The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-05-15
NOT PROMPT PAYING DUES.
CHIEF RANGER OF FORESTERS
 SAYS FAILURE TO PAY


 ces of Dishonesty Have Been Found
 in Omcs of Financial secretary-Or-
 der Has Gained in New Haven.
 New Britain, Conn, May 14-The thirteenth convention of the Grand Court of Connecticut, F. Of A., opened in this city on Wednesday morning, with Grand Chief Ranger Randall, of Rockville presiding. There are about two hundred and fifty delegates in at- tendance, which is the largest number that ever attended any meeting of the grand court. Many of the delegates came to town last evening and the re- mainder on the early morning trains to-day. The most interest is centered in the contest for grand secretary be- tween W. c. Kleincke. of Waterbury, the present secretary, and Frank flag garty of Hartford. The delegates dis cussed the matter until a late hour at their hotels last night, and the friends of the rival candidates were at it again bright and early this morning.
 George w. Randall, grand chief ran ger, delivered the first of the formal reports, reviewing the work of the grand court during the past two years, and summarizing his official acts and decisions. He said in part:
 While our order may with just pride boast of large membership in this ju- risdiction, it is safe to say that our work has hardly begun Out of one hundred thousand males eligible to membership only one-fifth of that number are on it's rolls. Let this be an incentive to every brother of our order to go to work with renewed interest.
 After referring to the harmonious re- lations which have existed among the members of the present executive coun- cil MT. Randall touched on the mem- bership and financial condition, saying that the reports of the grand secretary and grand treasurer showed that sub- stantial gains had been made. There are at present one hundred and forty six courts in this Jurisdiction, with a membership of 1854, a gain of 2,165 during the past two years. The total amount of funds in the grand court is $4,442 46, divided as follows: Manage ment fund $S,46O.S4, showing a gain of $1, ,531.44 over two years ago. The bal ance in the balance fund is $744.65. Endowment fund $2052. Sick fund $216.45. The various subordi- nate courts in the state paid out for siek benefits, physicians and medicines in the year 1902, $S2,579.76; management expenses SS4,07S.3S, benevolent expenses S5,109. Total amount of money in the treasuries of the various courts $1SS,- 97S.S2. .
 Eleven courts have been instituted since the last meeting of the grand court. Only one court has been lost, and that through amalgamation. As a whole the courts are in remarkably good numerical and financial condition.
 "The number of 'preclusions for fail- ure to pay dues is still very large and is a standing menace to our order. l do not wish to be understood as taking pessimistic view of the matter, but more precautions should be taken in the initiation of candidates and by using due 1idigenee in the election of members, many preclusions would be avoided.'
 MT, Randall urged the organization of more juvenile courts, only one being in existence at present. On the subject of 'sRitual'' he remarked that the adop- l tion of the present ritual has retarded the extension of the order. Our order | is large and important enough to have 8 ritual which will be while short, in teresting, entertaining and educational | in it's character. It should contain de- gree work which might be omitted at | the pleasure of the court. I believe a ritual of this character would material ly assist in increasing our membership. 1 The grand chief ranger continued his address by a strong plea for an in- crease in officers salaries. He recom- mended that the grand secretary's sal- ary be raised from $950 to $1,200 year and that the grand court pay his office rent. For the grand treasurer he re- | commended salary of $500.
 | Under the head of Careless and Dis honest Secretaries" he said: My at- | tention has been called to several | breaches of trust in the office of finan- cial secretary and an investigation of | the secretary's books by the court off, cers or person selected by the executive council in each case show bad state of affairs This is doing much injury l to our order. No court should fail to have a quarterly audit, nor should the secretary fail to notify all members | when three months in arrears. A close l bordinate court would result III the supervision of the finances of each sr- saving of much money and prevent | many secretaries becoming dishonest. 1 I might suggest that the executive council be given more power and juris- diction over courts to the extent of sending an accountant when deemed ! necessary that the books may be thor oughly examined.
 q am pleased to say that forestry in New Haven is again in the ascend ant. In 1899 the membership was 9S2. In 1901 it had dropped down to S20,
 with every prospect of a further de- cline. During my term there has been | a change for the better and the reports of the grand secretary show an in- crease of sixty members in the two years. A still greater increase may be | expected in the next two years
 | The second days session of the Con- necticut grand court, Foresters of | America, opened here at 9 o'clock this I nrba ootIrf pronaedaH at once