The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-14

their poliCyhOlders from unusual loss;
that we afford the companies a gen
erous security from disaster, and seek
to provide a greater safeguard TO
him who from his daily pittance low
ing his own in lifetime and in death,
lays by each day some drops Of sweat
to care. when he is gone, for those
committed to his keeping. The evil
dence that each company owes it's
policy-hOlders, who constitute it, the
best medical advice that it can Sc
cure and that they have a right to
demand it. That there is any rea-
son for this reduction in This day OF
skilful finance and charging business
we cannot admit. The only cause
we could deem valid does not appear
the lowering of the rates to the
people; in this direction the tendency
seems upward and not downward.
Our work is worth more to them now
than ever before because there IS
more cunning and graft and impos-
ture than ever before. The compa-
MES need our services as much to-
day as ever before; they value our
opinions and lean on US in a large
measure they expect us to save them
from pitfalls, and they are willing to
pay uS-What? Just as small sum
as we will accept. If they can hire
us for three dollars, who can blame
them? Do not we all use the same
policy in hiring our employees? 1t,
to my mind, shows their confidence
that We are honest, and Will give
them the best we have-if we accept
their price; is in a sense a compli-
ment to US, a belief that we will keep
our faith, that what we promise we
| Will do, be the reward whatever it
may
The second question 1 answer UNI
hositatingly No. the same amount of
professional time and skill and ex-
perience as is demanded in making
these personal Investigations and
/ physical examinations and in giving
recorded opinion thereon will in
an average. community command as
great a price as five dollars ard IN
many place. a great deal more. Doc
tors do not charge for physical labor,
their prices are based upon the re-
! spOnsibilities assumed and for the
mental effort and acumen expended
/ in forming their judgments. In life
Insurance work we accept a rcspon-
sibiiity and suffer in reputation if we
Crr; VIC must make in each case a
! mental balance, so tnat company and
j applicant shall have unbiased weigh
| ing and upon our resultant opinion
1 in the aggregate the rolls are made
up. Why, a lawyer would not give
/ his counsel upon a simple point IN
/ volving some small money transact
/ ton for less than the fee We are. in
/ sisling on; shall we, the professional
/ equals OF any craft on Garth give
/ ours, involving the question Of the
] life Of man, for less? Our fee is for
! our opinion, and not for our labor;
/ for our learning and skill and expert
ence and not for our time; these are
merely the means by which we derive
4 our opinions. That our advice is ask
ed is proof that it is valucd that it is
not always taken is only proof that
as yet Doctors do not always agree.
/ / submit that five dollars should and
/ so far as | am concerned must be adj
/ hered to lin all life insurance eXani-
/ nations involving q full physical re-
/ view and asking for an opinion based
upon it. The profession of this State
/ is under no obligations to submit to
/ an arbitrary, unnecessary and unreal
son9ble reduction in the price of their
| work. The cost OF medical education,
/ Of living, of professional equipment
/ producing greater accuracy and af-
/ fording greater safety is largely in
| creased, and by these expensive adj
/ Vanccmcnts we are adding TO the sum
I total Of human life; we are increas-
/ ing longevity q direct profit to the
/ companies-for has any one heard
4 of a recent reduction in premium
rates? By our work we have added,
and are yet adding to the profits and
/ the property of the corporate COM
panies, and to the safety and savings
! of their policy-holders.
A legitimate expense must be met
! i'm all departments of life insurance
/ for which the policy holders pay and
are willing to pay; Surely we must
have their support when we insist
! that upon us-the nearest guardians
of their interests there shall not fan
/ the first blow from the axe Of a