The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-25
INSURANCE NEWS AND
NOTES

of prince from his business. He at
tributes his success to mot being bore"
Raters who are applying .he new fire
insurance schedules in Indiana compliment
the merchants and manufacturers or the
towns they visit on their hospitality. Al
most without exception the raters are well
coined, and every assistance possible Is rem
dered them in their work OF inspecung
plants. In return for such treatment the
raters are always ready 10 give the pro-
prietor the advantage of their knowledge
and experience in the way OF suggestions
as TO how risks may be improved practlcal-
ly and how the fire hazard may be reduced.
Sucn suggestions complied with are always
credited and lower rate granted.
XXX
This is the season of company agency
gatherings among life insurance companies,
especially. and these annual convocations at
the home offices seem to be growing in
favor, judging from the increased number
reported this summer. The plan generally
adopted to determine who shall be favored
with the trip is to set a certain amount OF
insurance TO be written within given
time and those agents who qualify are then
made the guests of the company during the
trip-having all expenses paid. The conn
panies find these meetings of practical value
as the agents gain new ideas and fresh
enthusiasm from contact with the COM
pany's office force and their fellow-work-
ers in other feds. A number of Indianapolis
agents have been thus honored within the
past few weeks.
1t may be that ''Pikers'' at the world $
fair in st. Louis next summer will find the
Pike a one-sided affair. If they do 1t
will be because the fire insurance companies
have refused to waive the requirement that
at least 300 feet of clear space be maintained
about the exhibit buildings. The managers
of the exposition had planned Pike"
much similar in arrangement to the MID
way idea of Chicago street with at
fractions on both sides, but If this were
carried out the rear of many OF the bulld-
ings would be within 200 feet of the Trans
portation and the Varied Industries exhibits
buildings. The managers are pleading with
the insurance men to permit this infringe
ment on the fire rules which govern the dis
position of the buildings, but, as the SIDE
show structures common TO sucn places
are very fiimsy and lnflammapie, IL Is
quite likely that the pike" will be one
sided affair.
The summer months are no less strenuous
with the life insurance agents in the ma
jority of companies than are those or the
other seasons of the year. However much
the agent may wish to relax, there are some
companies who discourage any letting down
most emphatically. A number of companies
have earned the names of "racers" and
drivers through their continual prodding
and squirting of their agents on to sun
greater efforts and achievements. The SUI
perintendent of one of the local offices re-
Gently referred to the agents condition as
being continually under the lash or
whip" The great desire the part OF
some company officials to make a showing
of a large volume of business appears to
have led them to consider the agent simply
t.. h. n.hi i've n "a
utmost capacity until it breaks down and
is replaced by another. There never was
more nfe insurance written Than in the
six months just closed. but the companies
enter on the last half of 1903 determined
that it shall yield even more.
Companies which have already filed tax
statements with the Indiana insurance de-
partment show premiums and losses for the
first six months as follows: