The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-15

lowered by the mills on the Presump-
scot that the rights of navigation had
been impaired and asking for legislation.
Later Mr.. Wescott put in a petition ask
ing for additional rights to make i'm
provements designed to increase the
navigation facilities of the lakes and
river. Yesterday a communication from
the Westbrook city council appeared pro-
testing against any legislation which
should impair the water power of the
Presumpscot, at the same time, notice
was received that settlement had been
effected between the parties to the con-
troversy and that legislation would not
be requested. And the agreement by
the mill owners, including the Warrens,
the owners of the great paper mills at
Westbrook, to do what they can to keep
the water up to proper level. Under
the new arrangement, 1t is probable that
the little steamer will be on the route
again next summer. 1t is believed that
the agreement, with the improvements
contemplated by Mr.. Wescott, will result
in water enough for everybody. The
matter has some local interest in Port
land as of course anything which tends
to increase the water in the lake tends to
make it pure and better for drinking and
Ounef doneStlc purposes.
The Iron Hall Again.
The famous order Of the Iron Hall has
been the cause of much contention be-
fore the Maine legislature and tn is
session it is again likely to be subjec
of legislation. The Iron Hall began to
do business in Maine, under law of 1885
(chapter S73). providing that Masonic,
Odd Fello VS., Knights of Pythias, Knights
of Honor, Royal Arcanum, Ancient
Order of United Workmen. United Order
of the Golden Cross and other relief
associations doing business on the assess
ment plan, which do not employ paid
solicitors or canvassers, or pay, or cause,
or allow, to be paid commissions or fees
for procuring membership therein or
obtaining applications for insurance up
on the assessment plan shall not be
deemed life insurance companies under
the laws of the state"
This law did not prevent the Iron
Hallers from carrying out their distinc-
tive system of endowments, payable in
seven years, but in 1889 there was passed
a general law relating to fraternal benef-
ciary associations which di close the
doors to them very effeotually. This law
provides that any duly organized corpo-
ration which does not employ paid So
Letting agents other than in the prelimi--
nary organization of local branches and
which conducts its business as a paternal
society on the lodge system, or limits it's
certificate holders to particular
order, class or fraternity, or to the
employees of particular town or city,
designated firm or business house, may
provide in its bylaws for the payment
from time to time by each member of a
fixed sum and from this income may
make weekly or other payments to any
member during period of disability OF
such member. The law provides for the
payment of death benefits under similar
conditions.
It will be seen that while this law pro-
vided for organizations for the purpose
Of paying sick and death benefits it did
not permit any such plan as that under
which the Iron Hall was to pay big
benefit at the end of seven years to each
member who staid in it that length of
time. So for two years the the Iron Hall
was debarred from seeking members in
this state but in 1891 there was great
effort made to change this state of affairs.
Eminent legal counsel was retained and
the case was very fully argued before the
judiciary committee. AS a result of this
campaign, which Somerby, the deposed
head of the order says cost $1,000, a law
was passed providing that beneficiary
associations which pay disability or
death benefits or both and also benefits
at the ends of such periods as are fixed
in their bylaws and which were doing
business in the state February %, 1889,
may continue their work.
Under this law the Iron Hall has again
come to Maine, it being an organization
described as paying benefits at the ends
of periods fixed in it's bylaws. The re-
cent explosion in the affairs of that or
ganization, however. has again called
attention to it, and bill has been in
troduced to repeal this law of 1891,
which, under the law of 1889, would
again drive the Iron Hall from Maine I'M
less it changed its plan of doing business.
The Order of Tonti and one other
would also be affected.
To Incorporate the Diet Mission.
Mr.. Bird of Portland, presented today
bill to incorporate the Portland Diet
Mission. Mrs. Frederick D. Storer, Miss
Anna II. d. Evans, Miss Isabella Clark,
Miss c. E. Porter, Miss Ernestine Libby,
Miss Ida Churchill, Miss Alice Libbey,
Mrs. j. B. Coyle, Mrs. M. A. Frost and
Mrs Charles S. Fobes, and their associ-
ates are created the body corporate.
The purposes of the Diet Mission are
too we'll known to- need explanation to
Portland people. The bill confers the
customary rights of similar corpora
tons.
Against the Oakdale Petitioners.
Among remonstrants against annexing