The Irish standard., 1907-08-10

mathematical tables because theirs ID
a fraternal society. The mortality ia
Bile which the committee adopted il
known as the national fraternal con-
sress table. The committee in it's re-
port shows by a comparison Of that
table with the average rate Of the
Foresters for three years that the
Foresters' death rate has been tribe
higher than the congress table. In
spite Of this fact argument waxed
warm yesterday afternoon at the ses-
sion Of the convention on the adoption
Of the congress table as the basis Of
rates for the order. Nif
The committee considered three
plans in its efforts to remedy the con-
dition created by the deficiency in the
present surplus. BY the frst each
member is to contribute lump sum
Of his share Of the deficiency. or each
member is to reduce the amount Of his
insurance which his present assess
ment will carry, or each member should
pay an adequate assessment rate for
The age he has attained. The last was
the plan adopted by the committee.
The members worked out a scheme by
which members fifty-six years or: over
are to pay an adequate assessment
rate for their attained ages diminished
BY an arbitrary amount. Members
under flfty-six years are to pay at the
rate Of their attained ages diminished
by the amount of the annuity which
their shares in the balance Of the ac-
cumulated benefit fund will purchase.
In the tables Of rates presented by
the committee and the amount of as
sessment to age the rates for members
over hfty-six are so high as to be
considered almost prohibitory. They
are said to be, however. the rates at
which the insurance must be paid
Discussion on the high rate for the
older members was also one Of the fea-
lures Of the debate Wednesday after
noon. 1t was held to be an injustice
to the older men and would force them
from the order. The average age Of
the members of the Foresters is thir-
ty-seven, and it was pointed out that
higher rates to the older men would
be less injustice to them as q whole
than to the rest of the order.
The Foresters and their ladies' were
entertained "Wednesday evening by the
local courts with a boat ride down the
river.
Thursdays Session.
The convention Thursday decided to
make no change in its insurance rates.
This decision was reached after the
better portion Of three days had been
devoted to the discussion Of the pro-
posal to change the rates and after
no less than four different proposals
had been made to increase them.
= The report Of the committee author
lied at the last session to prepare
higher schedule was voted on after
much discussion. The vote was 112 for
|
essary two-thirds for a constitutional
change was lacking, and the report
was not adopted.
Proposals to adopt rate S per cent
lower than that reported by the COM
1nittee were also rejected. Flat In
creases Of IS per cent and Of 80 1-3
per cent over the present rate were
also lost. Sentiment in favor Of a
change in the rates is growing and adj
vocates of a change are confident that
some raise will be adopted at the con-
vention in Montreal in 1909. Two years
ago few could be found who favored
any increase. This convention showed
more than a majority were so minded.
and those who have the best interests
of the future of the. order at heart
hope that the necessary two-thirds
will be persuaded to adopt a higher
rate next time.
The contest for the next place Of
meeting was rather spirited, Montreal
winning on the plea Of the Canadian
members for the honor Of entertaining
the convention. Canton, Ohio, was
next in order Of number Of votes re-
ceived. Other cities contestinx were
Seattle and Milwaukee.
The election of officers occupied the
attention Of the delegates during, the
afternoon until o'clock, and an even
ing session was convened about 9
o'clock to finish the business, after
which the convention adjourned.
The officers elected are:
High chief ranger, Thomas H. Cam
non Of Chicago.
Vice chief ranger. F. x. Biladeau. Of
Montreal.
High treasurer, John A. Linaback Of
Cedar Rapids. Iowa.