The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-01-19

An adjourned meeting of the members of
the Mutual Fire Insurance Company in Har-
ford County was held in Masonic Temple, on
Monday. The gathering was the largest,
probably, ever known in the history of the
company. S. A. Williams presided, with AL
bert P. Silver, Secretary.
The report of Messrs. James Lee, Robert G..
Richardson and George L. VanBibber, the
committee appointed on January LIST to ex-
anime into the condition and management of
the company, was presented by MIR. VanBib-
Der.
The committee say that the statement made
by the directors is a true exhibit of the tinan-
cial status of the company. After the pay
ment OF all liabilities except 81 SIG. 10 for long
which S21 ,233 IS is invested in Understanding
securities. The balance on hand is gain of
So, 1874 62 for the year 1898.
The balance of $442.27 due by directors on
January 1st has all been paid except $780,
The committee also state that they ex-
amned the report made by s. A. Williams,
Richard Dallam and Eli Tucker, the commit
tee appointed at the annual meeting in Janu-
ary 1892, who with Mr.. John s. Holt an ex
peri accountant, made an exhaustive investi-
cation into the affairs Of the company and its
methods of business. They endorse all the
recommendations and suggestions made by
that committee. The committee express sur
prise that s'the directors had not paid that at
tention to this report and the recommends
tions of the committee as the importance of
the suggestions made by them deserved. :"
The report was made on the 3lst of May, 1892,
but not acted upon until the meetingin Janu-
airy, 1898, at which the report was read and
the bylaw in relation to directors bonds pass
ed. The remainder Of the report, not having
been put in proper shape by the directors for
the intelligent action of the meeting, was re-
ferred by the members to the board Of direc-
tors, with instructions to investigate the same
and to report the result through the county
press within four months. On the 18th day of
April the directors took up the report and re-
vised and modified the bylaw relating to di-
rectors' bonds, which had already been acted
on and passed at the previous annual meeting,
and approved in a modified form four of the
ten or more suggestions made by the COM
mittee, and then determined that they
could see no reason for a further change
in administrative methods. The directors
then published in the county press the
few changes recommended by them, with.
out in their publication giving the mem
bers the other suggestions and recommends
tons Of the committee. "This, we Think
the committee say, twas ignoring the explicit
instructions given to them by the resolution
passed at the annual meeting"
The committee call especial attention to
that portion of the report of the committee of
1892 which refers to the growth of the business
of the company and of the tendency to laxity
in administrative methods arising from the
fact that the eighteen directors live at con-
siderable distances apart. The advance in in
surance methods is referred to and the opinion
expressed that the Hartford company should
adopt some of the most desirable of these
more modern methods.
The committee suggest that the President
of the Company be required to give his per-
sonal supervision to the administration of the
company's affairs and attend at the company's
Office Mt least one day in each week, and that
he be paid fair but moderate compensation
The committee call attention to failures to
comply with certain bylaws intended for the
safety of the company and the convenience OF
its members.
They recommend that all policies which
have been unpaid for two years be cancelled.
A number of other valuable suggestions are
also made by the committee.
Their report, after discussion was adopted.
The report of the committee on the revision
of the Constitution and Bylaws was made
through the chairman, Richard Dallam. The
committee recommended Il number of radical
changes in the management of the affairs OF
the company, which after considerable dis
cussion by David j. Wilson, George l.. Van
Bibber, j. NJ. STREET., W. Beatty Harlan, Geo.
E. Silver, James Lee, George A. Cairnes, Will
liam Webster Rev. ii. c. Smith and Others
were adopted.
Mr. David j. Wilson appealed to Mr.. Van
Bibber to know il there is anything in the
present Constitution or Bylaws 10 forbid the
election of President from among the di-
rectors. which has been done since the organi-
cation of the company.
Mr.. NanBihber stated that if the President
were taken from among the directors there
would be one director short, the Constitution
requiring Is directors.
Mr.. Wilson remarked that there is 4 ten
dency to push elderly men to the wall. He
thought it wiser to retain the services of an
experienced man like Col. Walsh, who had
served the company faithfully, without pay,
for so many years. The following is synop-
sis of the changes made:
The President not to be 4 member of Board
of Directors.
The Secretary and Treasurer to give bond
for $25 600. His salary to be 81 200 per annum.
The President to have general supervision of
the affairs OF the company and to be required
to attend at the office at least one day in each
week Also to have authority to call meetings
of members whenever he may deem it expe-
dent. His salary to be 500 per annum.
An annual meeting of members is to be held
on first Monday in December in oh year, at
which meeting the Secretary's report shall be
made. A committee of three members is then
to be appointed to consider the report and to
make their report to the regular annual meet
ing Oh the first Monday in January. Said
committees report to be considered before
the election of directors.
A provision is made for prompt payment
for losses
Policies in arr ear three years are 10 be can
celled.
All fees and charges abolished.
The directors compensation for attending
meetings to be S1.50 per diem and cents per
mile mileage for making surveys for pewinsur-
ance, examining losses and all other business
81 per diem, without mileage. In addition to
above, ) per cent. commission on collections.
Directors to make weekly reports and to
settle accounts monthly.
Directors in debt to company more than $50
not eligible for reelection.
1t was ordered that the Constitution and
Bylaws, as amended, be printed and circu-
lated among the members.
A committee, consisting of j. NJ. Street,,
W. Beatty Harlan and Geo L. VanBibber, was
appointed to procure legislation enabling the
members, hereafter, to elect President in
addition to the eighteen directors.
The former board of directors were unani-
mousy elected, consisting of ten from Har-
ford and eight from Baltimore county, with
the exception of Mr.. jeremiah P. Silver, in
Mace of his SON Mr. lbert p Silver