Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-12
MEMBERS INDIGNANT
MCREAsxD ROYAL ARcANUM As
sEss1EENTa.
Protests Against Action Of the Gem
eral Councfl-May Be Taken
to Court.

A prominent local member Of the Royal
Arcanum said today that great indignation
Is being expressed by hundreds Of WASH
ington members over the action OF the SUI
preme Council In increasing the rates Of
insurance in the organisation. He added
that protests against the action have been
made and steps are being taken to bring the
matter before the courts here, and-to right
what many of the members term ''the un-
warranted and arbitrary action OF the SUI
preme Council" in session recently at At
lantic City.
The local member referred to said:
1.-THE younger members of the order will
not find fault with the increase, ignoring
entirely the fact that the income derived
from this source cannot possibly maintain
the orders existence, and overlooking the
important fact that the older members are
the ones who have not only sustained the
order, but made it possible to maintain its
past prosperity.
1T will not be many years before the
young members will be brought to exper-
fence the conditions that now confront the
old members.
Not Made Known.
while the action Of the Supreme Council
has not yet been fully made known. suffi-
cient has been disclosed to warrant each of
the various councils in bringing the matter
up for discussion at its next meeting.
Oriental Council. No 812, will hold its
semi-monthly meeting on Wednesday even
ing next, at which time action Will be tax
en- requesting the council authorities to aio
in bringing about reconsideration OF the
Supreme Councils action.
'"As the expenses increase, assessments
will be increased to meet them. witness
the recent action of the Supreme Councii
In ordering the following salaries and ex-
penditures for the ensuing year:
Supreme regent, 5000: supreme secre-
preme auditor 100; medical examiner IN
chief, 81 800; chairman of committee on
laws, 5000; committee on laws two mem
bers), $60O past year; committee on nnance
member executive committee and junior
past supreme regent, $3.50 each, past year,
supreme trustees (three members). S7oo
past year; four members subcommittee on
Mileage to members attending sessions.
1898. 30; days of service 1.lS9, at $40 per
day. $11. 800.
Upon the presumption that many mem
bers would be killed during the Spanish
war the assessments were increased by the
Supreme Council the 2Sth of June, 1893, by
circular PAT, in effect August i. 1898, to the
extent of twenty-one assessments per an
mum. But twelve assessments were ordered,
but the rates were increased liz of the
then existing rates.
Few Men Were Killed.
1.-The war came to sudden conclusion
and few men were killed, but still the war
rates went on. The circular referred to
stated that each member can now know
what the annual cost OF his protection in
the Royal Arcanum will be for years to
come. 1t is believed that the new rate. to-
gether with the income from the emergency
fund. is sufficient to meet the requirements
of the order for at least another decade
elm less than seven years the Supreme
Council, after providing for large salaries
for those who are fortunate enough to get
on the pay rolls, concludes that the present
rates will not be sufficient to bring reve-
nues to meet the large expenditures pro-
vided for, and again resolve to increase the
rates to such an extent as to either drive
the old men out or tax them beyond their
ability to pay.
"An Illustration will suffice Take the
example referred to in The Stars article.
Joining at firty-two, the rate prior to Au-
gust /, 1898. was rs 1-3 cents per month per
$1,000 August l. 1893. the rate was in
creased on account OF the 'warsrisk' to 1.Y2
per month. Under the rate to be in effect
October 1, 1905, the monthly assessment
will be $1.S2 per month, at f1fty-four years
of age.
These rates do not appear to be excess
sive. but notice with what rapidity they
increase for the same member ten years
later Instead of the rates being perma-
HleHt " lIlosc dlTcduy III the OTQer tney
jump to 2.SS per month, only to last for
a single year. and then behold for the next
succeeding year when the member has
reached sixty-ive years he must pay 1886
per month per 81 600 with no assurance
against further increase at the pleasure
OF the Supreme Council.
"A slight advance at this time may be
necessary. but these new rates to many will
be found prohibitive.
After maintaining membership in the
order, based upon assurances held out that
the fraternal features were such that there
would be no inducement to withdraw and
JOIN the oid-ine companies, this benevolent
institution. founded for the protection of it's
members. at minimum cost now proposes
to confiscate the rights of those who have
stood by the order, and who believed that
the protection to which they were justly
and equitably entitled would be maintained.
Past Experience.
"In the light of past experience and the
recent action Of the Supreme Council the
members Of the order will lose their enthu-~
siasm for increasing the membership, and
applicants, however young, will hesitate to
join an organization whose stability is
vacilating, and the prime object of which
seems to be to bring disrepute upon the or
der at the expense of those who have car
ried 1t through the past quarter of a CEN
fury: ia alleged ,,a+ g, ooo ooo ro,,,, T.,
the treasury as reserve fund.- the object
Of which Is intended to meet unusual losses
but II this be true 1t does not deter those in
authority from Withholding the proper use
Of this fund and forcing from the already
overburdened members additional burdens
not warranted at present nor liable to be
required for years to come.
ITO those holding offices in the order, and
receiving salaries which more than compen-
safe them for the cost of their insurance
this action of the Supreme Council may APP
pear wise and necessary, but to the already
overtaxed members, whose incomes are
scarcely SUFFICIENT to meet their absolute
wants, this increase can be looked upon in
no other light than stupendous blunder
1t is not altogether strange, therefore,
that in New York and elsewhere efforts are
being made to appeal to the courts to en-
join the enforcement OF the proposed rates.
The logical outcome of this whole matter
will be to secure state and district supervi-
sion OF all benevolent insurance associa-
tions. Let them be regulated along the
lines of the ordinary life insurance compa-
MES"
General Revolt.
Information received in this city TODAY
from New York saws the revolt In all ,,,r,.