The Jersey City news., 1905-06-07
Increase in Rate Which
Goes Into Effect October
| Meets With Much
Opposition.
HARD ON ELDERLY men.
It Is Almost 400 Per Cent for
Those Over 65 Years
Law Explained

Members of the Royal Arcanurn are
protesting loudly against the increase IN
rates, which is to go into effect on Octo-
Der 1, under a plan adopted by the su-
preme Council at its session at Atlantic
City few days ago. The increase in
the case Of men past 80 years Of age is
so great that some of them say that they
will not be able to pay it. and will either
have to give up their membership or re
duce the amount of their certificates.
One man who entered the order at the
age of 46, and who for several years paid
S2.70 an assessment on $4,000 benefit
certificate, and who is now &c years old,
will have to pay $160s month under
the new schedule. Since 1898, when the
new rate schedules were readjusted, he
has been paying S4.72 month. The
rate in his case has been almost quad
rupled.
Another member who at the age Of q
took out a $4,000 benefit certificate, on
which, until 1898, he paid $1.24 an as
sessment, will have to pay Ss.73 a month.
he says, after October l. His present
age IS 81. The readjustment in 1898
fixed a monthly assessment in lieu of an
assessment when necessary, the new rate
at that time being advanced to twenty
one times the original assessment, divid-
ed by twelve. In the case of this man
the rate was advanced in 1898 to $2.1S a
month instead of a tax Of $1.24 at each
death. The new rate multipEes the
cost to him by four.
The Royal Arcanum is one Of the lar
gest fraterna1 insurance societies in the
world. having membership of $4,000.
In this State there are about $4,000
members.
Capital City council is the largest in
membership. Unit is next. and the
Princeton council is third.
The bulk of the complaint is from
members in advanced years, who claim
that the increase in rates falls too heay-
lily upon them; but many of the younger
members, who look forward to the in
crease in rates awaiting them as they
advance in years, are also murmuring.
Under the new plan FIVE options are
given. Under option A, for instance, j
member joining at the age of 25 and who
has now attained the age of So, viii pay
1890, or an increase of S1.S6 per month.
This rate remains through life.
Under each of the option plans a
member win be advanced to his attained
age. BY the table known as the table
Of regular rates. assuming that mem
Der Joined at the age of 25 years and
paid $2.04 on assessment. and is now 35
years old. he will pay the rate at his
present age, which is S2.49, a difference
Of 10 cents month. AT the age of 65
years the rate will be advanced to S1608
month for a benefit of $1,000, or $3.50
per thousand.
Under option G an annual decrease in.
the benefit named in the benefit certi-
fcate Of three and one-third per cent.
will occur each year, commencing with
the year Immediately following the mem
ber's attaining the age Of so years. and
continuing until the age of 70 is reached.
making a total reduction in the fifteen
years Of one-half of the benefit, without
diminution Of the amount Of the assess
ment rate The whole annual deduction
will be made for any year if the member
shall die at any time during the last six
months Of such year.
Members Of the supreme council, not
wifhstanding that 50 much fault IS he
ing found. claim thai the new schedule