The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-08-29
Secretary o. Shaughnessy Presents the
N<1,ne Csho

the date of policies, under regular levied
assessment, say once month, the date
of death would cut no figure as ali mem
bers would be assessed whose policies
were dated prior to the date of sending
out such assessment regardless OF the
date of death.
For instance, death occurred May l4th
and policy was issued May 28th, and
the assessment was levied on the first OF
each month, such member would be as
sessable, still he did not become a men,
Der until after the death occurred.
Under Brother Kenney's plan the re-
serve fund would be at the mercy or man
ipulation of the secretary, as 1t would De
very easy matter for the secretary, II
he were antagonistic to reserve to hold
the death notices few days or perhaps
week when he knew that the said fund
would reach $4,000, and an assessment
was to be paid from it. But, where we
have the specified time stated to regulate
such matters it makes this Impossible.
During the past six years we have mad
occasion to pay other assessments from
the reserve fund, and in all cases we have
been guided by the date Of death.
Brother Kenney has seen ht to cr1t1c1se
the members of the board of directors OF
the insurance fund for their actions IN
endorsing the insurance secretary ana
also says: THAT any person OF ordinary
intelligence who will read section Ii OF
the constitution carefully and without
prejudice cannot help coming to the same
conclusion that have" will ask Bro.
Kenney if he did not attend the Mankato
convention. and if the same question was
not explained to the convention and II
such explanation was not entirely salts
factory, and the secretary's Interpretation
Of this section of the constitution and his
action in levy;ng assessment NO. LILO were
not approved?
II he was not there will then quote for
his benefit that part of the proceedings
with reference to this question which
was as follows: can explanation was
made to the convention at this time by
members of the auditing committee rel
alive to the reserve fund. AT the time
the last death occurred there was not
81 900 on hand in the reserve fund: and
according to the State secretarys idea
although it had reached that amount
the loss could not be paid from said fund,
when the card was issued. The conven-
ton accepted the explanation, and sus-
tanned the action of the State Secretary.
Now, does he presume to say that the
delegates which composed that conven-
ton were not possessed Of ordinary m
telligence because they differed with
him? Does he desire to insult the
members of the board of directors VINO
were elected at that convention and who
have only done, you might say, what they
were instructed to do? I will say further
that it was not the intention of the secre-
tary that resolution should be presented
to the board for their approval, as
thought it unnecessary on account OF the
endorsement of the state convention. but
a member Of the board of our parent or
ganzation {said board being in session
at the same place. requested that such
resolution be passed, as in his OPINION
some of the members might inter from
reading Brother Kenney's letter some
thing was wrong and action by the board
would allay any such feeling.
If Brother Kenney had any grievances
or was of the opinion that the state Sec
rotary was Illegally levyirg assessment
why didn't he state so to the convention
and introduce a resolution asking that
the order of the secretary ievylng assess
ment No. 116 be rescinded and be in
structed to pay from the reserve fund:
He is we'll aware that a body who mas
power of making laws for an organlza-
ton could easily remedy the errors OF an
oyerzealous secretary
Brother Kenney has written to the
deputy state insurance commissioner
submitting section 16 OF the constitution
and assessment notice No. l16 asking for
an opinion as to the legality OF the levy
ing of said assessment and ADDS, that
the above opinion is conclusive" in other
words. settles the question. Now. let us
see what the insurance commissioner
really says:
"should the reserve fund reach the
sum of $4,000 then the next death claim
shall be paid therefrom.' 1t seems to me
that the wording OF the above provision
ia nlain and cannot be construed in no
other way than that if the said reserve
fund amounted to $4,000 at the time of
sending out the regular assessment, then
no assessment shall be made, but the
dc ath claim then due shal De pald OUT OIL
the reserve fund
T would understand from the words,
.sreeu,ar assessment" as meaning assess
nents levied at stated intervals. and do
not think that we could apply the, word
regular assessments to assessments that
are only levied at the death of a men,
her. It seems 10 me that the question
was not presented fairly nor our plar or
system of doing business were thorough
" explained to the insurance commission
er. and I had known that Brother Ken,
ney was to apply to him for an opinion,
would have in all probabilities presented
the other side Of the question, as 1t is q
very easy matter to get suitable rulings
satisfactory to ones self when but part
Of the evidence is heard. Doing business
under a regular or monthly assessment
nlan with the constitution containing a
provision as the one in question, l would
rot hesitate to say that my construction
Of that article should be the same as the
insurance commissioner, and | believe
had he known that we were not making
regular assessments his opinion would be
entirely different.
In conclusion, will say that the point
raised by Brotne Kenney is only techni-
cal and raised simply on account OF his
hostility to the reserve fund; had he been
actuated by a desire which Was for the
good and welfare Of our organization he
would first try and settle such matters
hafore the proper tribunal within the or
aanization, and submit at least to the
highest authority-our state convention.
I am pleased to state that his letter
calling upon all mem bers to not pay as
sessnent No, 116 did not have any bad
effect as the amount collected is about
the same as collected under assessments
Nos, la and lis. / also notice from the
reao1,t sent to me by the insurance secre-
4t.s,..s,sfs III u, divi chm which nrDthe1 Kan