Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-19

nature, 1t uses high pressure system
| to adjust the claims at one, practically
forcing the claimant by shrewd In
genuity on the part Of the agent and
the physician. to settle before the Ill
ness cases or length of disability II
determined"
AS stated by chairman Palmer Of
the committee which has been in SEES
sion here, this summary has to dc
only with the treatment of the policy.
holders Of this company, largely from
the working classes, who hold what
1s known as industrial health and &C.
cident policies. Chairman Palmer
also stated that, at the hearing which
was granted the company, its repre-
sentatives admitted that such COM
pany's practice in the past had been
reprehensible, but asserted tfat re.
forms were now under way and that
Justice would be done all claimants
who had been unjustly treated. Such
representatives, however, admitted
that it was still tho practice of the
company to modify applications for
insurance in certain particulars as to
strengthen the case of the company,
should it be sued and assert breach
Of warranty.
The attitude of the home office of the
German Commercial towards claim.
ants is by the committee thought to
be indicated In the following quota
lions from its correspondence:
1T will be absolutely impossible to
make any profits in the business, un-
less advance settlements are made"
"Please remember that notices must
come direct to the home Office, and
that notice to the agent is not sum-
Gent"
I'VE understand that Michael Ryan,
of 1909 Brown street, is practically
ready to settle and needs the money.
We request that you Immediately call
upon him and try to pin him down to
the number Of days or total or par.
tial. Then we will proceed with the
adjustment"
I'VE might say, for your informa-
ton, that this is the opportunity for
you to demonstrate your ability, and
also demonstrate that it is your pur-
pose to hold down these claims to a
proper figure. You know the man is
a foreigner
Among the cases cited by the ex-
aminers is one where the insured was
dentist and was injured while NOV
ing q work bench in his Office. The
company insisted upon pro-rating this
insured man to the classification of
furniture mover and paid him on that
basis.
In a another case the policyholder
was insured as manager, but injur-
ed his hand while assisting his EN-.
ployees to open freight car; he was
pro-rated to the classification of
laborer, and his indemnify thus con-
siderably reduced.
In still another case, the agent, af-
ter he had settled the claim of an
ignorant foreigner for a small sum-
later wrote the company: Had
known the case as I know It today,
I would never have left him accept the
$55 draft at that time. OF course, this
was taking advantage Of the ignor-
ant for the advantage of the COM
pany."
The company is a small one, its
industrial premium income in 1910
being but 81, 900. 1t is, however, ad-
mitted in twenty-three states. While
it has few profit-shartng contracts, its
treatment Of policyholders. is much
the same as, and in some respects
worse than that Of the other COM
panies examined on this Investigation.
The NJ. e. Ladies' Aid society will
meet In the church parlors Thursday