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In general, it was evident that some of the investigators were thoroughly disappointed with the lack of evidence of anything but a healthy condition in the life insurance business. The Chairman of the Congressional Committee, after the conclusion of the hearings, commented: “The business has come through with flying colors.” The investigation as a whole unquestionably left the public with a sense of assurance that the business was being conducted soundly and conscientiously, in the interest of policyholders.

This was fully demonstrated the year immediately following, the most satisfactory in American life insurance history. Confidence was especially marked in the case of the Metropolitan, which in 1941 reached the total of more than $25,000,000,000 of different types of life insurance in force, issued more business than in several preceding years, and achieved the lowest lapse rates on record in both its ordinary and industrial departments.

Despite the bias which was displayed during parts of the hearings, the results proved to be a source of satisfaction to the institution of life Insurance as a whole and to the Metropolitan in particular. From the point of view of public relations, the outcome was gratifying. The good will and respect of the public is a vital thing for the industry. The T.N.E.C. inquiry in 1939 proved an opportunity to confirm in the public mind the soundness and integrity of the industry in which it put its trust.

Another fact—and an important one—in the company’s relations to the public was the makeup of its agency force. From the beginning the Ecker-Lincoln administration had placed a new emphasis on the selection of the field workers. Managers were urged to exercise more and more care in the choice of company representatives; and in September 1931 the announcement was made of the establishment at the home office of a separate and well staffed division exclusively devoted to field training, sales promotion, and thinking of new ways that life insurance could be offered, such as no exam term life insurance.

Every new agent was expected to be thoroughly familiar with the plans and programs of the company. Managers, even those with long service, were brought to New York for “refresher” courses. Field representatives were encouraged to take instruction leading to the Chartered Life Underwriter (C.L.U.) designation and to take insurance courses at colleges and commercial schools. Life insurance salesmanship in the Metro­politan has thus become increasingly a professional career attracting men of higher qualifications.

At the same time the public has been informed, through a long series of advertisements in magazines of nationwide circulation, of the functions of the agent and how these representatives can render service in working out the most desirable form of insurance for each individual. Better trained agents, with their clients welfare increasingly in mind, have been an effective means of providing better service to policyholders and greater economy of operation.

In March 1936 the Board of Directors established the office of Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Ecker was advanced from the Presidency to fill this position. Mr. Lincoln, who had been Vice President and General Counsel, was elected to succeed him in the Presidency. This change was made in response to Mr. Ecker’s desire to share with his colleague more of the exacting burdens of administration, particularly those pertaining to the work in the life insurance field.

For Mr. Lincoln the previous 18 years of service in the company were an invaluable preparation for the administrative responsibility of his new office. At the same meeting of the Board a group of younger executives were advanced to ranking positions in the company.

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