Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-22
LIFE UNDERWRITERS
DISCUSS WAR RISKS
National Associations ExeCu-
tive Council Pledges Support
to the President.
PROTESTS PREMIUM TAX

The status of life insurance risks on
those who may be drafted as fighting
men in case of war was one Of the
problems before the executive council
of the National Association of Life
Underwriters today at its meeting in
the New Willard Hotel. Life insurance.
1t was declared, first is an investment
with responsibility to policy holders:
then a matter of patriotism approach
ing the limit of industrial liability.
W. Lyle Reid of Ottawa, Canada, rep
resenting Canadian life insurance cor
porations. described the effect of war
conditions on life insurance in the do
minion.
These conditions, he said. have made
unprecedented prosperity for life insur-
ance corporations. The losses paid are
less than IL per cent of the total claims.
Life insurance is the one business, he as
serted, that is not feeding upon war to
make earnings.
1t was brought out at the meeting that
American policies. generally-with varia-
tions-exact only a per cent, or a max
inum per cent extra premium. for mill
tary service for war. In certain policies
this is imposed only for a year. The
charge is a lein against the policy.
Those at Meeting.
Members of the executive council who
were present at the meeting today are
J. Newton Russell, jr.. of Los Angeles.
president of the national association:
Lawrence Priddy of New York, vice
president, James W. Bishop of Chatta-
nooga. Tenn. treasurer; Everett NJ En-
sign of New York. corresponding sec
rotary; Edward E Woods of Pittsburgh
and Hugh NJ. Willett of Atlanta. Ca
More than sixty representatives of
local associations in the United States
and Canada were represented. The
purpose was to map out the work of the
organization for the balance of the
year.
A banquet is to be given tonight in
the New Willard. which will be at
tended by large delegations from the
associations at Baltimore, Richmond,
Norfolk, Lynchburg and other nearby
cities. The speakers will be George T.
Wilson, vice president of the Equitable
Life Insurance Company: Representa-
tive William Kettner of California;
Rev. ]. Henning helms of Washington.
and Chief Justice ]. Harry Covington
of the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia Nell D. Sills of Richmond
is to be the POSTMASTER.
Tomorrow there viii be two sessions
Of the southeastern congress, composed
of the executive committee and seven
trict. Joseph l.. Downes of Baiimore
is to be chairman of this congress,
which is to discuss topics of interest to
life insurance men in open forum. The
only formal address is to be by Law
renee H Woods of Pittsburgh on the
subject of business Life Insurance"
Pledge Support to President.
Resolutions pledeing support to the
President in the present international
crisis. and promising for life under
writers that they will do their part
were adopted unanimously at today's
meeting The resolution follows:
Representing the life insurance field
men of the country. numbering over
100000, We hereby pledge our unfalter-
ing support TO the President of the
United States in his determination to
--iaintain at all cost and at all hazards
the inalienable rights of Americans
and of the world to liberty on land
and sea.
I'VE confidently promise such sup
mort of life insurance men and women
10 preserve the right of Americans and
humanity has been loyalty and free
ly given TO the nation in other great
crises that America, conceived in lib
erty and always its foremost defender
may continue to protect at every cost
and sacrifice against any power or com
bination of powers such human rights
as have been dearly won by mankind
during all the ages against barbarism
and the brute force of might.
second resolution adopted protest
ed against taxation of life insurance
premiums as wrong in principle and
unjust discrimination. The resolution
states that such tax works injury TO
American men and women, many of
small incomes. who are trying to pro-
hair n
would not be imposed were the money
paid in premiums deposited in savings
banks or fraternal organizations
The sacred funds of widows and Or
phans." the resolution recites, "or the
insurance savings of the premium nav
er, who is performing a public service
in guarding his dependents against
want. should be taxed only as a last
resort in times of extreme national dis
tress."