The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20
our FINANCIAL CONDITION..
Reply IL the National Secretary
Recent letter. i

IN last sundays Post appeared a letter
from Mr. Louis La Beaume, National Sec
rotary of the Travellers Protective Asso-
citation of America, in reply to an article
| written by the editor of this page. lust
one week previous,
In this labored article the secretary en-
deavors TO show the excellent condition OF
the association and attempts TO show that
the editor of this page made misstate-
ment when he said that this association
would receive $4,000; that the statement
would be correct provided the applicant
| paid the Sl2 in advance, but that the ma
| jority only paid 81 instead Of Sl2, thereby
| making the income $4,000. instead oil
| S2i 600, from 1000 new members. He stated
| also that the fiscal year of the association
| begins May l and that the years woik
] should be taken from that Tune.
| That is certainly a very extraordinary
bright statement. Just because $4,000 OF
| the amount received for new applications
| is paid in the latter end of the year, there
| lore 1t should not be included in an esu-
mate of the amount of cash received dur
| ing the year, although we did not have a
| similar amount the year before to lap over
this year.
The secretary also says: 1.-THE gentleman
in his article states that the monthly eX-
pcnse is $5666,92." No such statement was
made. What was said was that the expense
for the month of January was $5666.92, not
! counting S5355.1g which was paid to State
divisions. He also states that the writer
claims that according to the present rate
of expense we viii have only SGSI1.o6 in
our treasury at the end OF our fiscal year,
which is another mlsstatement and mis-
representation. What the writer did say
was: THE expense for six months ending
August j, 1885, will amount to over $34.-
COO, which would leave a balance in the
treasury. not counting the increase during
the six months, which is very light, com
ing principally from new applications, OF
only $6ST1. &c. The secretary also states
that the indemnities for this year We're
S20,54I.S6 more than last year. Just SO,
an increase in membership makes like
increase in indemnities paid. Next year
II is likely to increase over this year, and
so on each year with an increase OF mem
bership, therefore we must decrease our
expenses in every way possible to meet
the emergency The association is in good
financial condition and the idea is to keep
1t in good shape. The fact is that the
Travellers Protective Association has been
put to an expense of something like from
$4,000 to $4,000 per year for the publication
of paper that could have been published
free to the association by making some
good newspaper the official organ. Another
thing. while the discussion OF expense Is
on the tapis, | wish to remark that the
expenses outside of salaries dues paid
State divisions, claims paid for indemnity,
postage. organization, News Letter and
buttons for the month of February was
Ssi3.S0 This expense may be all right,
but we would like. to know for what 1t
was expended Not necessarily to be pub
lished in detail but in general way.
There is general impression abroad
among Travellers Protective Association
members that our National board of direc-
tors are extrayagant in the expenditure of
money belonging to the association and
there is little doubt that the impression is
to some extent correct The publication OF
the News Letter and Organizer has prob
ably done lots of good, but no more than
could have been accomplished had some
good medium been selected.
There seems to be always some one 10
suggest some scheme or other to spend the
surplus in the treasury. The expenses OF
the association are too large and must
necessarily be curtailed in some way or
our organization will find when 1t is too
late that the hen that layed the golden
egg" has become very sick, and II VIII
take powerful amount OF physic to resus-
citate her. II this should be the result and
the medicine used, per chance, should be
provided in our constitution, there would
be such hue and cry 20 UP among the
membership that would result In general
decentralization.
The writer does not care to be consid-
cred in the light OF an alarmist, but sim
ply calls halt before it Is too late. There
are members in the Texas division who
think that the National directors. while
at all times acting conscientiously In the
interest OF the association, have over
stepped the bounds by the expenditure Of
money for purposes not provided for In
the constitution.
There are many things that could be
Done for the best interests Of the Travel
ers' Protective Association by the National
board for which our constitution does not
provide and which afterwards would meet
with the full approval and Endorsement OF
our members. But even II the association
should suffer on account OF such things
being left undone, 1t would be better, rs
slow growth at less pro rata of expenke
Is more desirable than rapid growth at
greater expense. After years Of hard work
upon the part OF patriotic and enthusiastic
travelling men. the Travellers Protective
Association has grown TO be the largest
organization, as we'll as the most power
full. that has ever been organized among
men In the world.
1t is with pride that the survivors Of
that handful Of men who met in Denver,
Colo. In 1880, speak Of the part they look
Protective Association on that occasion.
We should make this association a mona
ment to those valiant men who have so
nohly stood by us and pulled so long aud
steadily IN the traces by curtailing .ex-
penses in every direction. and SO continue
until our cash balance shall have reached
the 800. 900 mark. When such time ar
han IN loft