Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-24

every reason to believe that the Legislature
of this State viii not take the initiatory in
taxing benevolent institutions of this kind
by placing us under the ban of insurance
laws, or legislating us out of existence. We
appeal to you in behalf of the widows and
orphans yet to come, to let us preserve our
charitable objects, that we may press steadily
forward as we have begun, believing our mis-
sion holy and laudable one.
Julius Twiss, of New Haven, said: The
effect of the proposed legislation would be
to subject mutual benefit associations to State
supervision. which would compel them to
pay commissioner fees and all other fees
incidental to insurance companies. And as
they are based on an entirely different system
from the old companies, it would be very
difficult if not impossible, for them to COM
ply with the State laws on this and kindred
subjects. The revised statutes of 1875, page
sos, sec 2, requires the insurance companies
to keep reserve fund based upon the So
called actuaries or compound experience
table. It also requires the insurance COM
missioner to make a valuation of the policies,
and the reinsurance reserve is based upon
their valuation. But it may be claimed that
these charitable associations need no reserve,
as they have the entire membership from
which to draw in case of loss by death. If
the liability of it's members to pay upon the
death of one of the number is to be con-
sidered asa reserve fund, then it is in the
The secretary of one of our LARGEST masonic
mutual benefit associations. in his last annual
report. estimates the expense per annum of
each member to be but 70 cents. According
to the report of 1880 of one of the largest
insurance companies in the State, the ex-
pense for that year for each person insured
was about $40; in addition, there were 1,176
policies surrendered, and 637 policies not
taken. This is an additional tax upon the
people These associations appeal to one of
the strongest instincts of nature, to wit,
charity
The assessments in these charitable associ-
ations are so small that poor men can avail
themselves of this kind of protection They
have thus far, believe, contested no claim.
Thus far they have proved to be reliable,
prompt in their payments, avoiding litigation
and furnishing to the family of the deceased
given sum at cost of less than one per
cent. per annum on the amount of the bene-
fit. They do not permit an assignment of a
benefit for purposes of speculation, as do the
regular life insurance companies. The bene-
fits are made payable exclusively to the fam
lily and near relatives of the deceased For
these reasons, d'also for the reason that
such large number of men in the State be-
long to these associations, their rights ought
not to be legislated out of existence.
L. v. Chamberlain, of New Britain, said
he represented sixteen different aid societies
SPOo =,
Mr.. Deming then closed on the part of the
remonstrants. He said he was opposed to
this law in toto He believed it was aimed
solely and entirely at the mutual benefit as
sociations. It was conceived in fraud and
the author of it representing western life in
surance company intended by the passage of
this act to break up BENEVOLENT societies and
line his own pocket at the expense of the
widows and orphans. He may disclaim this
as he did to-day, but 1 am frank to say to
you gentlemen that don't believe him. Mr.
Deminc then proceeded at length to show
the benefits which had accrued from the So
cieties he represented. In closing he said
the hill was an abortion IL was a diseased
child of a diseased father. and when it died
he thought with it's author that both should
be buried in one grave. Remarks of a SINH
lar Character were made bv w. w. Lee of
Meriden. Past Grand Master of Masons and
Odd Fellows. J. D. Plunkett of New Haven.
representing the Knights of Honor, S. w. F.
Andrews Of New Haven, representing the
Society of Chosen Friends, and others. After
the hearing the committee went into execu-
tive session and voted unanimously to report
unfavorably on the bill
Before the Railroad committee was heard
the petition of the New Haven and West Ha-
ven Horse Railroad eompanv for rermission