The Washington herald., 1908-07-12

Stop the average Intelligent man or
family who carries a line Of life insur-
ance commensurate with his familys
needs and ask that man what he is worth
10 his dependent ones and he is likely TO
revert at once to his insurance policies
ana what they are worth 20 his family II
ne should die
I'm worth a good deal more dead than
alive" is one of his observations half in
jest and wholly in earnest.
But is this true? What is a man worth
who Is in health and strength and who
Is earning living for his family? asks
the Chicago Tribune
Necessarily there is a wide range IN the
cash worth Of men under these circum-
stances. At the same time. however. the
man who makes comfortable living
for the family that has 81 600 year tastes
is doing quite as much for wife and chill
dren as is the man who is making only
a living for the family Of $4,000 a year
tastes. He is the provider. and without
him the family Is without a provider.
In the old slavery days in this country
a good field hand in the South would
bring $500 on the auction block. II he
had been trained to somo special work.
such as blacksmithing. he might bring
$500. But to-day most nlen who carry
life insurance for their families are worth
more as dead ones" thar was the slave
who sold as a chattcl
$1,000 Cash Looks Big.
The man who earns 81. 900 a year IS like
ly TO be insured for $1,000 to 5000. il he
be insured at all AS a sum Of money. 20
be in hand all at once and unbroken.
this policy appears large 10 him. It
would pay of at once the mortgage on
the house. il would put the children
through high school; II would accomplish
score Of things II it We're all in his
hand at a moments notice Which leads
mis- 10 underestimate the $1,000 which Is
whole year in coming into hts pockets
and subjected 70 the drain Of family ne
cessities that pile up month after month
What is this man worth who IS earning
$1,000 a year and sure OF his position as
long as he keeps his health and strength? {?
-Four per cent is a fair rate Of income
upon a conservative, safe investment
Thousands are satisfied with as much:
thousands more are holders OF govern
ment bonds that produce half as much in
terest
At ( per cent. however. the man who
earns S,01 q year represents an income
investment OF $500 His labor for
twelve months brings the same return to
his family as If he were a $25.O00 bond
yielding per cent interest With the ex-
ception. perhaps. that he must be fed
and clothed and housed out Of these earn
ings, while the bond ilcOme would be un-
taxed. But as an average husband and
father be ought 20 be worth 70 his fam
fly the $50 year for his keep and even
with this $50 tax upon the income he rep
rcsents a good deal Of money in himself
Old MINIS Shnre Il $50.
Suppose he does eat. and drink. and
wear. and smoke his $50 share IN this in
come OF $1,000 a year from his labor. Let
$50 represent the net income 10 the
other three members Of his household
lie is still an investment of S2l. 80 70
the rest of his family. At per cent il
would require a bond OF this face value
to say nothing Of such q bond selling az
a sharp premium. A United States bond
yielding $50 at per cent might be count
ed as selling for the full IS. 900.
How insignificant IS a 81. 800 life insur-
ance policy as compared TO an income
investment Of $25.Ct0 in the man himself
In fact, this life insurance may be
small as compared 10 this mans worth
as declared by the statutes Of many
States under the employers liability acts
Let this man be killed in an. accident
| for which his employer is culpable and
the courts viii give judgment perhaps
for $1,000. This is four times the value
he has put upon himself to the life in
surance companies.
worth Much in Damage Suit.
Or let this bread winner be injured
permanently because Of the negligence
OF an employer and he may get $4,000.
So, 900. OF $4,000 damages. Which. after
all. takes more nearly into consideration
the mans real worth 20 his dependent
ones
Payment Of $4,000 damages to the dis
abled Garner OF Sl.0OO a year means ten
years salary in advance; the $3.50 Of
life insurance which he carries is salary
for only two years and a half Besides
which IN many cases the 500 may be
sadly dissipated before the funeral is
done.
In these days men. looking at their sal
aries In comparison with the incomes OF
men Of wealth, are prone 10 depreciate
them. By sitting down 20 a little figuring
on a percentage basis they may be able
to cheer up appreciably if they will con-
slider themselves Tor the moment as rep
resenting an invested capital at per
| cent.