The Irish standard., 1891-12-05
This Important Question Continues to
Receive Further Hearing F:om
4l .;i.5 Contributors
CONCLUSIONS ARRIVED At.
They Differ Somewhat on Minor Points,
But Both Have the Same Com
mendable Aim in View.
To the Editor of The Irish Standard.


A. O. II. Life Insurance Fund in which
he invites discussion Of the subject and
see several replies to the same, but as
none of them exactly voice my oplD-
ion, although thew all refer to them, |
beg leave to say a word and try to con-
tribute my mite toward bene6ttlng, ii
possible. the insurance feature. While
agreeing with brother Hanley in part l
am sorry to say cannot do 80 in toto;
that is in making it optional, because If
it were DIPLOMA! the insurance fund
would soon be thing Of the past; 1t IS
8 very unsatisfactory arrangement as 1t
stands at present. but to abolish it alto
gether would be little short Of folly in
nay estimation, as there are several req
sons why it should remain permanent
feature of the A. o. H.. which will
not mention here now. Why is 1t un-
satisfactory? There are several reasons;
the first and / believe the greatest rea-
sou IS that division officers and even the
members themselves have never given
the insurance the support it deserves.
If every member would pay up his death
assessments PROMPTLY when due you
would soon see a marked improvement
in the insurance. Again the insurance
laws prior to the Duluth convention
we're too ienient and members got care
less about their assessments which &C
counts good deal fox their want OF
punetuality at the present time. An
other great draw back is we are not
;aD!e to pay the 81, 900 and here is where
the shoe pinches. Now why can't we
raise our assessments to $1.00 instead
OF so cents, and pay UP our 1000 on
each death2 Brother Hanley says it has
GOt cot stability. Why SOP Because
We have no funds in reserve and no
stipulated amount topay on each death.
Wouldn't 1t he by far, better to pay a
larger assessment and not only get a
corresponding amount of benefit from
SO doing but then we would know just
What was expected from us; also lust
what we could expect from the iusur-
ance. 1t seems to be a more business
Ike way than il is done at present.
NOW let US look at few figures on the
question. Suppose we have ! 400 mem
bers in good standing in the insurance;
say |, $50 Of those pay tneir assessments
when due, making $6l5 90 to be paid,
The other 40 pays after due with pen
atty, thus putting $500 in reserve
fund, it will then take eight deaths to
pay our assessment from tho reserve
fund, making mine payments on eight
assessments or an average In round
numbers OF A cents each death. Now
take the same number of members at
81 90 each assessment for eight deaths
would give you $1l. 10000 collected or
enough to pay up II policies or an aver
age of about Il cents On each death.
Thus bv pay ing an average OF Is cents
more on each death you would receive
the full $1,000. Allowing the penalty
to about balance in both instances and
the 1890 members paying when due
would insure the payment OF each
policy promptly when due and would
also place the whole feature on sound
financial. and business principle. I
think this good and feasible plan. 1t
ia fact that there are great many
members who are tired Of the Insurance
as it exists aud think that the next
convention will have to adopt some
remedy to help matters out. Now
think and agree with brother Hanley
that If the matter was taken up and
thoroughly discussed in every division
In the state, we might be able to arrive
at some good conclusions which could
be put i15o effect at the next state con-
ventlou, but unless the state officers
take the matter ia hand and by cores
pondence with each. division with a |
yisw to having their opinion or ma
jority vote on it 1t will be apt to fall
through and unless it is thoroughly
handled and tine proper amount of in
;erest taken in the matter before the |
it will not be remedied TO
any great extent, as a convention, to
ny knowledge, is a very poor place to |
set down to facts at their very bottom |
10 rs to benefit the Order, as each one |!
las got all opinion of their own and !
hardly ever take time to weigh the !
opinion of any one else. So / think our
state officers should take the matter in |
land aud try aud lay before the differ
ant divisions some plan 50 we could get |
an idea Of what is wanted before the |
Now as regards those men
who positively refuse to pay their as
easements. would say it is golden |
MOTTO, f'5he majority rules" and if a
majority of this state sees fit to adopt |
and maintain an insurance fund no
man who has got the interests OF the A.
O. IN. at heart should say nav at this |
time; rather strive to bring about !
measures and means to better the state |
Of affairs. Should they not wish to do
ehis then IL ia hnttar thnv should atan |