Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-01
BUSINESS OF LIFE COMPANIES
Last Year one of Marked Prosperity
Despite the UuheuvaI in
New York.


The Spectator in its issue of March Is
presents an important tabulation, giving
the figures on the business of the life in
surance companies for the year 1905.
Ninety-nine companies are included In the
report. comprising all but two or three
unimportant companies doing business In
the United States. 1t Is the first complete
showing of the figure for 1906, and indicates
that the public has not lost confidence in
life insurance, despite the upheaval in New
York during the year. As matter of
fact. only one Of the big companies, The
Equitable shows a loss of business. The
Equitable reports at the close of the year,
$50 4l9, 456 less insurance in force than at
the beginning; it's total of insurance n
force on December 81, 1906, being H,456l 2S.-
1885, The other members of the big three"
shows a decided gain for the year, the
New York Life having increased Its In
surance in force by s1s2,Ss4,57S, its total in
force being S2,O615sS ,SS6. The Mutual re-
ports a gain of Sll, 937. sos. with total in
force of 81, $50, 1894 6S. Commenting on the
figures, the Spectator says;
THE financial strength of the companies
shows no dimunition, for the total assets
increased during 1895 by S207,ss5 4S7, bringing
the total up to the tremendous amount
the absolute protection of the contracts.
and also as the fund for dividends 20 policy
holders, also increased during the year and
now stands at 1851, S4l29l. The increase in
this item for the year was 81 09s,O0S. and
while that amount is small compared with
the previous year, It is to be remembered
that one company alone showed a decrease
of nearly $ls,OO0.000 Ia surplus, owing to
REIMBURSEMENT in values. and the large in
crease in 1904 was caused mainly by the
sharp recovery In the value Of STICKS and
bonds during that year.
Policy holders paid to these companies
In 1905 the sum OF s5l5,525, 252 In premiums
and the total income from all sources
was S64l, O52 206. In both these items the
gains were well maintained as compared
with recent years. The payment on policy
holders account were the largest in the
history Of the business reaching 1924, So, 2l6
OF which approximately sl5O,OC0OOO were dis
bursed 20 widows and orphans in the shape
OF death claims and the remainder went
TO living policyholders in various forms
some $S6OOO,OOO in the form OF dividends.
In addition 10 the amounts paid on policy
holders account there was laid by from
the income for their future protection the
sum Of S225. 1875 CSC,
The insurance account shows that while
the new business written was less by SSs-
672 996 than in the previous year, neverthe-
less a majority OF the companies wrote a
larger amount than az any previous time.
the decrease being amply accounted for In
the statement OF three companies. The
United States life insurance companies
now carry contracts OF ordinary Insurance
aggregsung N1.o 24l.5s6. while the indus
trial policies amount TO So. $3.50, 400 making
a grand total Of lie insurance protection
OF SIS $50 sS.Cs6. which is SS23,05s.2s8 more
than was carried year ago. The system
has been ON trial as to its methods Of
management. but the facts prove that
there can be no question as 10 the value
Of life insurance, Ito safety and its bene-
ficieut work"