The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-05
MUST INSURE OR
LOSE THEIR JOBS
Alternative Before Southern
Express Employees
EVpDEc c0nIETV
EXPRESSMEN'S SOCIETY
The Company Compels Those Getting
$50 Month To Join.
STATEMENT FROM Mr.. F. T. BlRTHRiGHT
He Was Discharged Last Saturday After Three
Years Service in The Company, Be-
cause He Would not Join the
Society. Poe's Statement
Society. Poe's Statement

Society. Pce's Statement
Considerable interest has been felt by
many persons in the case of Mr.. L. V.
Birthright. who was discharged from she
pany on Saturday last because he re-
fused to join the Expressman's Aid So
ciety. which seems to be in effect mu-
tual assessment insurance association
for the purpose of providing for the
families of employees at death or total
disability. 1t is a rule of the company
that all employees receiving $50 month
and over must belong to the society on
pain of dismissal from the company's
service.
Mr. Birthright feels ver.r indignant
at his dismissal, as do all of his friends
in the city, and he has great many
of them.
A News and Observer reporter yes
terday visited Mr. Birthright and asked
him to give a statement of the case ex-
acty as il happened. Mr.. Birthright
proceeded to do SO as follows:
when the company first engaged me
to work for them nothing whatever was
said about the insurance feature. and [
did not know that such a thing existed
when / came here to work / had been
here nearly year before [ heard OF it
1T all, and then nothing was said about
my having to take the insurance. On
February first of this year it was first
sprung on me. In the meantime | had
been told by other employees that it was
the custom, when a man got as much
as $50 month, for him to join the So
ciety: but I still did not know it was
compulsory.
I'm February Mr. w. ]. Warren, the
Raleigh agent, sent me blank with
instructions to fill it out, take a medical
examination, and enclose $1.00 with the
application. I wrote very polite letter
to Mr. Warren, stating that l YVES not
financially able to take any more insur-
arce. as / already carried a policy III
another company. Mr. Warren sent the
letter back to Mr.. Poe and asked what
salary | was getting My salary lad
been raised on February 1st., but I had
been receiving a salary of $50 month
for three years, during all of which time
rot a word had been said about taking
the insurance.
FINALLY [ wrote and told them that
if I was forced to take this insurance
or lose my position, that I would have
to seek employment elsewhere where /
would not be compelled to take insur-
ance / did not want When Mr.. Poe
wrote to Mr.. Warren what salary I was
getting, he sent the letter to the Super
intendent and wanted to know why |
did not join the society. The Supern-
tendent finally wrote to the office here
that If I did not gracefully accept the
insurance, he would have to get some
one else to fill my position. AS L still
refused to take the insurance I was told
to go last Saturday night without being
given any previous notice.
This society is called the Express
mans Aid Society,", but it lacks great
deal of being an aid society. 1t pays
man nothing if he is laid off on account
of sickness, but only upon his death or
total disability. The fund is collected
by assessment on all the members.
every employee of the company hold
ing any responsible position" continued
Mr. Birthright," is required to give
bond, and he is told what company he is
to have go on that bond, and is not al
lowed to be bonded by any concern save
the particular one always designated. /
have learned on the best possible au
thority that the Express Company gets
one half of all premiums paid on these
bonds. / had to pay $500 on q II eco
bond, when / could easily have gotten it
for $3.50, if | had been allowed to select
my own bonding company
hr Poo tho oran+ Of Tho cn1,iba
Expess Company, when asked as to the
nature of the Expressman's Aid Society,
said:
1T is a benevolent association, exist
ing in the company, with the under
standing among the employees that
whenever they arrive at a salary of $50
a month they are to go into it. 1t is an
employees association among themselves.
The company makes membership com
puIsory merely to save the families of
the members from want and privation in
case Of the death of one who has 5een
careless about making provision for the
future. There is no agent and there is
no profit. Every cent of the money re-
ceiyed goes to the family of the deceas-
ed. No aid is given in cases of illness
or injury, except in cases of total dis
ability"
Are all employees told when entering
the service of this company that they
will be compelled to join the society?'
asked the News and Observer reporter.
Whenever a man joins the, company,
replied Mr.. Poe, he is~ given IS under
stand that he is to take this insurance
as soon as his salary reaches $50
month";
Is the society classed with other in
surance orders of like nature doing
business in the State?"
II do not know
Mr.. Birthright says he could not af-
ford to carry any more insurance, as he
was already carrying a policy with
another company"
There is no force in that argument. .
SAID Mr.. zoe, for we had recently