The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-05-12
STATE FORESTERS
ARE WELCOMED BY
PRESIDENT RYAN
Delegates Hold Annual COnyen-
ton and Hear Report of
Chief Ranger.
ORDERS MEMBERSHIP
AND FINANCES INCREASE
Organization Has Balance of
$500, 900 and l7,4O9
in Its Ranks.

Nearly $50 state delegates to the an
nual convention of the Foresters Of
America are in session today at Kurz's
Colosseum. The morning session was
taken up with the reports of the State
officers for 1907 1908. The officers for
this year will be elected today.
Fl NJ, Thompson, a newspaper man
of Leona, was nominated for the posi-
tion of Grand High Chief ranger with
out opposition. He will be elected TO
that office ate today.
The session was opened at 10 o'clock
by Patrick II. Ryan, president of the
Common Council. According to the
report of the grand chief ranger En-
manuel S~onnabend, of this city. no
courts have been dissolved or become
defunct, and two new courts, n at
Egg Harbor City and n at High
lands. had been established Three
thousand seventy-two new members
were initiated during the year, though
the suspension for non-payment OF
dues, due to business depression, with
drawals and other losses, brought the
net increase down to s4S. The total is
now IL. 400.
Mr.. Sonnabend recommended strongly
to the convention that they change the
terms of the grand courtroom one year,
as at present, to two, as, in his oplll-
ion, a one-year term is too short Tor the
court TO formulate n develop a policy.
He also suggested that a grand court
mortuary benefit fund be established.
instead of the fund of h individual
courts now maintained.
Finances In Good Condition.
The financial condition of the order.
Mr.. ~Sonnabend said, is excellent. n
unencumbered balances in this State
now total sz01. 144, iii. an increase OF
SIS, 500 ~, in spite of heavy drains upon
the treasury, such as the per capita tax
paid to the Supreme Court, Whlen
amount in 1907 to S2,S97,43.
His recommendations were:
That the office of supervising deputy
be re~established, and that the incoming
grand chief ranger be empowered to
appoint eight supervising deputies who
shall have power.
That the per capita tax remain as
1t is at the present time.
That a committee of five be appointed
to formulate some plan of insurance
whereby the payment of mortuary
benefits may be centralized and con-
trolled by the executive council.
That a committee of five be appointed
TO evise the present grand cou laws
and eodify them.
Thai instead of presenting the out
going grand chief range with a regalia
suitable to his station, a jewel be sub
stituted.
That the conventions be held bien-
nially.
That the list of Grand Court commit
tees be increased by an additional
committee of three members, to be
known as a press committee.
That the committee on acts n de-
cisions be abolished.
Salary for Chief Ranger.
That the grand chief ranger be paid
a salary.
That a committee of three on recon-
mendation for changes in written and
unwritten work be appointed.
That regalias appropriate to their
rank and standing be furnished 10
grand auditors.
That the members of the grand board
of appeals be required to attend the
convention of the grand court at each
session.
That a committee of five. to consider
the establishment of a Forestic home
and worthy members of the order be
appointed.
Secretary Makes Good Report.
Grand Secretary Z. M. Donnelly, of
Jersey City. also made a very favor