The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
INSURANCE LOSSES
IN WAR NOT HEAVY
American Companies Have Pol
:cyhOlders in Armies Of All
the Belligerents.
EXTRA RATES IN FORCE
n, IA VI. HuD<UT.

M IA VI. utD>tNs
Life insurance deserves a place in
an international Peace and Prosper
ity Number" OF THE SuN that "shires
for all" because its mission is one Of
peace and prosperity to all. II pros
pers in time of war because 1t allevi-
ates the dlstresses and helps 10 re-
pair the losses OF war Wal serves
to bring into prominence its unique
service to families bereaved OF hus-
band and father In whatever way. "
does not offer charity. but something
better--a method by which every man
may provide for his own dependents.
may pay his debt to hem. ard go save
his own self-respect and theirs.
There are over 200 life compa MES
In the United States. and several OF
them do an international business.
They have policyholders in the armies
OF all the belligerents; they are pay
irg impartially the claims Of all In
their international relations these men
are enemies: in their relations 10 one
another through the life companies
they are friends. The bond OF a coin.
mon humanity is stronger and nohler
than racial or political bonds.
Life insurance is so founded and So
conducted that each policyholder does
his nelghbor good n not evil. and in
doing him good he does no evil to him
self. nor to the cause for which he
fights. The common interest Is so
protected by the relatively small mum.
Der OF insured or the fighting line and
BY extra rates for war risks that the
companies scarcely feel the effect 10
their average mortality. notwlthstand.
ing the colossal scale upon which the
war is waged.
Nine Nillion Poiicies Ia Force.
There are in force in American life
companies about 1000. 600 policies or
the ordinary plan. insuring about ST..
600, 900 200. Allowing for those VIII
carry more than one policy. the mum
Der OF the insured IL about 7.6i0. 900
with an average insurance Of ovel
$4,000.
or industrial policies there are ii
force over 80. 900, 900 policies. insurlnl
over $4,000. 200, 900. There are les,
plural assurances here and the mum
Der OF the insured Is more nearly tn,
same as the number Of the policies
which average about $lSj each. Tn
der both forms of insurance NOR,
than one-third OF the total populs tior
carry life insurance In the regu,a.
companies, 10 say nothing of thos
who carry certificates In the fraterna
societies. There are over Ave hundre,
OF these. with 0y 5000, 900 certli
Gates in force, calling for over 80 500.
OoO. 900 at death,
The amount paid in death losses b,
oil these organizations in 1914 wa
aU'ul So-V,OoV WV anu tNt amour
paid to living policyholders by tn
regular companies was abou. $40,
900. 900 more. All told, these variou
organizations for providing for a rain.
day are ~disbursing to their member
nearly $500, 900, 900 a year.
CnderEOcs an Ordeni.
Life insurance was brought int
the limelight ten years G by tn
Armstrong investigation in this Stat
and suffered. as all big business ha
since suffered, by that political fur
that does not discriminate between tn
errors and abuses Of a business an
the business itself. Life insuranc
was sound at the core; the abuse
were superficial. the natural concomi
a of a rapid growth. Not a com
pany failed under the ordeal, and dun
ing the last Ave years its growth ha
been more rapid thai prior to the IN
v~estigation.
Some Of the legislation enacted a
that time was restrictive and mis-
ehievous. but this has been gradual