The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-05
Action Of Superintendent
Drake in Case of Royal
ArCanum May Lead to
Recourse 10 the Courts.
Commissioners Have Sus-
pended the Order Prohib-
ting Solicitation for Mem
bership Until brakes
Return.

Members Of fraternaI organizations in
this city are much exercised over the
alleged unwaTranted action Of the su-
perintendaut Of Insurance. Mr. Drake,
in erevoking the license Of the Royal
A-caEum because it refused TO waive
its rights under the law. Mr. Drake
was compelled TO give up his work on
account Of ju-health. and is now in
Florida reeuperatiag, He is expected to
return 10 his omce within the next few
weeks.
In the meantime, upon representations
laid before the District Commissioners
by Philip Walker. local attorney for the
Royal ATcanuu, the license has been re-
newed- When Mr.. Drake returns it Is
probable The aid OF the courts viii be
invoked 10 prevent him from interfering
further with The business OF the organ
izadou. which IS reputed 10 be one Of
the strongest fraternaI orders in the
Uuited States
Al FraternaI Orders Interested.
While the immediate fight is made by
the Royal Areanum. the principle in
volved Affects every fraternaI body doing
business in the District of Columbia.
As consequence the grand officers of
the organization have been assured of
the cooperation and support of every
1rateTnaI order IL the city A number
q them have already waived their
rights under protest. but are prepared
10 force The matter 10 an issue now.
Un5eF the law the Insurance COmmis-
sionar IS allowed Zee OF $50 to de-
teTmi1e whether OF not a company
claiming the privileges of q fraternaI
order is or is not IN reality a frateruaI
organization. lie is further allowed
fee uot 70 exceed s2o0 FOR faaksuse 7a
examination Of the books OF the order
TO determine its financial standing. Ii
has always been the desire OF he Ar
cauum, its officers say, 10 abide not
only by the letter bur the spirit. og the
Iau- and this they desire 10 do in the
present instance.
On the other hand Mr.. Drake has as
serted that the amount he Is allowed to
charge fer an examination Of the books
OF The company Is absurdly inadequate.
and he cannot make proper ezamina-
tion OF the books of the order within the
limit allowed. 4 peculiar feature of
the situation is that Mr. Drake. In his
communication 10 The officers of the Az
cauUm, asking them TO waive the limit
Of cost Of the examination. made use of
circular used in Ohio. some. years ago.
which save $50 as the limit. instead Of
$500, as the law allows
Membership Applications Held Up.
As a result Mr.. Drake. although they
had complied with all OF the require
ments of the law, revoked their license
to do business in this city, and all ap-
pIications for admission to the order
we're necessarily held up. IN District
Council alone over twenty applicants for
membership were unable TO have their
applications acted upon The supreme
officers of the order directed the local
attorney to appeal from the decision OF
the Superintendent Of Insurance. anc
the matter was laid before the District
Commissioners.
In reply. Mir Walker. acting as at
torney for the Arcanum. was informed
that owing to the Illness Of Mr. Drake.
and his consequent inability to present
his side Of the case. the Commissioners
would have 10 defer action on the re
quest When the injury inflicted upon
the order by the delay was made evident
TO the Commissioners, they issued an or
der temporarily Withdrawing the susDen-
sion OF The permit 10 do business. an5
there The matter now rests
Both sides are now preparing for the
contest which is sure TO be renewed 1s
soon as 3sr- Drake returns TO the city,
II ne persists in demanding the waiver
of the rights OF the order under the law.