New Britain herald., 1917-07-20


Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire.
New Mexico and Utah. The group Of
States most frequently mentioned dur
| ing the first five months for very
heavy increases are: New York, Penn
sylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Ala
bama. Kansas, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan, Missouri. Nebraska, North Caro-
| lima, South Carolina, South Dakota
and Texas. Another group of States,
only moderately in the second place,
are Florida Georgia, Iowa, MARYLAND,
Minnesota and New Jersey. In a
third group, with totals Of insurance
| written in the first five months of
1917 far ahead of the corresponding
| period of 1916, are Colorado, Connect
| icut, Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Washington, Montana
oklahoma, Tennessee and Washing
ton. In every other State. with the
| exceptions previously noted, the new
business of 1917 exceeds the 1916
record
When one considers that nearly
SIS, 1000, 100000 of life insurance con-
tracts were in force in the United
States at the end of 1915, and $780,
OOO,0 in Canada, in level premium
companies alone the obligations i'm
posed upon nations by their war
debts, with the difference that the
rules under which life insurance obi
cations will progress to maturity, and
be paid, are predetermined with
mathematical accuracy. Managed by
able men, audited and supervised at
frequent intervals by commissioners
appointed for that purpose by every
State in the Union, the security of
life insurance, as a provision for the
future, is as near absolute as any
thing human can be.
Fraternal orders are still strug-
Cling to maintain their solvency. These
associations were called upon to dis
burse a much larger sum in 1916
than in 1915, which they obtained
mainly by rate-increases.
Largest Claims in 1915,
The largest payment on single life
in 1916 was in the case of Thomas L.
Shevlin of Minneapolis, who died on
December 20. 1915; amount $1,525,-
900. The next largest claim was the
case OF Lewis Parker, Greenville, S.
c., $4,000; the next largest William
A. Read, New York City, $4,000.
The largest claim was paid in Min
nesota, the next largest in South Car
DINA, the third largest in New York
City, the fourth largest in Iowa.
Group insurance plans increased
their popularity, many notable trans
actions being recorded in large indus
trial plants. Monthly income insur-
ance appealed to an increasing num-
Der Of insurants who prefer to leave
monthly incomes to their beneficiaries
rather than lump sums. Business in
surance was written for large amounts
to protect firms and corporations
against money loss by the death of
partners or corporate officers.
The mortality rate was favorable.
Interest earned on investments was a
little higher than in 1915.
Insurance For Army and Navy.
The plan of the United States Gov
eminent to cover the casualties of
war. in the Army and Navy, through
a system of insurance-possibly as a
complete substitute for the pension
acknowledgements how vital a
place the insurance principle has in
human affairs. Life insurance was
practically undeveloped at the time of
the Civil War; its employment as a
means of indemnifying the dependents
of war heroes was probably not even
COnSlQered. NOW IL may come TO pass
that the insurance method will dis
place the pension method and that the
United States will be the first nation
in the world to make the change.
Within short time the Treasury De-
partment will submit to Congress an
insurance measure adapted to war
service. In the preparation Of the
plan, whereby the Government itself
will provide insurance for soldiers and
sailors, loyal cooperation will be Civ
en- to the Government by all life in
surance companies.
1t is estimated that $4,000. 900, 900 Of
life insurance is carried by men who
are subject to draft and who will car
ry their insurance into the war with
out any extra war premium.