ism. His actuarial services have been given successively to the Hope Mutual Life, New Jersey Mutual Life, and American Life of Philadelphia. He is now part owner and editor of the United States Review of Philadelphia. Mr. Smith has written much on insurance for the press and in books. He is a charter member of the Actuarial Society of America.

Smith, Robert J., secretary of the Traders' insurance company of Chicago, Ill., was a farmer's son, born in southern Illinois, July 12, 1837. He was educated at Shurtleff college and for a few years taught in the public schools. His business inclinations were manifested early in life by his acceptance of a position as special agent of the Etna of Hartford. In this capacity he became acquainted extensively with the insurance agents of his native state. In 1868 Mr. Smith removed to Chicago to take the western general agency of the old Putnam insurance company of Connecticut. In July, 1874, he was elected secretary and manager of the Traders' insurance company. He has filled several offices of honor and trust in and outside his profession. He was president of the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Northwest three terms, and president of the International Board of Marine Underwriters two years. He has also been president of the Iroquois club, the leading Democratic club of Chicago, and president of the Illinois club of the same city.

Smith, William Bro., secretary of the United States Mutual Accident Association of New York, was born in the city of New York in 1854, and was educated in the public schools of the city. He studied law under the supervision of Beach & Beman, and was admitted to the bar of New York in 1876, where he has since practiced his profession. For the past four years he has been a member of the firm of Peet, Smith & Murray. He incorporated the association and has been its general counsel since its organization. On the resignation of Mr. Pitcher as secretary in February, 1894, he was appointed to succeed him. Mr. Smith has been conspicuous in the annual meetings of the Mutual Life and Accident Underwriters (assessment companies), and was president at the session of 1892.

Snider, S. K., superintendent of insurance of Kansas, was born in Carter county, Tenn., December 13, 1853. He studied law, went to Colorado and practiced his profession there, being at one time county judge. He moved into Kansas some ten years ago, putting up his shingle at Kingwar, where he also did some business as a fire insurance agent. Judge Snider was one of the founders of the People's party in Kansas, and the insurance department fell to his lot as the fruits of political victory.

Snow, Elbridge G., vice-president of the Home insurance company of New York, was born at Barkhamsted, Conn., January 22, 1841. He was educated at Fort Edward Institute, New York, and studied law in Waterbury, Conn., but gave up a prospective career at the bar to enter the insurance business as a clerk in an agency office in that place. In 1862 he joined the office force of the Home in the city of New York, and was some years afterwards made state agent of the company for Massachusetts, with headquarters in Boston. Here he

also organized the firm of Hollis & Snow, local agents. In 1885 Mr. Snow was recalled to New York as assistant secretary, and in 1888 he was elected to a vice-presidency of the company.

South Carolina Home Insurance Company, Columbia, S. C. Organized 1889; capital, $50,000. J. Woodrow, president, A. Jones, secretary.

South Carolina, [Supervision of Insurance in, 1876-1894. In South Carolina the comptroller-general is charged with limited duties of insurance supervision. Since the insurance law was passed in 1876, the comptrollers-general have been Johnson Hagood, John Bratton, W. E. Stoney, John S. Verner, and W. H. Ellerbe, the latter being the present incumbent of the office. The term is for two years. James Norton is the present chief clerk of the department.

South Dakota, Supervision of Insurance in, 1889-1894. The state auditor in South Dakota is charged with the duties of insurance supervision, his term being for two years and his election by the people. L. C. Taylor was the first official, from November 2, 1889, and was succeeded in 1893 by J. E. Hipple, the present incumbent.

South Eastern Tariff Association. The first meeting of this association was held at New Holland Springs, near Gainesville, Ga., on August 16, 1882. At that meeting about thirty companies were represented, and promise of co-operation was received from about seventeen others. Capt. Edward S. Gay, the present manager for the Insurance Company of North America, was the temporary chairman, and the following permanent officers were chosen at that time: President, Clarence Knowles (then special agent of the New York Underwriters Agency); vice-president, Peter F. Pescud (then special agent of the Commercial Union); secretary, Thomas Peters (then a general adjuster in Atlanta, Ga.). The operation of the association first covered the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, and its object was stated to be "to organize and maintain local boards; to establish and enforce adequate rates and uniform commissions, and inculcate sound principles of underwriting."

Mr. Knowles remained president of the association until June, 1888, at which time Maj. Livingston Mims, the present head of the association, was elected and has remained in office since. Mr. Thomas Peters continued in office as secretary until May, 1886, when he was succeeded by Chas. C. Fleming, who was continued as secretary until he resigned to accept service with the German-American in March, 1891. Mr. Fleming was succeeded by the present secretary, S. Y. Tupper.

The most important work of the association has been the enforcement of an adequate tariff and uniform commissions, which latter legislation has been vigorously prosecuted throughout the southern territory under the authority of the association for the past six years. The association has jurisdiction now over the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Virginia. The last two states were added to the territory of the association in 1892.

The twelfth annual meeting of the association was held at the

Arlington Hotel, Washington, D. C., May 24, 25, and 26, 1898. President Livingston Mims occupied the chair. Representatives of fifty companies responded to the roll call.

President Mims in his address congratulated the association on the happy effects of the enforcement of the fifteen per cent. commissions pledge. If the association had never done anything else, this success would be enough to justify the cost of its maintenance. As the pledge required of agents was distasteful to some of them, he thought mistakenly, its modification had been suggested. Since the last annual meeting the following had been rated: 945 cities and towns, 1,575 cotton warehouses and platforms, 483 cotton and woolen mills, 152 phosphate risks, 261 cotton-seed oil mills, 1,101 saw mills, and special hazards, 329 sugar houses, 75 electric light inspections. He spoke at some length about co-insurance clauses, the application of which he favored. He recommended the extension of the iron-safe clause to all policies on mercantile risks. He also discussed the questions of sprinkler equipments, electric light inspections, dual agencies, cotton forms, rates, warehouses, and transfers, phosphate risks classification, taxes, the Charleston local board troubles, the admission of Virginia and Louisiana to the association, and the advance in rates. Upon the latter topic he said:

If the burden of my song heretofore has been to advance rates, I catch again the refrain, advance the rates. That our business should have been unprofitable during the ten years past is promptly explained from the fact that rates within all that time have decreased, until within the year past, while the increased ratio of losses has been far greater than that of the increase in the nation's wealth and population. Speaking of this association, save within the past year, I fail to remember any well directed efforts to advance rates; rather has the pressure been to reduce them. True, we devoted very much of our time, and commendably, to the improvement of risks with the offered inducement of reductions therefor; these reductions, in all that time, being in full for physical improvement, without any consideration, or charge, for the percentage of moral hazard that still pertained to the betterment; a moral hazard, still increasing under the influence of hostile legislation, against insurance companies; a hazard born of necessitous circumstances, and financial pressure, as well as the attendant of dishonesty and fraud. Our efforts to check mischievous legislation are becoming less and less effective, so that, added to a prevailing financial stringency all over the country, the situation grows worse and worse. The awfully increased loss of 1891 and 1892 are already greatly exceeded thus far in 1893, and promise to show increase for the year that is simply startling.

On motion of Mr. Knowles, the several recommendations in the president's address were referred to a special committee of fifteen members. The president appointed the committee, as follows: Messrs. Knowles, Gay, Whitner, Young, Murray, Clarke of the Phoenix of London, Mitchell, Babb, Finley, Royce, McIlwaine, Crolius, and Low. Secretary Tupper reported that in April, 1892, Louisiana had been admitted to full membership. The general tariff of 1887 had been completely revised by a committee and the new tariff went into force January 1, 1893. A number of Virginia towns had been rated. The electric light surveys had been made as effective as possible with one inspector, and another was needed. A revision of sprinkled risks by one of the association's special agents and a report upon them were recommended. The Alabama and Georgia compacts had been abolished and stamping offices had been established at Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Mobile, Birmingham, and Rome, Ga., also in Virginia in Richmond, Danville, and Norfolk - Portsmouth. The pay of stamping officers should be increased to secure efficient persons.

The committee of fifteen on the recommendations of the president, made a report during the third day's session. The following is a synopsis of the committee's report, all its recommendations being adopted, although some of them elicited discussion.

Fifteen per cent. commission pledge; suggestion that it be modified to save the feel ings of some agents. The committee recommended that no change be made.

Re-rating of towns: Recommended that the executive committee be not authorized to change the basis rate.

Limitation co-insurance clauses: Recommended the use of seventy-five per cent. co-insurance clause on all risks except dwellings and contents, and risks where higher co-insurance clause exists in excepted cities. In all other territory the three-fourths value clause, unless otherwise provided for by existing rules, and except on risks that are now obliged to carry some form of co-insurance.

Hostile state legislation and taxation: Recommended that the association shall not interfere as an association.

Fire inspectors: Recommended that a special inspector be employed at Atlanta. Local boards: Their re-organization was recommended under a form to be provided by the committee.

Compact and stamping offices: Recommended that they be continued, and the salaries of the managers be fixed by the executive committee.

Premium notes: Recommended that hereafter they shall not be allowed to be taken by agents.

Tornado insurance: Shall the association legislate as to rates? Recommended that it take no action.

Sprinkler equipments: The employment of competent inspectors was recommended. Electric light inspection: Recommended that an additional inspector be employed, and that the executive committee have power to rate not less than fifty cents per $100, when defects are not corrected.

Commission on exchange business: Recommended that attention of companies be called to the rules limiting rate of brokerage on exchange business to ten per cent. The enforcement of the rule called for.

Solicitors: Appointing of solicitor simply to control his individual business, was declared to be a cutting of rates.

Rules regulating dual agencies: Action indefinitely postponed.

Cotton warehouses: Recommended that a rate of not less than $1.50 be put upon public warehouses, unless protected by standard automatic sprinklers having two sources of water supply and a guaranty that no cotton will be piled, in which case a deduction of 25 cents from basis may be granted.

Transfer of insurance on cotton: Recommended that there be no transfer, unless there is an actual transfer of property.

Phosphate risks: Recommended that the basis rate be revised and the new rate be not less than two and one-half per cent., and the tariff be strictly enforced, and the tariff on fertilizer factories also.

Lumber dry kilns, the excessive loss on same: Recommended that a special committee be appointed to consider this subject to report to the new executive committee. Defective flues: Shall a proper charge be made for same? Recommended that no action be taken.

Classification: Recommended that no action be taken as to establishing a bureau within the association.

Disparity in taxes and licenses: Recommended that the matter be referred to the new executive committee.

Charleston local board: Recommended that the executive committee be instructed to re-organize the Charleston board, and the privileges heretofore granted to Hardy & Manigault be withdrawn.

Dwelling-house rates at Richmond, Va.: Recommended that rates on frame dwellings be restored to former rate.

New Orleans: Recommended that all Louisiana business taken by companies doing business in New Orleans shall pass through compact.

In reference to resolutions handed in by different members, the committee recommended as follows:

Cotton platforms: Recommended that the rate shall be $6.00, unless a clear space clause of 100 feet be inserted in policies.

Night work in wood-working establishments: Recommended that the charge for night work in saw and planing-mills and all other wood-working establishments be made to read: "For night work, later than 10 P. M., charge one half the basis rate."

Jewelry stocks: Recommended that the executive committee be instructed to

prepare a form of policy for jewelry stocks, providing for such portion of stock that is kept in iron safes and making suitable rates therefor.

Sinz Gas Machine: Recommended that no consideration be allowed for this or any other special machine, as such action is against the policy of the association.

Carriers policy: Recommended that policies of this character be subject to all the rules of the association, except in case of railroad or transportation policies, including all of the subjects usually contemplated in the same.

Cotton Warehouses: Recommended that cotton warehouses wherever located shall be written subject to the same rules as are required for cotton.

A statement of the finances of the association showed receipts during the fourteen months ending April 29, 1893, were $46,309, being mostly from assessments on companies of the association; disbursements, $57,414. Balance on hand at beginning of period, $16,673; balance at end of period $5,568.

A report from Manager Nelson of the New Orleans compact commission to Secretary Tupper was read.

On motion of Mr. Stockdell the salary of the New Orleans compact manager was fixed at $4,800 per annum.

The executive committee was empowered to employ additional special agents whenever, in its opinion, it should be desirable to do so. An election of officers took place at the close of the third day's proceedings. The list, together with those of the executive, New Orleans and Virginia committees will be found below.

During the recess of the third day the members proceeded in a body to the executive mansion, and each in turn was introduced by president Mims to the President of the United States.

The officers and executive committee, elected at the annual meeting in May, 1893,* are as follows:

Officers.- Livingston Mims, president; John D. Young, vice-president; Samuel Y. Tupper, secretary.

Executive Committee.- Resident members: E. S. Gay, J. C. Whitner, C. E. Dox, Lee M. Tucker, D. H. Abrams, Thomas Egleston, C. C. Fleming, J. W. Pearce.

Associate members: North Carolina, &. W. Dewey; South Carolina, W. D. Deane; Georgia, A. B. Andrews; Alabama, Kalford Kreth; Florida, Crosby Dawkins; Missis sippi, A. C. Lee; Louisiana, G. H. Frost; Virginia, W. H. McCarthy.

New Orleans Compact Committee.-L. M. Finley, C. F. Low, Wm. M. Railey, J. C. Whitner, Thos. Egleston, J. A. Thomas, Thos. Sefton, W. R. Lyman, J. B. Hereford, Geo. H. Frost.

Advisory Committee for Virginia.-L. R. Warren, M. L. Hewes, A. B. Andrews, G. W. Dewey, N. E. Randolph, J. W. Churchill, J. F. Ewens.

The companies represented in the association (May, 1894), are as follows:

*This volume went to press before the annual meeting of the association in June, 1894, was held and the new officers could not be ascertained, but Mr. S. Y. Tupper's declination of a re-election as secretary was known.