The Washington times., 1906-09-01
WAR DEPARTNEN
BENEFICIAL PLAN
Association Is One of the
First of Its Kind to Be
Formed.
GOOD RESULTS ATTAINED
Sliding Scale Of Assessment Rates
Adopted Six Months Ago
Being Tried.

With a reduction In revenue per as
sessment aggregaung approximately
$50. and no appreciable increase in
membership the officers of the War
Department Beneficial Association are
asking themselves whether the sliding
scale of the assessment rates is q sue
cess. so far as organizations OF that
character are concerned. The change
In rates was adopted .ess than six
months ago, AT the annual meeting OF
the association, and while IL is con-
ceded that sufficient trial has not
been accorded the plan as yet. its adv0-
Gates confess disappointment at the re-
suits attained.
More than normal interest in the eN-
pertinent has been evidenced not only
IN the War Department but through
out ali OF the departments of the Gov
eminent as The movement for rate re-
vision in fratema1 orders has proved
infectious and there IS hardly branch
of the service where some cons:dera-
ton of the subject has not prevailed.
The War Department association holds
a position of prominence in this field
or endeavor for the reason that ii was
one OF The nTsL III not the very FIRST.
OF the departmental associations or
ganiZed. its birth having been signal
of clerks of the surgeon generals office
signed q mutual subscription agree
menL'
Membership Of Association.
At the present time the immediate
relief association, as it is sometimes
called. has fraction less than 600
members. paws $3.50 Immediately upon
the reporting of the death of any mem
ne
privileges of membership 10 such mem
beers OF the state and Navy depart
meuts as are employed In the State,
War ard Navy Building. The original
assessment was 81 Tor each member.
irrespective of age, but the new rates
require the payment of but 90 cents
for those under thIrty-flye years OF age.
e. cents for members from thirty-lVe
10 forty-uine years, and 81 for all over
The new plan was not adopted with
out opposition. although 10 was conceded
that the uniform rate was hardly equit-
able 10 the younger members.
Conduct of the Affairs.
on the other hand it was held that
while an organization Of this character
should be conducted on business princl-
pies. there should peryade the entire
structure OF its existence a charitable
regard for past associates, a feeling that
the contribution was more a testimonial
Of esteem to the departed
Speaking OF the new rates, Major
George b. Corsou, secretary and treas
uTer of the association. said that while
no appreclable results had been attained
by the change OF rates, other than the
reduced revenue per assessment, with
the consequent necessity of reducing the
number of assessments, he was SATISFIED
that "a sufficient time had not elapsed 10
determine definitely the eXpediency Of
the experiment. and that the members
of the association would undOu Jtedly
continue the present rates tn force for
several years at least to give the plan
fair and impartial trial
Purpose Of Organization.
The purpose of the organization he
continued, was 10 provide "a fund for the
benefit OF the families OF deceased fell
low-employes. and do away with the for
mer subscription lists, which even In
the most worthy cases never realized
sum sufficient TO defray che actual lu-
neral expenses. let alone providing food
and shelter tur family OF helpless chill
dren until other means or support were
found.
From the date of the original agree
ment i'm 1881 up 20 January, 1898, $50 $3.50
were paid 70 beuedciaFies, and from the
latter date 90 the present time SOS 642. %.
making a total OF SIS 45O-25 paid out by
the association in relief. There have
been a total OF pa deaths of those In
good standing I'm the association.