Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-18
LADORS DRAWING TO CLOSI
Important Work Of,a Great Convent IN
About at an End.
CATHOLIC KNIGHTS CONSIDER REPORT,
Archbishop Gross Warmly Urges the Me-
cessity for Action that will Increase the
Membership of THE Fraternai order
Western Delegates caucus.

i =
Western Delegates Caucus.
At yesterday mornings session of
the supreme council of Catholic Knights
OF America the convention again
resolved itself into committee
of the whole to complete considera-
! ton of the report of the committee on laws
| The most important feature in this respect
was the debate the question of creating
| the supplemental Office of supreme organizer
position suggested to increase the member
ship OF the order During the discussion
| Archbishop Gross Of Oregon took the floor
| for the first time during the convention
proceedings and warmly urged the necessity
Of doing something to nfuse new life in
the order and insure an increase in member
| ship He berated old fogyism and expressed
the hope that action would be taken to avert
| impending peril of a decay in membership.
| The venerable archbishop's remarks were ap-
| plauded and the amendment to create the
| office was finally referred back to the COM
mittee laws for reconsideration. That
committee had previously made an adverse
report.
! At noon the committee of the whole re-
ported progress and will resume it's sitting
this afternoon, when the exhaustive work Of
| considering the law committees report will
| be completed officers will be elected and the
labors of the tenth council will be at an
end.
The western delegates held caucus at the
Delone and decided to promote the
chances of Hon. E. d. McGuinness of
Providence. R. l., for the supreme presidency,
but Mr.. McGunness this morning positively
declined TO allow his name to go before the
| convention. He gave as reason
that business duties would not
permit acceptance of the position. This prac-
a,Il,- al, CnI-, 90
Louisiana a strong possibility for the execu-
tive chair of the organization. Many of the
delegates have urged his name, and it is
probable that he will be the next supreme
president, If he wants the place. The Mis-
souri, delegation, however, is energetcally
booming Vice President Hannaeur Of st.
Louis.
II Mr. Coleman is elected supreme president
Washington, d. c., will, in all
probability. be selected as the next place
of meeting. The Mobl, crowd, backed by
many southern delegates, is making strong
fight for the picturesque Alabama town.
CONCERNING THE SINKING FUND.
Yesterday afternoon was largely devoted to
1 discussion over the proposed revision of
.he constitution to reduce the rate of as
sessment iucurrei by the increase in the
sinking fund. The present fund is $275,O00,
judiciously invested. Five per cent of the
widows and orphans fund collections is now
credited to the sinking funl. The initiation
fee, 81, is also credited, to this fund. Su-
preme Trustee McGulnness presented a
minority report of the committee on laws,
suggeo.ing revision to divert further payment
N this respect in the future The new Ilan
proposed was to eontinue the sinking fund
at its present standing bit to AID the nteTe 1t
, | II tho securities, whchI amounts to SIS 900
per year. end to divert Initiation fees to the
general fund. This !sGproposed constitutional
amendment was reported adversely upon b.
tho majority of the, tommittee on laws. but
Mr.. McGunness REPRESENTING the minority
filed a report favorable to the idea.
In committee of the whole, with Mr.. Duffy
of Memphis, Tenn, in the Chair, the sub
: ject came up for an animated discussion,
which lasted from 2:30 to $50 o'clock. 1t
was one OF the warmest contests of the con-
vention, during which Mr.. 'Stuewe Of Mon
tana took occasion to pay his respects to
congress, ana said that the repeal Of the sill
yer bill had closed western silver mines AMI
is many western Catholic knights poor
, In consequence thereof they wanted cheaper
assessments. Mr.. Harrington of Nebraska
sustained the sentiment of the western dele
gates and somewhat dramatically appealed
to the convention to do something that would
protect the shattered earnings Of the labor
ing men of the west who belonged to the
t order. After prolonged debate the minor
ity report was adopted by vote of 27 to 81
and passed the committee of the whole: 1t
C requires two-thirds vote of the council to
make constitutional amendment
Several favorable reports from archbishops
throughout the country were read, in which
the right reverend gentlemen encouraged the
g organization At o'clock the convention
took recess until 8 o'clock, after rising as
a committee of the whole and completing
7 most of it's exhaustive consideration of the
2 committee on laws.
At o'clock last night Supreme President
Shine called the council to order and the
delegates listened to the reports of W. c.
Smith of Kentucky, chairman of the com.
mittee appeals and grievances; H. b
Feldhaus Of Kentucky. chairman OF
the committee on finance; f. ]. Maher ol
Miss 'ssippi chairman Of the committee On
mileage and per diem; ]. j. Duffy of Tennes
see, chairman Of the committee on new bus
mess; ]. c. Purcell of Pennsylvania, chair
man OF the committee on rates, and Major
General Kodac Kadeski Of Marshall, Ill.
chairman OF the committee on uniform rank
: The reports were received and adopted.
, GIVE THE GIRLS A CHANCE.
General Kadesk gained the plaudits Of the
feminine spectators when he introduced q
t resolution permitting the wives, daughters
=. and relatives of Catholic Knights to form
l auxiliaries in the branches of the order, pro.
vided said auxiliaries were purely social and
, the ladies' deprived of active participation
in the deliberations of the organization. With
appreciation Of the persistent fight for wo-
mans right made by the handsome delegate
from Illinois the convention. finally passed
= the resolution.
number of communications were referred
to various subcommittees to act upon during
I the ensuing year and report at the next su-
preme council.
An invitation to visit The Bee building
today extended by Delegate Harrington oi
Nebraska In behalf of Mr.. E. Rosewater, was
accepted with thanks.
The election Of officers and selection oi
next place of meeting. together with the dis
position of all unfnsh business, will be the
closing feature OF the council this morning
after which the delegates will leave for their
3 respective homes with pleasant memories OF
: Omaha and the tenth annual convention.
] communication from Fathsr Carroll stat
ing that there was no expense to the knights
necessitated by the special services at the
cathedral Wednesday, was read, and a vote
Of thanks promptly tdndbrsd for the courtesy
= At IL 80 the convention took a recess until
Q $3.50 this morning S'b-
Just prior to adjournment last evening