New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
INSURING CHINESE
AMERICAN COMPANIES DO LITTLE BrrsT-
NESS IN THE EMPIRE AND NONE
OUTSIDE TREATY PORTS

a general war in China, no matter how large
the number Of victims. would cost the life in
surance companies OF the world a great deal
less than war in any other country Of frnpor-
tahce- As consequence MongoIian wives and
children have little chance Of receiving insur-
snce money should their bread winners be num-
Dereo among the unfortunate. The Chinese
nave never made any great effort to insure their
lives, it is true but those who tried found #
almost as difficult does the American negro.
II Is not the color that the insurance com
panles object 10, nor do they consider either
race especially prone TO suicide but there are
natural objections TO their being considered
good risks
There are but three American life insurance
companies which have written any business in
al Asia One of these has placed most of its
policies IN India, another has made a special
effort in China but most of the policies are
written on the lives Of white residents The
total number Of policies written by American
companies for all Asia was only 6112 insur-
ing the holders to the extent Of SI3.5 l4I
and on whici. they paid a total premium Of
S1Su.54s- Statistics are not given Of the num-
Der Of policies held in China. but the percentage
Is small and lke number Of policies held by
Chinese smaller still
The companies have made II . rule not TO in
sure Chinese who live outside the treaty ports
The business that could be secured in the in
terror would not pay for the trouble that would
oe necessary TO get IL, and, besides the question
O1 Identification is SO difficult that no company
could afford TO take the risk Of being defraudeG
by the crafty Orientals. There are scores OF
Chinese who look SO much alike that foreigner
could not tell them apart, and with many
doubles available the speculation in human
death would be ruinous TO the companies.
At The treaty ports number of Chinese have
been able TO secure policies. They had TO take
the endowment or more expensive policies bul
they were not charged higher rate. Only mer-
chants Of recognized standing who were able
10 give fun details regarding family history were
accepted. Although the Chinese are particular
about tracing the history Of their empire back
10 the beginning Of things, insurance men have
found that as general thing they know little
about their own particular families They are
seldom able 10 tell Of what diseases their near
relatives were victims and cannot give other
Information which IS considered necessary in
deciding on q risk
Now that China is in state Of war the best
sort q a Chinese risk would not be considered.
Most Of the companies quit doing business in
China Two months ago, and their hustIing agents
VIII not touch that territory until the trouble
Is finally settled It is probable that the com
panies which have already wSiuten Chinese poll
cies VIII assume war risk contingencies. The
Chinese policy holders can force the companies
70 take the additional risk upon payment OF
extra premiums. just as the British companies
were forced to assume war risk in the case Of
volunteer soldiers in South Africa As the
amount OF Chinese insurance is small and the
risks under ordinary circumstances good, it is
possible that an additional premium viii not be
demanded
Although China is prolific IN clubs and secret
societies, none Of them have life insurance de-
partments- TIE traternal society for the pur-