Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-21
GUARDSMEN WON'T
LOSE INSURANCE
BY DEATH in WAR
That Is the Promise Given
Almost Invariably by Com
panies in This City
DIFFER ON NEW RISKS

The following two questions were put by
the EVENING LEDGER to more than 20
leading life Insurance companies doing husi-
ness in this city:
U) Would life insurance policies
carried In your company by members
OF the National Guard be affected in
any way in the event Of the United
States engaging in war with Mexico,
and II so to what extent?
(2) II a citizen Of the United States
IN good physical condition should APP
ply to you today for life Insurance, at
the same time informing you that he
was about to Join the National Guard.
would you issue him policy, and II
so on what conditioner
These questions were asked In view Of
the fact that the integrity of the life In
surance held In the various companies by
members of the National Guard Is at pres
ent matter of most vital Importance to
the members of their families and their de-
pendents.
They were also asked because unques-
tonably many members will be anxious to
Increase their insurance If possible, while
those who are not insured may wish TO be-
come insured.
Then there are no doubt a number of men
who would join the National Guard but are
hesitating because they are not insured.
In answer to the first question virtu-
ally all of the leading life companies an
swered that members of the National
Guard holding their policies were fully in
sured and IL premiums were paid promptly,
should the policies become claims through
death in war or in camp the claims would
be promptly paid.
There were, however, n few exceptions
where some companies had issued policies
containing a clause providing that IL the
insured during the first year, or the first
two years of the policy, would engage
in any kind of military or naval service,
and the policy, become a claim through
Il
not exceed the one or two premiums paid.
In answer to the second question, the
replies were various.
Some companies would not issue any
policy to a man about to join the Ma
tional Guard. Others said their companies
would issue only endowment policies, others
would issue any policy. but with a spe-
clal extra premium usually equal to per
cent. of the face of the policy, in addition
to the regular premium.
There were still others that would issue
any policy with the extra premium. but
would limit the size Of the policy to $4,000.
Many representatives of companies whose
home offices are In New York or elsewhere
were awaiting specific instructions from
headquarters before giving a definite an
swer and others said they would accept any
such application for insurance and leave
the final decision with the executives at
the home office.
One company which probably has on its
lists more army and navy officers than any
other company in the country and processes
to like that class of business makes no re-
strictons in such policies, and makes special
provisions for payment of premiums when
officers are on foreign service or in foreign
ports, and also extends special privileges in
the payment of death claims under similar
circumstances.
AS to accident insurance. the procedure of
the companies is far from uniform, some
policies providing for cancellation at once in
event of the insured engaging in military or
naval service. All accident insurance, even
under the most favorable circumstances eX-
pres at the end of each policy year, and the
company can place whatever restrictions 1t
pleases before issuing a new policy.