Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-28
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A. o.U. w. ASSESSMENTS.
Statement as to Situation from Grand
Councillor Walton.

Waterville, Me-, Oct. 27.-(SpeciaD.-
In view of the great interest being
ma infested and the much discussion
that is being heard among the members
of the A. o. U. W., just at present in
regard to the recent action Of the
Supreme Lodge regarding rates and es-
pecially in view of the fact that there
has been some talk of secession, the fol-
lowing from l.. L. Walton of Skowhe-
gan, grand councillor of the Grand
Lodge of Maine, will be interesting. Mr..
Walton discusses the matter as follows:
The calling of an extra session of the
Maine Grand Lodge Of the Ancient
Order of United Workmen for the con-
sideration of the new rates promulgat-
ed by the Supreme Lodge possesses
great interest to the members of the
Order and their families embracing
| more than 10000 people in the State of
Maine. While these rates do not go into
effect in this State until adopted by the
Grand Lodge, vet as by a failure to
adopt them the Maine Grand Lodge will
lose from $4,000 to 100000 yearly, until
] they are adopted. 1t becomes a matter Of
serious import to the members whether
they can afford, in order to crafty those
who are unwilling to pay the new rates.
| to continue on the old plan, and what
will be the result in case they should do
| so.
| 1t has been found. from the eXper
fence of the order, that the older men,
bers have not heretofore been required
| 70 foe fn
order to continue business and meet its
engagements. Consequently at the last
session of the Supreme Lodge the rates
were raised, so far as to the members
over IS years of age were concerned.
The younger members by the new rates
are required. to a slight extent, to help
out the older members in the payment
of past deficiencies, but hereafter under
| the new rates the older members will
be required to pay the actual cost OF
! their insurance. They are, however,
given certain privileges, in the way of
taking paid UP certificates, or making
part payments and having the balance
charged up to their certificates, or max
ing payments at the rate of younger
men and having their beneficiaries re
lceive a proportionately reduced amount
letc, which it is claimed will be of great
advantage to those who do not feel that
they can pay the rates required.
"Bu. as the rates heretofore have
been extremely low, some less than one
third of what life insurance cimpanies
have been charging, this fact, while
satisfactory and gratifying to some
members of the order, who admit the
| tod nf
provoke opposition on the part of
others. who wish to be carried at the
old rates and say they can not pay the
higher ones. Some of the latter claim
that as the Maine Grand Lodge has
been able to pay all it's death claims for
the past two years with only eight or
nine assessments per year, If the
Maine members were only by them
selves they could keep upon the old
rates and be all right. These are, there
fore, really in favor of secession.
'"rhose in favor of the new rates re-
ply, emphatically, that this can not
illegally be done without the consent of
the Supreme Lodge; that if this were
obtained a new organization would
have to be made, and, by the laws of
Maine, such organization would have
to adopt the rates of the Fraternal
Congress, which are substantially the
new rates of the A. O.. U. w. with an
age limit of 60 years. and this would
shut out all members above that age.
They say further, that the Maine
tGrand Lodge has, in proportion, more
members over IS than that of the entire
lorder, and consequently, if it were pos
sible for the Maine Grand Lodge to be
by itself, it would only be a very short
time, if the old rates were continued
and it could get assistance from no
other source. before it would be hope
lessly insolvent.
1.-The Grand Lodge will hold this extra
session at Augusta, on November 10. If
the new rates are adopted then, the
matter will be settled. If not then ac
cepted, they may be at the regular ses
sion in February. The difference is a
matter, it is claimed, of some $4,000
which will be lost to the Grand Lodge of
Maine by the delay as properly such
adoption should bear date of January
Il, 1904. In any event the new rates are
not likely to go into effect until the new
year.
1.-THE members of the other fraternal
orders in Maine are watching the out
come, as they are interested to know
whether the members of a like organ
ization will consent to tax themselves
sufficiently so that business can be done
on a permanent basis and the younger
linen be assured that when they reach
old age the order will still be in exis-
ltence"