The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-06-08
WHAT OF LIFE INSURANCE
POLICIES FOR MEN IN WAR?
One Official Wants the Government to
Make Up Excess Premiums.


Chicago, June 8. - The chief topics
now discussed in life insurance circles
in this country are policies for men
about to enter the war and a plan to
meet financial conditions expected to
be caused by an increased mortality.
Robert Lynn Cox, formerly secretary
of the Association of Life Insurance
Presidents, has carried a protest to
Washington against the passage cf that |
section of the gross production tax bill |
which would put a tax of cents on !
each hundred dollars worth of insur- |
ance written. The sentiment among
some insurance officials is that men
should be insured at the regular rates, |
that the government should make an
annual audit of deaths-all policy hold
ers who are participants in the war re-
ing enlisted in separate class - snd
that the government should make up
to the insurance companies any drain
on their mortality funds in excess Of
that provided for in the accepted Amer
lean mortality table.
Such action by the government was
advocated in a letter written recently 10y
Clarence l.. Ayres, an insurance man
Of Detroit, to President Wilson. In his
letter Ayres, among other things, said:
Outlines His Plan.
by this method the men would be
carrying and paying for their own pro-
lection, but would avoid necessity Of
e paying excessively heavy extra pre-
miums required by all companies now
accepting these risks, the government
simply making up whatever deficiency
there might be in the actual cost Of
carrying insurance on the lives of men
engaged in defense Of their country. The
companies could be restricted to issu-
ance of policies of not to exceed $4,000
on men in certain branches of the serv-
ice. in other branches this could be linn
tied to varying amounts and in no case
to exceed $1,000
In no branch of financial activity in
this country have the effects of war
conditions been more far.reaching than
in life insurance according to l..
Bracket Bishop of Chicago, who long
has been prominent as an insurance
executive. In outlining present and
future phases Of life insurance in the
United States Bishop said:
Before the declaration Of war with
Germany no provisions were made in
the writing Of life insurance policies for
extra premiums on account OF war, be.
cause it was at first hoped and be.
lieved that this country would not be
involved But almost as soon as war
was declared extra premiums were add
ed 20 policies writted by all the impor
tant insurance companies the increase
ranging from $3.50 in some companies
10 5000 per thousand dollars in others
The extra premiums apply to all who
take out policies before entering any
branch Of war service-army, navy OF
aviation-eXcept that some companies
do not increase the rates on policie,
written for men who, though joining IN,
army, do not leave this country. Tn,
increase in rates do not, Of course. ap
ply to policies in force before the war
Few Companies Refuse to Insure.
IN order to bring about a uniformit!
of rates heads Of the leading companies
have within the last few weeks recon
mended adoption Of figures on which al
could agree. Some companies delaye
putting the war rates into immediat
effect in order TO encourage business
and It is only within the last week tina
one OF the largest companies increase
the premiums. a few companies hav
gone on record as refusing TO writ
any insurance. even at the highe
rates, for anyone enlisted in the arm
or navy.
THE whole life insurance situatio
will be discussed at a meeting OF tn
National Association OF Life Unde
writers. TO be held in New Orleans
September a meeting OF the America
Life Insurance convention. TO be hel
also in September, will consider thes
matters as will the annual meeting
New York city next January OF the A
sociation Of Life Insurance President
Il favor the plan OF the governmeI
reimbursing the insurance companil
for the excess drains on their mortalit
funds due 10 the war. and / advoact,
such a measure several years ago. whC
this country and Mexico were at odds