The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-09-24

TO obtain increased membership, and that the bes
means of attaining it was through offering pre-
niums at cheap and attractive figure. Either the
promoters were jealous fools, or their object was
dishonest. We are inclined to the former view
only submitting that the vast majority of policy
holders were the greater fools
The Review of St. Louis first sounded the
note of warning. 1t has repeated: pointed
out what damaging effect on Catholic society
life i'll general it must have when members joining
insurance orders in good faith and paying their
contributions punctually for number of years,
find themselves deprived of the cherished protec-
ton for their families at time when, either for
reason of advaced age impaired health, they can
not secure good life insurance elsewhere. That this
Is not fanced danger, but actual fact, is shown
by letter from Catholic Knight, published in the
Catholic knights of America Journal of Feb. /,
1904, from which we quote:
/ when they were solicited TO join the Catholic
Knights of America they were assured that the
rates were permanntly fixed; that they would
be required to pay any than the tabulated rate
assessed for their age that time. What confidence
can the younger members have that the rates they
pay will not be increased when they shall have been
members for five, ten, fifteen twenty years. as
have been. What assurance can be given to appli-
cans that the rates in force when they join will not
be changed later on, so that they will have to pay
two, three, four, five or six times as much they
do when they jon.'
This man is right. Again, says the Review, lit
was risky, to put it mildly, to start such important
business enterprises, as life insurance companies
are, without knowing anything at all of the sub
lect Since he Of Tho 1,o1or be-
coming evident and the need of reorganization
on safer lines is universally acknowledged, it
criminal to again experiment with what represents
the hard-earned money and the family welfare of
thousands of wemeaning, trusting Catholic mem
bers. The public should be made to understand
that the laws of nature apply equally to all, Cath
oics or Protestants, policy holders in regular life
insurance companies certificate holders in as
sessment organizations. The mortality tables used
by the regular life insurance companies are the re-
suit of careful observations for over 100 years
among insured lives ia Europe and America Some
concession to the more favorable conditions in the
United States has been made and the result is en-
bodied in the socaled american experience" table
of mortality. But any of the standard mortality
tables is perfectly safe as basis for regular life
insurance company under normal conditions"
Our eo-laborcr IF. D. is evidently one of the
persons who got caught in this Catholic Knights
of America scheme to freeze out the old young
sters. His opinions of the matter are herewith
subioined
Editor Inermountan Catholic:
The Western Waterman pays its respects to
the Catholic Knights of America, and the
last enactment of the supreme council, which
decapitated many of its veteran mem
bers The censures severe, but thoroughly
lust. The whole thing is swinde, and no wonder
that men who have been gulled should seek
for some redress. We say a swindle and why?
Because the aged members, now between 90 and 20
years of age, who joined when the Catholic Knights
IF America were first organized have not only paid
heir dues, but also contributed TO the reserve
fund. A part of that reserve fund, by every law
If right and justice belongs to those veteran mem
'ers, and should help to lessen their dues But in
stead OF lessening the dues, they are so increased
hat old men on the verge of the grave are no
ongef able to bear their part of the burden and
must be dropped A reserve fund, accumulated in
most part by those old living members, belongs to
hem, not to those who may in the future become
nembers' To deprive them of its earnings, and
impose, at the same time, extra tax, is not only
n injustice but freeze out game But what of
his. This according to the Waterman, seems to
e the object of the late enactment. 1t says:
I'm certain branch in st. Louis there are ff-
cen full rate members between the ages of 80 and
0 who are getting $1.75 day. On this they have
managed for twenty years to live and pay
heir assessments to the Catholic Knights of Amer
"a Their wives economical and they cut off every
utlay that not absolutely necessary, and when
yer their assessments were due they we're promptly
AIKEN out of the stocking and handed over to the
rider. Vow their assessments have been increased
. that those who are 20 years old will have to .
ay $500 year, and the others all the way from r
$50 to 5000 They earn if they do not miss day
! the twelve months. $547.S5. After paying 5000 /
} the Catholic Knights of America they would I
ave lett for the support of their families the mu g
lfcent sum Of S341.S5, 90 cents a day. Sick I
ess and rainy days might reduce that to so cents
day: They have been saved with vengeance" n
In the west, when the majority of the stock I
olders want TO get rid of certain number of poor
ockholders in mine. they levy an assessment :
nd continue levying till the poor stockholders are a
reed to sell. The big stockholders, who conceal Ii
Oh ore, buy III at their figures the delinquent
lares The vein of is soon opened up. and ?
ere are no more Irish dividends This means bust a
'ss for soulless corporaton but for the Cath Il
&c knights of America to deceive, and then swim y
e It's honest, simple minded and devoted old p
embers is the basest crime. They contributed to h
at reserve fund; it belongs to them, in Justice y
ID Its earnings should be used to lessen their
les but the Shyloeks who govern have no mercy m
fbocn