New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-01
CONGRESS OF ACTUARIES.
Secretary Corfelyou Elected Homo
rary President.
CENSUS CRITICISM EvoKEs REPLY.

At the fourth International congress 81 aetu-
aries begun yesterday morning AT the Fine Arts
Building. Secretary Cortelyou OF the Depart
ruent OF Commerce was elected honorary presl-
dent There were present delegates from most
OF the civilized countries. and when Mr. Cor
felvou addressed the meeting the speakers re-
marks were translated into French and German.
After greeting the congress and defining the
evolution and duties % the Sctuary, Secretary
Cortelyou went on:
,r1toue nosiiior FIRST the subject matter OF your
delfheraions Is primarily scieutinc based IN a.
applied nlathematlcs Second. 81 embraces IN us
wide scope the professions of pa" ana .,
uud its discussions cotenlllait 49, =, -, lone
- formal contracts and questions allied 70 various
81 tlis ~fihiocf matter which has the attention ~
the congress. 10 these academic SUBJECTS i,as IA ~
France and is intimately connected VIII lial -
our modern economic factors. FOR these great in
stitutions include not only those on ne illsL
sinisr ageuc.os which on the Continent 81 Europe
arc in many cases governme ntal instit9lloi,s,
-esir ~ SAFE Statement 20 say that rarely. II ever
fhirkers and workers more representative Of the
alliance - academic theory With the applcaual
diversified interests which occunv comnana e.,
position A. The business and industrial world This
means for the congress great responsibility ana
you recognize in the broadest sphere OF your cal
rtlstfous neither race nor class creed; YOU
encourage thrift: you are the friend 81 the toileT
a. wei as Of those in high places ~ power ana
sffueEce. yog carry light and cheer an9 coIlof S
Tor things that meke Tor staHllllE. a aoL &c ~,
architects ~ hrm foundations upon wnlch rse m
cal~ulahle Your study is lie. and the extent OF
sour Influence Is only eguaed by its 6enelGeilce
s1o5r iD6fvj5ysie an6 among nations is active and
urhaCCinR III the competition IS directed into
righ+ channels. - such meetings as this intefIa-
elves from many countries for mutual interchange
- thought and opinion on subjects of seneTa IN
terest even though m many instances nstIloes a.
competitors. who can doubt thei- helpfuiness ana
represer tatlve Of the government bgt ~ ne De
nate IN participating TIE beginning OF It's career
81 80 representative and noteworthy lneeilnE IS
This congress The officials Of the new depart
rnent VIII watch your proceedings with great IN
,hs lev vrhcR created H. the more clearly appear
the points a. which our Work touches me inte~sts
which you represent
After his speech. he read letter from Presi-
Dent Roosevelt. regretting that he was unable
IN attend the congress.
Papers on the increase IN longevity were ais
cussed. while I'm the afternoon statistics as 10
war mortality held the sctusries' attention
FL Hoffman. OF Newark, university lecturer
on actuarial subjects. reused the opposition Of
the census delegates when he said:
when We are told by Secretary of War that hat
1e M ~ \, s y IL ,5,,,r, I1cS sct,arial
lznav,Iadea 10 cause one to smile and that
81 is nonsense. The statement that the death rate
Of Havana is no greater than that Of Washington
s. untrue Tor some time 20 come The death rate OF
Havana Will be from - 10 Joe per cent greater than
flar ~ Northern CITY. This Information IS us
semnated 20 an ignorant public Tor poliucal pur-
what they ought 10 he. They are not prepared with
the proper skill. they are not backed up by the
proper actuarial knowledge 10 make them OF value
40 the insurance companies as they ought 70 be.
Replying to Mr. Hoffman. s. \. d North.
Census Delegate % the United States Govern
mcnt said.
think that no man thoroughly acquainted with
she difficulties the way 81 those engaged IOr the
Bureau IN collecting statistics mortality
would feei fully 1ustihed IN making 50 sweeping a
Crlticfm To is the Intention ana The expectation
Orii-s that shall be able 20 remove
dsf0iecies ~ tho criticism that has been made
fies Bon The future that criticism will he with you,
rIrw extended % you gentlemen 20 give US all the
assistance you and 10 poi-t cut 10 Us any
errors into which We may fan.
The following officers were elected;
President Of Permanent Committee-o. Le-
TregN.
secretary General OF the Permanent Commit
tea. Bcgault.
Honorary President--George B. Cortelyou.
President Of the COngress-Tsrael G. Pierson.
General Secretary--John Tatlock.
Navor Low and Secretary CCrtelvou gave a
reception last evening 10 the members OF the
congress 3n the Fine Arts Building. The rooms
flowers. and large number OF the delegates
present with their friends.
The Mayor viii speak tonight az the dinner
~ the National Association ~ Actuaries at
Shcrry's.