The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-10-26
Governor Stokes Opened the
Session With Compliments
to the Order.
STATE COUNCILLORS REPORT
STATE SECRETARY WILLIAM H.
MEIRS SAYS THE MEMBERSHIP
HAS INCREASED GREATLY
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Especial to "The Jersey city News.'')

Especial to ssThe Jersey City News.")
i TRENTON. Oct. 26. 19O5.--At the
opening session of the thirty am
nnal convention of the State Council, Ju-
nior Order United American Mechanics,
yesterday morning, Governor Stokes was
a visitor. Being introduced by Secretary
William H. Meirs. the Governor spoke
to the members of the council on patriot
ism, good citizenship. education and the
kindly feeling man should have for fell
low man.
The Governor told the council that the
organization WAS one Of the best things
for man. as it enabled him to accom-
plish many things for the bettering of
his condition that would not result from
any other kind of work. He said that
he was union man, that he believed in
| the principle which induced men to band
themselves for the eradication of abuses
in their crafts. in their social conditions
and for the raising of the standard of
citizenship.
After the opening ceremonies 124 new
representatives were welcomed and in
structed in the State Council degree. Re-
ports of officers were then read and acted
upon. That of State Councillor William
| K. Conrad was extremely short. consist
| ing OF but five printed pages. His recon-
mendations were as follows: First, that
/ a special committee of five be appointed
TO examine the State laws with a view
TO shortening them and to give subordl-
nate councils more latitude, the new laws
to be submitted at the next annual meet
ing, be given a second reading two years
hence, and to be finally acted on in 1908.
Second-That a committee of past
State councillors be appointed TO consider
and report a plan whereby the duties of
the State councillor may be lightened.
Third-'I would recommend thai
should you adopt my first recommends
| ton. that provision be made in the laws
for the appointment or election of an as
sistant State secretary to do the work
now performed by the clerk in the Of
/ fee of the State secretary, the salary to
be remuneratiye enough to secure the
services of one of mature age and judg-
ment."
Fourth-That committee of five be
appointed to recommend plan for TAX
/ ing care of the aged and INDECENT mem
bers of the order.
These recommendati tions VIII be con-
sidered late~ this afternoon. 1t is said
/ that many of the delegates are opposed
to any change in the laws. and some of
| them declare that the State council cam
nor legally amend any existing law until
| the session of 1908.
State Secretary William H. aIiers at
the outset of his twenty-fifth annual re-
| port recalled his 0n to his present
office in 1880 and the conditions then ex-.
| tant. He said:
AT that time the order was made up
/ of twenty eight small councils, with
! total worth of $13.501 O4, and a combin-
ed membership of Lab. During the
twenty five years 77,1S persons have been
initiated and 1858 suspended. The to-
tai receipts from all sources have been
/ $4, T89. 1874"
OF this sum the report showed that
$3,3T6,S34.9 was for degree fees and
dues and $1,412,922.57 from all other
SVutNco. tofutc tiOCVf O.t<Z ulGl1D DGTS
have been reinstated; zoos have been ad-
mitted by card; 1851 have been with
4 drawn by card; 342 have been expelled
/ and 2,539 have died. The disbursements
since 1880 have been: Paid for sick bene-
fits, $3.50, T60.14; paid funeral benefits,
! $S0S, ,427.57; paid for investments, $685.
29775; paid per capita tax to the State
Council, $121, ,573.t4 total disbursements,
$4,597, ,O16.55.
On June 80. 1905. the councils in this
State were worth $67D, ,G1233. The
items in this total were: Invested in
real estate, $61, ,O04.96; invested in par
aphernalia, $SS, ,yJ1 .4S: other investments
1896, ,G55.65; cash on hand, S124, ,O09.24.
On July 30. 1880. the councils We're
worth only S13,501 A. making the net
increase for the twenty-five years $657.-
110.S9. The greatest net gain was in
1897. when S76.040. 70 was added to the
worth Of the subordinate councils Last
year this increase was S61, ,955.S6.
The membership statement for the
! year ending June 3d. 1865, gave these
figures: Number enrolled one year ago,
39.256; initiated during the year, 3,540:
reinstated. 405; admitted BY card, 166;
admitted by dismissal card. 3S1; with
drawn by card. 143; suspended, 2.075;
expelled, II; deceased. 26s; number of
members June 80 1905, 40902; net gain
for the year. 1,64G. There are only 547
honorary members in this State. For
the same period the councils paid sick
benefits amounting to S96, ,156 IS, and
funeral benefits. SOS .59991.
Secretary Meirs submitted a supple
nsntary report, showing the membership
in the State on the first of this month
to be Al ,1S3. This is net increase of
2S1 since June 30 last
4 State Treasurer Read reported that he
had received s9,G96.62 for the general
fund. and that his balance at the begin
ming of the year was So, 81 He had
paid out S9.53a A. and had cash on hand
amounting to $2.303 The transactions
in the orphans fund were Receipts,
81, ,G9S 80; expenditures, S1,7l0; balance
Ion ke1d. s9sS.3o.