The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-06
THRIFT CONFERENCE
DISCUSSES INFLUENZA

Association Of Life Insurance Presi-
dents Meets in Twelfth Annual
Session
New York, Dec 5.--That the
economic loss to the nation from the
recent influenza epidemic amounted
to millions of the best years OF ire,
because the average age Of those who
died was under thirty, was pointed
out today by Actuary Henry NOR, OF
New York, ut the thrift conference
which is being held in connection
with the twelfth annual convention
of the Association of Life Insurance
Presidents. Mr.. Moir, who Is presi-
dent of the Acturial Society OF
America. said that a recent invesuga-
ton of insured lives covering period
of fifteen years experience showed
that those who had died as a result OF
the influenza epidemic should have
lived on the average to be hfty-hve
TO sixty years old. under normal con-
ditions. In speaking of this loss, he
said that this young and vigorous
human life which would otherwise
soon have been devoted to reconstruc-
ton problems now before the worid
has been stolen by this scourge.
Mr. Moir used figures taken from off,
cial reports and contributed by rep
resentative life insurance companies
to demonstrate that the average loss
of years of life suffered on account or
each one of the thousands of deaths
from Influenza has not been less than
twenty-five
The thrift conference of the life
insurance executives is giving its at
tention to the lessons Of the war. and
the great problems OF reconstruction.
These themes are under discussion to-
day and tomorrow by officials of the
federal and state governments, to-
rether with educators, business men,
professional men and executives or
life insurance companies, the latter
representing over s5 per cent of all
the old-iin life insurance outstand-
| ing In the listed States, About three
hundred men from nearly every state
in the Union are in attendance at the
meeting, which will continue through
tomorrow. George B. Stadden. of
Springfield. H.. Is chairman
TN order to determine the extent
and the effect of any epidemic" said
Mr. NOR, 1T is necessary that we
have "A standard. The mortality table,
with which actuaries have so much to
do is a simple and accurate measur-
ing rod. 1t enables us to determine
skilfullv whether or not the people
OF today are enjoying more years or
life on the average, than our anees-
tors. During the past three years a
committee of the Actuarial society
has bees occupied in preparing new
tn BILE for standard lives in the United
States The work was recommended
by the National Convention of In
surance Commissioners, which ap-
pointed A committee Of Ave actuaries
of state insurance departments to CO.
operate with the Actuarial society.
1.-The American Institute of Actua-
rtes was also invited to appoin, a
committee to Join in the deliberations
These three several committees have
been cooperating pleasantly and the
work commenced in 1915 and cover
Ing a vast insurance experience dur
/ ing the fifteen years ending with 1919.
is now about complete. During that
I time the United States and Canada
were not affected either by war or bv
pest Hence TO any appreciahle extent"
Mr.. Moir then compared the NOR
tality from disease among soldiers in
training camps in this country be
fore the resent influenza epidemic
with the mortality OF men of equal
age in civil life as revealed by the
J. tifteen-yesr experience of the life in
suranre= com panacs previously men
toned
I'VE are All Interested in the health
OF our army. for all Of MS have rcla-
| .ives or friends in service and cpl
denies to which soldiers are liable
! touch us closely" said Mr.. Moir. we
! should discuss not only the relative
! health of the soldiers as compared
( with former campaigns and commend
those in charge for improved condi-
tons: bu. we should also study the
situation to see whether existing CON
ditions approach the rdeal The
I young men have all been. medically
! examined and re-exarnined since the
army WAS organized and subsequent
! to the declaration of war in April,
| 1917. They are, therefore. of SINH
/ lar class to young men examined and
accepted for life Insurance. II he
comes desirable Ito compare deaths
] amongst young men in military life
with those of yonrG men in their
homes and attending to their regular
7 business. Tho new mortality expe-
Rance enables us to do this through
reports issued from the surgeon
generals Office in Washington deal
] ing with the year ending August 81,
1918. The annual military death
( rates at camps within the United
| States were as follows:
| Camp
| Death Rates.
All troopS fdfxease ryufyl 6 per 1000