The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-04-11
Metropolitan Life
Ins. Co., Hosts


the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.,
participated in the elegant banquet
at the Marlborough Hotel on Wednes-
day evening.
Haley Fiske, vice-president Of the
company, acted as toastmaster. He ex-
planned that his company has been hold
ing district conventions and dinners
for the past twenty years, the meetings
taking place every three years. Rep
resentatives Of his company are spend
ing two days in Raleigh discussing var
ious matters pertaining to the Metro
politan s business in this state.
During the course Of his remarks,
which were very inspiring and highly
entertaining, Mr.. Fiske gave some very
startling facts concerning his company.
He stated that the Metropolitan is the
largest insurance company in the
world, having three and one-half bill
lion dollars worth of insurance now in
force. In 1915, his company wrote 663
million dollars worth of business. There
are fifteen million policy holders, no.
600 of these being in North Carolina.
Mr.. Fishes harers were astounded
when he stated that the home Office re-
ceived one and one-third million dol
lars every week from industrial poll
cies alone, these payments being most
ly ten cent collections from IA ,000, 900
people, The total income of his COM
pany in annual premiums aggregates
1T millions per year.
The statement that is of interest to
North Carolinians is that the Metro
politan has over 100000 invested in
this state, and Mr.. Fiske stated that
most likely this amount would be in
creased. He told his representatives
that the insurance laws provide limit
for his company on total industrial
insurance in force amounting to $242,-
100000 per year. The company reach
ed the limit last year several months
before the season closed. During 1916,
if business comes in at the rate it has
already started, a total of $340,O0O,0 900
in new business will be secured in IL
months. Mr.. Fiske told his men that
as soon as they reached the limit on in
dustrial lines, they could handle the
other lines in the Metropolitan list.
Insurance Commissioner Young, who
work 26 years as an insurance agent,
made few brief remarks commencing
the Metropolitan on its work in North
Carolina. Mr.. Young said that the pub
lie misunderstands the insurance COM
panies and he believes that the Metro
politan has done as much as, or more
than, any other company to build up
high ideals in life insurance work.
Mayor johnson stated that he was
proud of his Metropolitan policy in
extending greetings to the assembly,
and expressed his sincere wish that
every agent attending the session in
Raleigh will go home with enough en-
thusiasm to sign up every prospect that
he solicits this year.
DR.. w. s. Rankin, Secretary Of the
North Carolina Board of Health, high
ly recommended the health work being
done by the Metropolitan Company
DIR. L. B. McBrayer, superintendent Of
he State tuberculosis Hospital, assert
I'd, along with DR.. Rankin, that indus
trial insurance companies have saved
real money to the counties in looking
after the health of policyholders VIII,
could be burdens to the respective com
nunities if not given proper attention
DR.. L. s. Rankel, sixth vice-presi
lent from the New York Office CAV,
ONE interesting data about the healtl
} -ork of his company. He commend
Il the State Board of Health in it
'-ork, saying that this State is regard
} d as one of the most progressive i,
r he South in health work. He said tina
IS company has issued more than fiv
: II ion pamphlets on the care of child
2 and has printed many others re
, ding tie treatment of every cpl
mic known to medical science, L
i. !, the Metropolitan presses have turn
ed out 127, 100000 articles of all kind
..rinted in thirteen different languages
J.. The Metropolitan maintains a staff O
q urses nj nearly every community.
These nurses made 100000 calls O
Q lie sick during, 1915. It maintains
; modern hospital at an investment 0
T er a million dollars in New Yor'
state for the sole purpose of takin
> ARE of its 10000 employees, this servic
ling given to them free of charg,
: The $500 employees of the home offic
9 IRE also given free medical attentio,
|. message was read from Governo
It Manning of South Carolina, who wa
L ietaind from being present, expressin
. is approval Of the work being done b
l. she Metropolitan Company in his Stat
n John A. Park, president of the Chan
, Der of Commerce, extended an invit;
;. ton to Mr.. Fiske, and his associat.
to hold similar meetings in Raleie
=. once year instead of once in thre
- years.
d Judge R. w. Winston, local couns
h or the Metropolitan, stated that not
D single case Of raud had been charge
a, against the company in North Carol;r