Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-24
TALK OF K. OF c. SUIT.
A Fund of $7OO,0O0 is the Bone of
 Contention.

New Haven, Aug 24,-Some months ago there was discussion among the local members of the Knights of Co., lumbus, as well as among members in other places, in regard to fund of $70O,OOO which had accumulated up to 1902. The whole matter was dis. cussed at the recent meeting of the su- preme council. D. J. Donahuc, of Hartford. in discussing the matter, says:
 "A committee consisting of the Hon John .Phelan, of Bridgeport. ex- supreme knight of the order, Joseph c. Pelletier. esq, of Boston, (now the national advocate), and Dr William T .McNIannis, of New York, then the national physician, were appointed in 1906 to consider the Connecticut pro- position regarding order members. After making careful examination of the matters before 1t, and the lm- possibility of making any immediate change without first determining the ownership of the funds above men, toned, the committee proceedaas fol- lows in it's report: The committee recognizes the force and strength of the argument underlying these reso- lutions, and also those passed by the Connecticut and Rhode Island state councils this year, seeking q reduc- ton of the insurance rate iu favor of the pre-step-rate members of 6O years and over.
 ".In response, therefore, to those several resolutions, this committee recommends that the ownership of the insurance moneys in the treasury of the order on January 1, 1902, (which the pre-step-rate members claim to have accumulated under the old sys- tenn of assessrnent) be judiclally de termlned through and with the aid of the board of directors. The commit tee Is of the opinion that such a pro ceeding should be encouraged. and that the legal or equitable title to such money should be settled.
 "'The committee is advised that the actuary of the order is of the opinion that one or more insurance assess ments can be omitted during the next year without endangeripg the insur- ance system of the order. and thai in the future similar action may bt possible
 "In consequence of this finding by the committee resolutions were adopted providing that the nationa board of directors and the supreme officers cause an insurance assess ment to be dropped whenever upor the advice of the actuary 1t sbal seem proper to do so. It was also voted to have the board of director: bring a friendly suit in the courts oi Connecticut to determine the owner ship of tho fund above mentioned and that a committee of three shal be appointed to serve as follows:
 "'In tho event of decision oi the court In effect declaring that the pre-step-rate members have an inter est or ownership in the insurance funds of the order of December S1 1901, different from that of mem. bers since admitted. or that such funds belong to the whole. member ship individually, then said commit tee shall be prepared to submit tc the board of directors such portion thereof, in favor of such pre-step' rate or other members, as may seem just and proper; and the board oi directors shall report thereon at the next meeting of the national council or said board shall put into opera tion as soon as possible such plan al it may adopt, if 1t be lawful so to do
 "In the event of decision of ths court in effect declaring that suct insurance funds belong to the cor poration, then said committee shal be prepared to submit to the boart of directors plan for the use there of in order to lessen the monthly as sessment of the members over ags SO, either by new contract, giving of notes, an economic plan of insur ance, or in such other manner as ts them seems just and proper. Ths board of directors shall report there on to the next meeting of the na tional council
 Taking the convention as a who'll, 1t may be said that it represented the highest order of manhood 1T North America. It was a pleasur' to behold the fraternalixatIon of mel of brilliant parts coming from tn north, the south. the east and th. west. and to note the determination of all to serve their constituents fl such a manner as to work for thu ennoblement and endurance of th' order"