Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-15


shouted a man from the rear OF the hail.
and again the anger of the people found
vent in a mighty yell The chairman plead
ed for order. but the policy holders were in
a very turbulent mood, and IL was with
great difficulty that Mr.. Mann, still in his
Napoleonic attitude against the radiator,
suggested that the committee should re-
port progress TO a second meeting of the
policy holders. This was the signal for
another outbreak. and it was very evident
mat those present were in no mood for de-
lays. What they wanted was action, quick,
sharp and decisive. They felt that mass
meetings could not accomplish the results
OF investigators. SO MIR. Mann was greeted
with storm of noes" from all parts of
the hall MIR. FenwicK arose to state his
experience, and quoued from a letter re-
Gently sent by him 10 the president of the
association, in which he had said that ne
would demand fun execution of the policy
Another policy holder sDrang from his seat
and Indignantly waved a copy OF this
GardDer circular in the air, shouting THAI
IL was absolutely worthless. that IL was not
signed by anybody. There was some dis.
cussion 20 how the committee of in
vestigators should be appointed. and Nari-
Gus suggestions were offered, but before
the matter was decided Mr.. Wolf put the
question on Mr.. Ailler's motion to appoint
the committee, and Il was answered with
mighty yell Of affirm alton. Ii was unani-
mously carried. The question then REQUIRED
as TO the manner of appointing the COM
no doubt as to the willingness Of the policy
holders to allow the names to be selected
by the chair. Mr.. Wolf protested and urged
that the meeting appoin. a committee OF
nomination, but this Was cried down.
The chairman of this meeting ous:-t to
be chairman of the committee" yelled Mr..
Mann.
NO. no." cried Mr. Wolf. Sut Mr. Darr
made a brief speech and insisted on this
proposition, and in another moment il had
been decided without dissent that MIR. Wolf
should be chairman ex-offlcio II the inves-
tigating committee Then ensued one Of
the most interesting episodes of the even
ing.
M. Chairman" called a man on the
vest side Of the hall standing against the
wall, Il move that Mr.. Robert Ball, who
knows the affairs of this concern from top
to bottom, be called on for a speech" This
brought forth more applause and cries Tor
Bob Ball. Bob BALI"
MIR. ball Makes Charges.
Mr.. Ball ascended to the platform and
quietly but earnestly told Of his experiences
in the association. Il merely came TO the
meeting" he said, Ito cooperate with my
fellow policy holders to secure our rights.
| was one of the organizers of this concern,
in fact 1 started it. My associates were
Mr. Alexander Gardner and Mr.. Noble ID.
Larner We promised our friends that
there would rot be more than thirteen
sessments each year, and We carried out
this promise faithfully. But of late days
the association has steadily gone backward,
and say here now that any concern that
is run with the neglect Of duty that has
been shown i'm this affair will surely be
wrecked as this has been wrecked"
MIR. Ball was interrupted by the approx
ing shouts of three hundred voices. He
held up his hands for quiet and startled his
hearers by this statement: Il accuse the
officers of wreckiag this association deiiber-
ately. i accuse the president, who was the
secretary. That has been the effect Of his
hon M
else than that for which ne is paid Why
talk OF reviving the association? II is too
late now. Where can We find the $4,000 OF
$1,000 of reserved funds that has been fritz
tered away"
Make 'em disgorge." yelled voice from
the gallery.
Let us ind out" continued Mr.. Ban,
who is responsible for this trick that has
taken our money. It." he continued, hold
ing up one OF the proposed new policies. is
the shallowest pretext ever presented 10
sensible man. They tell me can pay $40
or $40 month for ten years and then get
nothing. If / tried to tell you all / know
about this affair I could take the balance
OF the night. There is no use Of talking;
II We are lost, let US know it."
Mr.. Balls restraining hand could NOT
calm the tumult this time. He had limited
at untold secrets and this fired the crowd
into cries OF Go on and tell the truth"
Name the men," Tell US everything"
Then voice came out asking for advice
about the assessments due today, and Mr.
Ball. who was seemingly the calmest man
In the assembly, advised everybody 10 nav
and thus preserve all their rights He did
not yield to the temptation offered by the
invitations of his hearers to tell the tales
at which he had limited but cooIly answer
ed questions that were fired at him from all
citation into the stock company. the lorna
ton of the reserve fund. the notes of the
association, and other matters Of a like i'm
port.
The Committee.
When the queries were all exhausted NJ
Ball stepped down from the platform ana
Mr.. Wolf announced the committee OF in
vestigation. follows:
Experts-Mr. Henry F. Bauer Of the Lin
coin Bank. Mr.. Charles f. White Of the
Bank of Washington and Mr.. F. Gieseking
OF the Central Bank. Lawyers-Mr H %
Slaughton. Mr., Franklin II. Mackey and
Mr.. William ]. Miller CitizensLRobert
BAH. Horatio Browning and H. D. Norton:
chairman. Simon Wolf
There was considerable discussion as 10
the question OF how the funds for carrying
on the war would be raised and Mr. An
thony Connolly suggested each member Of
the association should be taxed 81 10 nav
the expenses of the Investigation III they
let of with nothing" In a moment of con-
fusion, however, il was voted that each pol
lev holder should be taxed one-tenth OF the
amount OF his premium for the expenses Of
barr this was reconsidered. and he said:
As we all expect TO get the same benefits
out OF this inquiry namely, nothing we
ought TO pay the same amount"
How many people do you suppose there
are in this association asked Charlie
Mann.
Nobody knows" yelled a man in the rear
of the hail
Five thousand" said another
The meeting then took an economical
turn. MIR. Mann suggested an assessment
OF 10 cents, and a man with a long white
beard wanted TO make d a quarter but Mr.
DBrr assured his frieEds that the committee
would return any surplus to the policy hold
ers, and the dollar assessment was carried
almost unanimously.
Mr.. Horatio Browning was chosen treas
urer without a dissenting voice and IL was
announced that he would receive the as
easements at his place OF business, clio
Pennsylvania avenue. He took his stand
by the stage aftei the meeting had adjourn
cd. and collected a good many dollars on the
spot Mr.. Wolf gave notice that the in
vestigators would meet at once to pursue
their inquiry. and then he Adjourned one OF
the most indignant Indignation meetings
Washington has ever witnessed
FOR IDENTIFICATION.