The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-04-28
A Marriage Mill.

Devices and schemes to catch the I'M
wary are not confined to the Mutual
Benefit Aid Societies organized for spec.
ulation in human life, the Wholesale
chartering of which was recently ventil-
ated in the Press. A later and more in
genious scheme has just been developed
by lot of State worthless, which is de-
signed to draw poor but honest and
unsophisticated young people of the
country into marrying for pecuniary
profit. The following account of the
scheme is condensed from the Pittsburg
Commercial Gazette:
The company has been incorporated at
Harrisburg, and is known as the Ameri-
can Mutual Aid Association for Unmar-
ried People, which is differed by the
following persons: William G. Kuser,
president; L. w. Craumer, vice-presi-
dent; s. NJ. Hummel, treasurer; d. S.
Hammaker, secretary; David Rauch,
general agent, all of this State.
The association is open to all unmar
ried persons, male or female, without
regard to color, between the ages of 10
and 70 years. Persons of the above con-
ditions are eligible to secure a certificate
in the association for either $1,000, $4,000,
$4,000, $4,000, or $1,000 at the following
membership rates: For $1,000 certit-
cate Sc, for a $4,000 certificate S12, for
$4,000 certificate SIS, for $4,000 certif-
cate $24, and for $4,000 certificate $50.
All persons must be members of the
association one year from date of their
certificate before they are beneficial, and
any member marrying before he OF she
is a member one year from date of their
certificate will forfeit his or her certiti-
cate and all claims on the society. Mar
rage assessments are graded according
to age as set forth in the table based on
$1,000 certificate and 1000 members.
The assessment on a child 10 years OF
age is 20 cents and 50 for man between
46 and IS, and proportionately.
The scheme is not confined to classes
of 900 members. The assessment on a
81, 900 certificate will be double the above
table, and on q $4,000 certificate three
times, and SO on in the same ratio. The
second year, when members become ben
eficial, their assessment will be based on
$50 members, and they will consequent
ly be entitled to $3.50, or so much there
of as one assessment may amount to, less
| the cost for collection. The second ben
eficial year the assessment will be based
on 500 members and entitled to $500, or
rs much thereof as one assessment may
amount TO, less the cost for collection.
The third beneficial year the assessment
will be on $50 members, and tsecures
$3.50, less the cost of collection, and the
fourth beneficial year the assessment will
be on 900 members, and hence entitled
| to 81 900, less the cost of collection, but
| in no case is the amount to exceed the
face of the certificate. 1t will be seen
that the younger you become member,
and the longer you are member OF the
association, the larger your profits.
An agent of the company was inter
viewed and gave the following idea OF
the working of the scheme:
"All certificates are nonforfeitable-
that is to say, exchangeable for certiti
cate of the amount paid by assessments,
less the annual dues and membership
fee which will mature according to the
table, provided the certificate is surren-
ddred according to its terms, after three
annual payments are made. There are
protective organizations for about every
conference.-the, sickness, death and nu
merous other things-but nothing what
ever for the greatest event in human life,
marriage, for then real practical life be-
gins. In this association you will not
have to die for the sake of receiving the
amount you are insured for. To help
people to happiness and prosperity, the
originators Of this scheme will feel am
" rewarded for the trouble and crit
icisms which all new enterprises have to
encounter"
"You have paid out none OF these
large benefits yet?'
"Oh! no." replied the agent; I'VE have
only been organized short time. 1t will
equire year for member to reap its
benefits. We are doing all the business
we can handle. l have just made out
policy for q drug clerk, and l tell You
this scheme is big thing for young men
who are working on small salaries and
who see no present way to raise sufficient
money to embark upon the sea OF matri
mony in reasonable style. Under pol
icy which have just made out, young
drug clerk has paid $50, and accord
ing to the regulations of the company he
car step out Of the association one year
from to-day with $1,000 in his pocket
provided he marries." The agent fur
Their remarked that he thought the new
thing would be popular with girls. and
stated that the company's agent in Cleve-
land, Ohio, was overwhelmed with bust
ness, and the company expected to do
An immense business in Pittsburg and