The San Francisco call., 1897-09-09

President Parsons was true to his
promise to call the meeting to order
prom pity, and when the gavel dropped at
delegates i'll the room. The afternoon
session was by general agreement given
up chiefly 10 the transaction of business
relating TO the Mutual Benefit Associa-
ton. In the absence OF the secretary the
rollcau was dispensed with and Mr.
Richards was appointed secretary pro
tenn. An amendment was offered 10 the
constitution of the association rrovlding
that an assessment be levied each month
on the members whether any deaths oc-
CURED during the month or not.
Mr.. Graham opposed the amendm ment,
on the ground that in the end it would
detract from the membership of the as
sociation and that it was but part OF
scheme TO limit the mem bership.
Mr.. Keniffe of Louisville favored the
resolution, stating that in the past there
had been an average OF twelve assess
ments a year, sometimes three months
elapsinR without an assessment, while at
other times there would be three in
month. On the whole, he thought it
would be more agreeable 10 join an as
sociation where there was stated amount
10 De pdlu edCu year tudu II tue amount
were uncertain.
After much discussion pro and con i.
was finally decided to postpone action
until the matter of reserve fund was de-
cided upon.
Chairman Kent OF the board of trustees
then introduced Il resolution providing for
the formation of a reserve fund by setting
apart 10 per cent of each assessment.
A motion was then made 10 have the
Il fryx .,rd
TO eacn branch FOR referendum vote.
This led to a long discussion, each dele
gate thinking it his duty to put himself
on record in the matter. The delegates
were all good speakers, but the time
dragged along wearily, and before the last
men had started their speech many OF the
first speakers were quietly doing i'll their
seats Things Went on in this way for
about an hour and a half, when Mr.. Dunn
of Nashville, who had been quietly study
ing copy of the constitution, suddenly
m made the discovery that the proceedings
were out of order, as tits unconstitutional
TO submit change in the constitution TO
a referendum vote.
This staggered President Parsons and
had the effect of waking up even the
sieepiest member ami starting the debate
on the adoption of the resolution, the
only diversion being when speaker would
Gown on a point OF order. This grew
rather monotonous in time, however as
each speaker was called down III turn and
finally the expedient of shutting down
any man who exceeded the tive-minute
time limit was resorted 10. This also
proved TO be a failure for so soon as speak
e. was reminded that his time was up fell
low partisan would grant him his time and
the minutes heightened into hours with
out any end being apparent and sarcasti-
cally inclined delegate moved that mo-
ton to ad iourn would be out of order any
time before midnight.
Mr.. Graham finally made motion that
all debate must close at 5 o'clock, when
the resolution would be taken up section
by section and passed upon, which was
carried unanimously.
Promptly at O'Clock the debate was
closed and TIE first section, which pro-
vides fer 10 per cent of all assessments be-
ing sell aside for an emergency fund, was
read and adopted. The second section,
provoing Tor the investment OF the m money
in Government, Stale aud municipal
bonds, was amended TO read the invest
ment be made in Government bonds only
ami was adopted as amended. The third
section, providing for the safe-keeping OF
the funds by the National officers, was
also adopted. The third and fourth Sec
tions, providing Tor the disposal OF the in