Armstrong Investigation

caption=William Armstrong (politician, who spearheaded the investigation

In late 1905, the legislature of New York initiated an investigation of the companies operating in that state when an accumulation of complaints by consumers and other insurers were catalyzed by rumors that James Hazen Hyde, a vice president and expected next corporate president of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, had charged the expense of an immense costume ball that year to the corporate account. Known as "the Armstrong Committee", the New York Legislature Insurance Investigation Committee of 1905 eventually issued a report highlighting a number of questionable practices. The legislature in New York and several other states adopted many of the recommendations, including a restriction on policies with lengthy deferred payouts, including the 19th century version of tontines. The report also recommended a prohibition on political campaign contributions by such corporations. It is credited with launching the political career of Charles Evans Hughes.

Background

A tontine is an investment plan for raising capital in which each subscriber pays an agreed sum into the fund, and thereafter receives an annuity. As members die, their shares devolve to the other participants, and so the value of each annuity increases. On the death of the last member, the scheme is wound up. After an initial introduction in 1868 in the United States, they soon grew in popularity, to the point that by 1905, two-thirds of the life insurance in the United States was in the form of tontines. Developed by Sheppard Homans, an actuary, The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States was the first and largest proponent of tontines in the United States.

The The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States had grown to be one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, with over $1 billion in assets around 1900. After continued elaborate activities by the executives at the company, allegations of corruption occurred. An investigation by the New York Insurance Department uncovered a series of corrupt practices used by the company. The report came to the conclusion that “A cancer can not be cured by treating the symptoms. Complete mutualization, to be paid f or at a price only commensurate with its dividends is, in my opinion, the only sure measure of relief." The findings led to the creation of the Armstrong Commission, to investigate such practices across the industry. Spearheaded by William Armstrong, a State Senator, the commission began work in 1905.

References

• Ransom, Roger L.; Sutch, Richard (June 1987). "Tontine Insurance and the Armstrong Investigation: A Case of Stifled Innovation, 1868-1905". The Journal of Economic History. 47: 379–390. OCLC 848874732.

Further reading

• Testimony : taken before the Joint Committee of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York to Investigate and Examine into the Business and Affairs of Life Insurance Companies Doing Business in the State of New York Archive.org link