The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-20

chances would be against us, for do not be-
lieve the paying members OF the defunct
giant would number one thousand when II
gave up the ghost The United States Mu-
tual claims fifteen thousand members at the
present time, hence the mental and physical
strain would be much more severe on the
secretary OF the United States Mutual than the
secretary Of the Vermont Accident Association.
So IL would seem very much like being uncere-
moniously scooped out OF a hot frying pan into q
fire of more intense heat 1t is quite mystery
to me to know why our insurance commission
ers should advise the members OF the Vermont
Accident to re-insure In a company which they
will not allow to transact business In the state
There Is one more inquiry beg leave to make,
and to this hope the management will give
satisfactory reply, as 1t concerns many Ut the
policy-holders of the Vermont Accident Associa-
ton. IL Is distinctly understood that the ASSESS
ments pay the losses, and the dues, SO per
year, belong exclusively to the management for
transacting the business OF the association.
Now do not question the legal or moral right
Of the management to retain dues paid TO cover
expenses up to the time the company gave its
last gasp; but where the parties have paid
the dues in advance-say for the full year,
$3-and received but three or four months
insurance, the balance-eight months, or So
should be returned. / know many who have
paid In advance and are entitled to the I'M
earned amount Of dues paid. | also know par
ties who have made deposit OF dues and adj
vance assessments. II the unearned portion Is
not returned, what equivalent does themanage-
ment propose to give for that money advanced
by the certificate-holder and unearned by the
company? Perhaps they intend to return the
unearned portion. II so, all right ; II not, all
wrong-and the certifcate-holders propose to
know the reason why. What led me to think
that this little matter had been overlooked, was
the fact that those entitled to a return Of over
payment received no notice of such intent from
the company And furthermore after II was
understood that the company would wind up,
notices Of dues were sent to members, with re-
quest to forward their little in-God-we-trust-
dollar for the coming four months. To retain
that advance, and render no equivalent therefor,
would be at least very dishonest and con-
directors would countenance anything of the
kind. / believe a majority Of the management
to be men of honor and business integrity, who
would repudiate anything that savored of
trickery. think know just where the trouble
is. Most of the directors have all the business
they can attend to outside of insurance bust
ness, with which they are almost wholly un-
acquainted, and have not given their insurance
business the attention necessary to make a
success OF it. In fact, they have paid very little
attention to 1t, and believe are not conversant
with the methods practiced in running the
association. know Of one director who sent
in his resignation long ago, for the very reason
that his time was fully occupied with other
business and he could not give it the attention
necessary. He retained the position, against his
will and better judgment, and know him to be
a man of strict business integrity. The associa-
ton has virtually been one-man power. The
present wrong can be rghted, and have faith
to believe 1t will be when the facts are known to
the directors II not the certifcate-holders
propose thorough investigation to find out
the reason why. B. F. PICKETT.
EI-Agent and POlicy-IIolder.