can
imagine natural mother asking her hus-
band to insure the life of the baby? What
sort of father must it be who deems it
best to enter into an arrangement where
by the death of his baby will be profitable
to him? 1t need scarcely be said that
reputable insurance companies are not