The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-29

made, SAID MI. Davis, II want 10 say
of the Iron Hall in Massachusetts have
never been more peaceful and prosperous
than they are at present, Notwithstanding
the hostility of the Insurance Commission
er there, and few malcontents In our own
order. We had hard fight in that State
two years ago, but the Legislature sus-
tanned us. as against the Insurance Com
missioner and the old line companies, and
since that time we have been recognized
there as fully as any frsternai association
doing business there. The only trouble
OF our own members, grew out OF the legls-
lative act establishing our position In the
State. Up to that time we had been
obi ed to do business there under dis
trlct organization, of which Mr.. Holt was
at the head. When the order was recog-
nized by the State, and the Supreme Sitting
here took charge, our Massachusetts, men,
bers naturally objected to paying their cap
ltatlon dues to district organization also,
and the latter was abolished. This re-
moved some snail sources of income from
Mr.. Holt and a few of his friends, and We
have had their active opposition since; but
SO Tar as our membership there generally is
concerned. We have never had. and are not
now having any difficulty whatever"
What about differences growing out of
proceedings at the Omaha conventionW
They are precisely what they were be-
fore that convention was held. Mr. Holt
made his fight so bitter that charges were
preferred against them. He was suspended
by the executive committee, and on full
and fair trial before the. committee on APP
peals and grievances. he was refused adj
mission to the convention. Naturally his
bitterness has been increased by his ex-
pulsion. but he has no one to blame for it
except himself. As to alleged changes and
new regulations made by that convention,
and intended to prevent members from re-
ceiving their benefits, the only changes and
new regulations made were such as seemed
likely toincrease and improve such benefits.
The reserve fund feature of the order
was instituted to aid in meeting the
first class of benefits, which matured, near
ly all of them at the same time, when the
first seven years expired. Now. that bene-
tits are maturing each month in the year,
and our membership is multiplying we
shall have less occasion for the reserve, but
shall continue to use 1t to reduce assess
ments whenever there is more in the treas
ury than should be piled up in the way of
surplus. The statement that we are
crOwdlng out old members to avoid the
payment of their benefits is so far from be-
ing true that our management of the re-
serve has tended to make it easier for these
old members to remain with us by reduc-
ing the number OF assessments made upon
them. There has been no adding of bur-
dens, and the forfeiture of charters re-
ferred to was simply the transfer of the
district organization over which Mr.. Holt
presided, to the Supreme Sitting. which was
demanded by Massachusetts members to
avoid the payment Of double capitation
dues"
"Were there any changes made at the
Omaha convention by which benefits in the
wOman's branches were restricted and the
list of general disabilities reducedf
There were, but they were such as our
medical board recommended. and such as
the good of the order seemed to warrant
1t has never been the intention of the order
to allow sick benefits for the ordinary and
natural illnesses which afflict women, nor
for the disabilities attending childbirth,
and the new regulation merely makes that
point clear. The only other diseases for
which sick claims may be contested are
such as cannot be discernible by q physi-
clan, or may be SO readily simulated as to
make frauds easy of commission. and this
class of cases will have to be judged sepa-
rately and by their own surroundings"
WAS the period of twenty weeks relief
reduced to four weeks by the cOnventiOnp
the entire list. The twenty weeks relief
was left just as it was before. The only
difference Is that report of such cases
must be made every four weeks. to keep the
Supreme Setting advised as closely as pos
sible of the amount of liabilities incurred
i'm that direction. AS to the balance of the
charges, that we are changing the time for
branches to forward their reports, delaying
the adjustment of claims, indulging in red
tape, etc., can only say that we are keep
ing our business up promptly. meeting
every just obligation, and while we get
tired frequently of being misrepresented,
ask fair-minded people to investigate our
metbOds.D