Insurance companies

Ambassador Charles S. Francis notes that Professor John Williams Burgess attended Ambassador Charlemagne Tower’s recent dinner at the Embassy in Berlin and will be traveling to Vienna. Due to Burgess’s criticism of President Roosevelt, Francis does not want to entertain him, and asks William Loeb’s opinion on the matter. Francis hopes that Roosevelt approved of unofficial efforts to pressure the Austrian Phoenix Insurance Company to reach an agreement with a committee representing the San Francisco earthquake claimants.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-11

President Roosevelt dictates to his secretaries about six different topics: “plan to rejuvenate Republican party in N.Y.,” “plan to force re-organization of insurance companies,” “opinions on sea level canal,” “annual message,” “protest against foul football,” and “Irish translations.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22

The “Annual Report of the Fire Proof Fire Insurance Co.” is being reviewed by the directors. Vignettes show the manager of a company taking remedial measures to fireproof his establishment, only to find that his premiums have doubled.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The extent to which seemingly every entity in the United States was coming under the umbrella of a “trust” organization, or monopoly of services and control of rates, is illustrated by this cartoon. Ehrhart’s larger point, however, is that fire-insurances companies were becoming rackets. The insured were obliged to add protections, whose costs were onerous; and then premiums were raised as such capital investments rose.

President Roosevelt takes exception to Clarence H. Esty’s criticism of his administration and policies. Roosevelt states that thus far no one has pointed out to him a single policy or action that should not have been done. The issues stem not from his administration, but the problems the administration is attempting to eliminate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-15

Sally Flandrau Cutcheon describes a recent house fire which was caused by a defective chimney.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1896-01

A fleet of steam-powered warships sails past the Rock of Gibraltar. The illustration is labeled, “The Prudential has the Strength of Gibraltar.” Caption: A copy of this inspiring picture in colors will be sent free if you will write, requesting it, to Dept. P, The Prudential Insurance Company of America. John F. Dryden, President. Home Office, Newark, N.J.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Despite being printed in Puck Magazine, this double-page painting is an advertisement, not a political cartoon.