The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-10-09

!-,5CRANCE OM4uSSIONER HOST.
cannot refuse this contest. TO fail to
be represented at the convention
would be a confession that the people
Of the state are not with them. Of
course, Senator Sp0Oner'S friends look
to see him sent; this they may seek
either by Il contest with the endorse
ment of President Roosevelt. to the
effect that he would be gratified if the
people Of Wisconsin should send the
friend and associate to the conyen-
ton. or a compromise between the
factions may bring about list that
should put both OF them on an equal
footing. Of course, it is absurd that
there should be any harmony even for
an hour, but politicians are after re-
suits always Names that occur as
eligibIeS for the convention are: Gov
ernOr LaFOllette. the two United
States senator's, Mr.. Stephenson, eX-
Governor Hoard. Senator Stout. eX-
Governor Sc0tied and others,
, Foo Much Profit in Insurance,
Insurance Commissioner Host. like
Mr.. Fricke. of the Upham administra
ton, is not content merely.,to do the
routine and draw his pay. Mr.. Host is
making it warm for the big companies,
whose eXtrava gance is Il growing sub
iect of remark The big buildings put
up in the cities. with their palatial
equipment. eyince millions that the
companies do not know what to do
with while the margin of profit to sue
ceSSful agents makes it possible for
some of them to earn SalarieS}that stag
ger the ordinary worker. In Il recent
address to Il fresh lot of COlleSe grad
yates about to embark on the business,
q high official told them if they could
not earn at least $1,000 year from
the start. they had better abandon the
calling. 1t is not strange fraternal
orders. which promise protection at low
rates have multiplied The growth of
the investment feature causes the
scientific actuaries to look askance The
craze to do big business is leading
the companies to pay bonuses of all
S0rts-mOney which really should re-
main i'll the pockets of the policyhOld-
err. Commissioner Host says that in
many instances expenditures for new
business have been enormously in
creased, the commissions paid to
agents having been advanced from Is
per cent and - per cent to ~ per cent
and 100 per cent of the first years
premium. He thinks that the cost of
getting business has been raised to an
extent that makes the old policyhold-
ers bear in too large a degree the bur-
den of the new.
His principal reform. however, is an
many millions over andf above the re-
serve, which is supposed to be sutfi-
cient to meet all maturing policies.
The FOreSterS. one of the fraternalS,
has some $4,000. 600. saved up, and there
is contingent in that order who want
this dividend tor the benefit of the
pOlicyholders. One way is to omit the
collection of premiums Of members
who have been in the order for a GER
tain number of years.
Congregationalists at Menomonie.
There are $4,000 Congregationalists
in the state. DR.. Titsworth's church
in Milwaukee. the pulpit of the late
DR.. Ide, in the same city; DR.. Up
dike's church in Madison are some of
the strongest centers of this faith
The Congre gationalists have 30
churches in Wisconsin. The annual
convention is held in Menomonie