Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/208

INSURANCE member at the time of his death. The order of Odd Fellows then organized similar associations; and some still follow the above plan, while others classify their members by age periods, vary rates of admission and assessment by classes (according to age), and pay different amounts to members of each class. The expense fund, always comparatively small, is made up from the admission fees, the excess of assessment payments, lapses, and — where sufficient funds have accumulated for investment — interest. There are also a number of accident and casualty companies which insure against both disability and death from accidents, paying a stipulated sum weekly for a disability resulting from an accident, and various sums for a death from such cause.

Returning to what are popularly known as the “old line” companies, a regular whole-life policy, payable at the death of the insured only, may be obtained (1) by the payment of a net single premium, or all the premiums that the mortality tables show that the insured would be likely to pay, in one sum; (2) by equal annual payments through life; (3) by five annual payments (the first); (4) by 10 annual payments; (5) by 15 annual payments; and (6) by 20 annual payments. If issued on the mutual plan, cash dividends will be paid every year during the life of the insured; if on the stock plan, no dividends. The mutual plan carries the highest rate of premium. A term policy is one given for a specified number of years and amount, and is paid only when death occurs within the specified term. It is in some respects similar to an endowment policy, but in others radically different. An endowment policy is paid at death during the term, or to the insured if living at the end of the term. A joint-life policy is payable on the death of one of two or more persons on whose joint lives the insurance was made. A simple annuity policy provides that in consideration of the payment at one time of a specified gross sum, the company will pay to the annuitant a stipulated sum annually, either for a stated term or during life; and a survivorship annuity policy, sometimes taken by one partner for another, by a debtor for a creditor, and otherwise for a business security, guarantees the payment of a stated sum to the person named by the person taking the policy during the period in which the nominee survives the insured. A tontine policy is similar in form to the ordinary life, limited payment life, or endowment policy. No dividend is allowed or paid till the insured has survived the completion of the tontine period, and then only when the policy has been kept alive by premium payments, and the policy is not regarded as possessing a surrender value in a paid-up policy or otherwise previous to the completion of the tontine period. If the insured die before the completion of the tontine period (or term of years specified in the policy), the beneficiary will receive only the sum indicated in the policy; but if the insured survive the period he will share with all other members of his class in the equitable division of the accumulated dividends, and may then surrender his policy for a cash payment by the company, or convert it into any other desired form of insurance. A semi-tontine policy differs from a pure tontine in this respect: It contains the same stipulation on the non-payment of dividends, but is treated as ordinary policies in regard to providing a paid-up policy in case of a lapse, or failure to pay the premiums. The renewable term life and quarterly renewable term life policies have been outlined above in connection with Sheppard Homans's work.

Fire Insurance.—The laws and practices governing this form of insurance approach much nearer to uniformity than those of life insurance. There are very few life insurance companies chartered outside the United States doing business here; but nearly every large fire insurance company in the world has established offices in the principal American cities. The various companies are distinguished as stock and mutual as to organization; and fire exclusively, and fire and marine as to field of operation. The plan of organization of the two forms is practically identical with that of life insurance already explained. In many large cities the various fire insurance companies combine to provide an annual fund with which a “fire insurance patrol,” or a “salvage corps,” is maintained, to co-operate with local fire departments.

Companies are not liable for loss caused directly or indirectly by invasion, insurrection, riot, civil war, or commotion, military or usurped power, or by order of any civil authority; by theft; by neglect of the insured to use all reasonable means to save and preserve the property at and after a fire or when the property is endangered by fire in neighboring premises; or (unless fire ensues, and in that event, for the damage by fire only) by explosion of any kind, or lightning; but liability for direct damage by lightning may be assumed by specific agreement.

Marine insurance proper covers the