The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-12
STATE FORESTERS i. HELD ANNUAL
 IN DANBURY
Fifteenth Convention At tended by 26O Delegates, Representing Member ship of Over 2O,OOOIRe- ports of Officers.
Special from United Press.)

(Spec1aI from United PreSS.) Danbury. May 12-The fifteenth con- vention of the Grand Court of Con- necticut Foresters of America, opened
 here with 260 delegates in attendance;
 Grand Chief Ranger James c. Roach of Wallingford, presiding. A short address of welcome was delivered by Mayor Williams, which was responded to by Grand Chief Ranger Roach. The following committees were appointed:
 Law and gene D. FOX, Hugh Tole and Edward F. oNeil; appeals and grievances-J. F. Lmer- ick, J. E. Driscoll and G. W. Lambert;
 state of the order1Thomas Law1or, Martin Broderick and William White; mileage and per dfem-W. J. Burnes, NJ. J. Clabby and George B. Maroney; acts and decisions-Andrew J. Welch, B. F.. Hoggett and George B. What nal; returns and credentials-William DeYoung. Thomas Dowd and James A. Stott; observation-disclosures Mcdonald, J.. Calandrille and w. P. Killey; press A. G. Crowell, A. A. Brouder and c. c. Bundle. A
 The reports of the Grand Chief Ranger. Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary were then read.
 Resolutions of sympathy on Cover nor Lilley's death and on the death of of New Britain were adopted The afternoon which began at 2:30, was de- voted to the reports Of the several committees and the discussion of rou- tine matters. A banquet will be held at the Turner House at 6:30 which will be followed by a street parade at 7:S0- The convention all will e held tonight in Foresters' Hall.
 The convention will close tomorrow morning at which time the election of officers will held. As 1t has always been the custom for the Grand Sub Chief Ranger to succeed the Grand vI4 4f<R ,~Tz MY <>4 Waterbury, who holds this office will in all probability, be elected.
 Grand Chief Ranger James c. Roach of Wa11ingford. in his annual report courts of the order in this state during the two years of his term. despite the fact that it had been a period of finan- cial stringency. Three new courts have been instituted and all courts show an increase in membership since the be- ginning of his term. He prophesfed a season of prosperity and growth dur ing the next term, referring particu- larly to the fact that the membership of the courts in the state has increas- ed nearly four hundred since the first of April this year.
 The report recommended that ren1u- neration be provided by the commit tee on mileage and per diem; that a salary be provided for the office of Grand Secretary and that the salary of the Grand Chief Ranger be increased rom $500 10 $600 per year.
 The annual report of Grand Treasur- CT James J. Walsh of Meriden, Conn, showed that the finances of the organ ization were never in better condition. The management fund receipts were s22, ,766.37 while the expenses were $18,- 651.S1, leaving a balance of $4,114.56. The funeral fund receipts were $14,- 409.60, expenses $14,039.52, balance $370.- 0S. The endowment fund receipts were $639.72. expenses $621.70.s balance $1s0S; sick fund receipts $795.05. expenses $39S 50, balance $396.55; organizing fund receipts, $39s.75. expenses $394.35 bal ance $40. The total balance in all funds May 1st. 1909. was $4,s03.60.
 Grand Secretary Thomas OLaugh1in of Naugatuck in his report stated that the management fund showed a loss of $2S7.77 from that of 1907. He ac- counted for this by the fact that the supreme court has raised the amount of per capita tax on subordinate courts from II to 13 cents per capita per year. The present membership of the according to the report, | is 20,s38, a decrease of $40 since \April 1907. The total funds of the subor- dinate courts for the term ending De- cember 31, 1908. was s270 0.179.53, a gain l of $23, 732.25 over that of the previous term. Three new courts have been in stituted during the last term; one at 1 Canaan, one at Windsor and one at | Parkervil1e.