Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16

Inc SlNtu Dlennlal ScSSlOn Ol lut tIduu
lodge of Nebraska, Ancient Order of United
Workmen which was held in this city last
week, was a record breaker in point OF I'm
portance and interest, The natural result
was that the session was very warm at
times. and it therefore lasted much longer
than was anticipated. The prearranged sched-
uIe provided for an adjournment on Thurs
day afternoon. The delegates counted tnem-
selves lucky that with two night sessions
they managed to get away with the end Of
tho week.
The session was remarkably well attended.
There were fully 500 delegates on hand and
these were accompanied by as many more
feminine relatives and fellow members of the
order The figure / 900 Is a conservative
estimate OF the number Of strangers VINO
were called to the city by the meetings Un-
fortunately the press Of business was so great
that the local members were not allowed the
time necessary for extended entertainment.
However the visitors were not allowed to
have any of their leisure time burden them.
On Tuesday evening they were the guests
at one OF the musical events of the season,
the concert at Creighton theater. The Mo-
gullians furnished them with a bully good
time" by comforting Their side degree upon
q selected number. IL was intended to give
the delegates reception also in the Com
mercal club parlors. but this had 10 be de-
CIareQ OH lot want Oh time. ne MOlhth Wtic
not permitted to go without care, either. On
Thursday afternoon they were the guests at
an informal reception, dr which the hosls
wero about 100 members from the Degree Of
Honor lodges of the city.
The sessions were exceedingly lively. There
were three matters that aroused eXtraordi-
nary interest. One was the hearing on
appeal of the Tate case. Another was the
election Of officers And finally there were
q number of very important proposed changes
.g.,,, ,,i..., luta Ihn Tot n
case and the lecetons book an entire day
each.
Grand Master Workman Tate secured a
clean bill by unanimous vote on all the
charges preferred against him, and he was
fully upheld in every one of his alleged IL
legal acts This was taken after most full
and complete hearing, in which all the evil
dence that could be brought to bear was
presented This yndication had been con-
fidently predicted by his friends.
The elections were decidedly warm. The
contest over the office Of grand master work
man was particularly hard fought. Ther0
were eleven candidates and six ballots were
required before a result was reached TherG
was a fight also over some of the other offices
Tho final result was follows:
NJ f. Shultz OF Beatrice, grand master
workman; X. p. II. Milar of Lincoln, grand
foreman; ii. NJ. Stcckwell of Clearwater,
grand overseer; George II. Barber of Grand
Island grand recorder; f. j. Morgan OF
head of Falls City, grand guide; ]. ID. Bray
ton Of Bassett, grand watchman; Jacob Jas
kalek of South Omaha and Jacob Wooster OF
Hastings, grand trustees. J. S. Johnston, one
OF the former trustees, holds over
AS indicated above there were a consider
able number OF important amendments tc
the constitution adopted. Hardly one, how
ever went through without considerable de-
bate and discussion. 1t was due to this, In
great measure that the session was pro
hp,rp al al lnt, t,ryth Of tiY,,a
One of the most important of the changes
was in connection with the financial manage
ment of the order. This in the past has beer
In the hands Of finance committee, ap
pointed. This committee was entirely dis
pensed with and in place of it was substitu
ted board OF control consisting of the
grand trustees, who are bonded. In connec
tion with this mention might be made O
tho fact that the grand lodge authorized tht
employment of an expert to so over tn,
records of the grand lodge officials during
the last four years.
Another fight was made on the attempt t
change the office of grand medical examiner
from an appointve to an elective position
On this a compromise was made. The med
ical examiner will in the future be selected
by board consisting of the grand maste
workman the grand foreman and the thre
grand trustees.
The body also took some action regardin,
itself. In the first place, it will hereafte
be less cumbersome. 1t is to be compose
of ouly one representative from each subor
diuato lodge in the state, but each Of thes
representatives will be entitled to cast tn
full vote to which his subordinate lodge
entitled on the present basis of representa-
tion. Tho number Of delegates will thus
decreased 200.
An amendment was also passed giving tn
grand lodge power OF putting into effec
amendments to the cohsti tuition adopted b
it without action being aken on them b
the subordinate lodges.
The following embodes TITO action take
on the other more important matters thi
came up before the grand lodge
Members suspended for over three month
will be reinstated upon the payment OF a fe
of $780, including tho charge for medic
examination, a reduction from $3.50.
The present system of assessment, 81 n,
for every member, was allowed to remain
Tho proposition to adopt the "step rate sy.
TEN, by which the assessment increase
every five years, was killed.
The matter Of Issuing 81, 900 certifca
was referred back to the committee on la
with instructions to report at the next Sc
sion.
The question OF taking In nonbenefcal
same committee with the same instruction
Subordinate lodges will hereafter be lab
for the per capita tax on every member