The Irish standard., 1891-11-28
I'LL INSURANCE QUE! ton.
State Secretary J. "a. 0shaughnessy,
M Writes . Very Entertaining
IA and Pointed Letter. Il
VARIOUS FACTS AND FIGURES
Produced That Will Prove Of Marked In
terest in the controversy
II Now at Issue.
10 the Editor Of The Irish Standard.

4 . &
TO the Editor of The Irish Standard.
SALTWATER, MIMI. Nov. 20, 1901
In reply to the article of Bro. Hanley,
of st. Paul, which appeared ia The
IRISH STANDARD of the 18th inst, I
desire to make the following comments:
I dislike very much to discuss A. O. II.
matters through the public press ex-
cept from progressive standpoint, but
some things in his article, if left I'M
answered, might convey wrong i'm
preston to members of the order
throughout the state and embarrass or
hinder the organization of new coun-
ties.
First he asks, is the insurance sue
cesss ! answer complete success, ex-
cept in Ramsey county, which is sue
cessful only in the number of death
losses paid to benefciaries of deceased
members in that county. Eighteen
deaths out of Sc have occurred in Ram
sey county, being more than 80 per cent
of all the losses in the state. 10 the
bsnedciaries was paid about SO, 900; dur
ing same time Ramsey paid in prem
iums about So, 800 or about 10 per cent
Of all premiums paid. Washington dur
ing the same time paid $4,000, being
more than 10 per cent Of all premiums
paid in the state and had but one loss
during that time which the beneficiary
collected, $500 less than per cent of
state losses. These figures would midi
cate that Ramsey county members had
no kick coming, and as to being too ex.
pepsive let us see if the results indicate
such as compared with other compsn-
les. The insurance has been in exist
ence SIX years last August; Sc deaths
occurred during said time; they carried
Oh an average Of $3.50 Insurance.; they
paid in premiums and ssmi-annual
dues $50 SO or SIS a year, being about 96
cents on each 500 of insurance. Now
the cheapest insurance that can be So
cured in any cold line'' insurance COM
pany on the life non participating plan,
in the Uniued States is So per hundred;
this is at the age of 81. which is the
average age of tho members Of the In"
surance Fund. During the last IS
months, Or since May Is, 1890, is deaths
have occurred, on which premiums
and dues to the amount Of $S25 was
paid by each member Zone having been
paid from the reserve fund}. Those is
claims melted $59O.50 each. costing $3.50
a year or about 90 cents per 800, which
shows that the cost is not increasing to
any great extent. AS to the policy call
ing for $1,000 and only paying $500, I
would ask him, Or any other brother
who might make the same inquiry, to
read his policy and Art. 2 and Is OF the
Insurance constitution. Asking that
question is like the man hunting his
pipe when it was in his mouth. ANY
member knowing how 1900 or 1890
members at SO cents each will pay ST.
600 ought to get a chrome. If he will
also take the time and ook over the
policies Of any other assessment society
in the country, he will lind that they
never specify any certain amount but
state the limit. The differential rate In
favor of the younger members was fully
discussed at the Duluth convention,
after able arguments being made for
and against it. the present system Of a
uniform assessment was adopted By
nearly two-thirds vote and believe
brother Hanley, like ali good Hiber-
mans, is willing to bow to the will Of
the majority.
His claim that the insurance feature
retards the growth of the order. the
progress made prior to and since
the compulsory clause came in force do
not bear that statement out. When, in
1885 it was adopted at Winona, the Or
der then numbered about $50 members,
it had then been in existence about
seven years, at Duluth. four years later,
it numbered nearly 1900, an increase
0HOCI WILD OOJOSg4VAdOA0 IA I" w 0UOuV
30 PEI cent annually, The present
strength cannot be ascertained till the
next convention, for the reason many
division officers are dilatory IN sending
In their reports, but it is safe to say, the
percentage Of growth has largely in.
creased, there being eight new counties !
since last convention. besides
four new divisions in counties organ
zed before that date. The stability Of |
the insurance branch as we'll as the or
Ter proper, depends not so much in the
of Its numbers, but the
character of it's members. Ii the insur. |
has decreased the membership in
sey county or any other county, it
Certainly improved the quality Of
hose remaining; 80 good members who
attend meetings and pay their dues are
worth more than one hundred members
Who seldom pay or attend, except when
hey have an ak to grind. The a. @.
q. OF Minnesota as well as the United
states, is 8 benevole and patriotic or.