The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-21

himself. The number of things that can
be accomplished that amount to nothing
and those things that can't be- done by
congress which the country wants would
make long list.
AN INSURANCE SUGGESTION
Insurance companies are very careful as
to the health of persons to whom they is
sue policies. And when the policies are
issued they frequently contain prohibi
lions against travel or residence in I'M
healthful climates, and require of the In
sured a promise that in the event of some
injury or other Impairment. OF health he
will take certain precautions against
fatal termination. Moreover the com-
panies inquire not only into the health Of
the insured but into that of his progeni-
tors and may decline to issue policy
even if the health of the individual be
good, if his family history indicates a
hereditary tendency to disease.
Why with such preliminary caution, do
for the continued health of the insured?.
This question has been raised by the case
of man suffering from appendicitis. He
carries $4,000 policy and is able to
continue to pay the premiums as he has
paid them for some years. The operation
necessary to restore hini to health will
cost with hospital expenses and attend
ance, $500. He cannot raise that amount.
If he does not have the operation per-
formed he will probably die in the course
of g. few months. He has written to the
company asking it whether it prefers to
pay the expenses of the treatment re-
squired Or meet death loss of $4,000. ~.
The answer of the company has not
been reported, but it would seem to be
common sense, if the facts are as the APP
plicant states them for the company to
pay the $500 rather than the $4,000. But
If in one case why not in others And il
in case that promises an early fatal
termination why not in cases of impaired
health which may reduce the insureds
life probability? Why, in fact, should not
insurance companies maintain close
watch upon the health of their policy
vitality at every warning? If the insured
contracts dyspepsia let the company ply
sicians tell him what medicines and ex-
ercise to take and how to regulate his
diet. If he needs champagne as a tonic
let the company produce It. Il he needs.
trip to Europe let the company give
him a ticket. If a winter ID Florida or
"dig, up .v..
If INSURANCE companies were to seek to
maintain the good health they require in
applicants the health Of all the millions
Of insured people would, doubtless, be
much better than it is at present, the life
of the average policy holder would be
longer and the companies would therefore
be paid more for the risks they assume
q Possibly the cost of maintaining the
health of the insured would be more than
the resulting increase in the average
amount of premiums paid. But the pub
lie, now we'll accustomed to having so
many of It's wants and necessities looked
after by big corporations, would not be
in the least surprised If the insurance
companies should consolidate the doctor
ing't business under their direction. 4
---. 80 81
Complaints come from Canada regarding
the remission of the Philippines export
tariff Oh goods and products shipped di-
rectly to the United States. The effect
of this remission is to give American
manufacturers of binding Irvine a prefer
entail Of % of cent pound on the
raw hemp. A manufacturer at Brandon,
Manitoba, says that he can compete with
Americans anyway, on account of certain
transportation economies, but there lis
some talk of putting a protective duty.
on binding Irvine to offset the American
advantage The advantage can not be
very great, however, when it is recalled
that far more sisal than Manila hemp is
used. But, as T h j urn al has said
before, the remission of the export tariff
on goods bound for the United States is a
partial closing of the Philippines open
door.
It is four years and three months since
the Maine blew up. What happened at
Havana yesterday suggests that we "re-
membered the Maine - Now let the
Cubans remember the Maine,'' too, and
erect on the grave of those mem ers of
the crew of the Maine, buried in Havana
cemetery, a suitable monument to tell of
what the sacrifice of their lives accom-
plished for Cuba.
- -. \
Governor La Toilette has had his way
and the republican state convention of
Wisconsin will be held in Madison for the
first time in fifteen years. La Toilette
knows that the battle is to the strong
and he purposes to strengthen himself at
every point. But Madison is a mighty
small place for the large and fierce emo
lions of the contending factions
Any number of people look alike to the
Connecticut constitution makers. They
have, decided that towns having popu-
lation from 1000 to $4,000 .shal! have the
same representation in the legislature.
Connecticut is sma1ltownocraey
| We are enphatfcally in favor OF irriga-
ton, but it comes hard to write editorials
on such a dry subject with rain falling at