Smyrna times., 1905-03-15
SECRET SOCIETY MEASURE
KILLED BY LEGISLATURE

KILLED BY LEGISLATURE
INSURANCE c COMMISSIONER MARSHALL Az
terra CONFERENCE HAS 1T POSTPONED.
Representatives of the Fraternal Beneficiary
Societies Conferred With Insurance Com
missioner, and Decision Was Reached
Insurance Commissioner George W.
Marshall's measure to regulate fra
ternal beneficial societies will not be
enacted by the present Legislature. 1t
was indefinitely postponed by common
consent after Insurance Commissioner
Marshall had conferred with a large
delegation of fraternal Society men.
In the delegation were Olin Bryan of
Baltimore, general counsel of the Fra.
ternal Congress; F. l.. Howard, of
Waverly, N. Y, general counsel of the
Associated Fraternies; Captain H. @.
Robinson of the Associated Fraterni-
ties, and former member of the Iowa
Legislature; Grand Master Workman
Edward F. Kane, of the Ancient Order
United Workmen of Delaware; Su-
preme Commander John Treibler of
the Legion of the Red Gross of Balti-
more; D. F. Leary of Wilmington, re-
presenting the Catholic Benevolent
Legion; William T. Henry of Balti-
more, representing the Shield of
Honor. In asking for the indefinite
postponement of the bill on the floor
of the House, Insurance Commission Ell
Marshall said;
''There are Isl fraternal associations
in the United States, of which GA be-
long to the Fraternal Congress and 81
to the Associated Fraternities. Thurs.
day the 119 societies were represented
by counsel before the Insurance Com.
missioner and the bill was thoroughly
gone over.
''Since the bill was prepared and
printed the Fraternal Congress Execu
tive committee, together with the ex-
ecutiye committee of the National As
sociation of Insurance Commissioners
drafted bill. Since then the Asso
ciated Fraternities also drafted a bill
There are differences between these
bills .and measure of the Insurance
Commissioner now pending, which
should be reconciled. Within the next
year all organizations will be able to
agree on a uniform bill, which will be
presented for enactment two years
hence.
81 assure you that L was sincere in
offering this measure, and my desire
is to protect the public, the widows
and children from wildcat fraternal
schemes"
At the suggestion of DIR. Marshall,
Mr.. Howard was given the privilege Of
the foeF; and spoke along similar
ines. He said:
ST want to express our thanks to
your honorable insurance commits
sioner for the fair way in which he has
received and treated the representa-.
tives of the various fraternal societies. >
Captain Robinson said: "We leave
your city with the firm conviction
that yo4r insurance commissioner, DR.
Marshall is not only courteous, fair
and honorable, and would not advo
cate bill which he believed to be un.
fair, but he also is a warm friend of all
legitimate fraternal societies."
Edward F. Kane, Grand Master O
the Ancient Order United Workmen
said the bill would not affect that ordei
materially, but it had no desire to i'm
pose it upon other societies that nigh
be affected by the measure if enacted
Mr.. Kane thanked Insurance Commits
sioner Marshall for his fairness aud
added that there is sufficient law t,
regulate fraternal beneficial societie
for the next.two years at least.
Representative T. o. Cooper pre-
sented protests from the Red Men an,
Odd Fellows against the bill.
On motion of Representative Van
denburg, the bill was killed by bein
indefinitely postponed.