Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-12-30
MANY STATES WILL.
PASS FRATERNAL
INSURANCE LAWS
PREDICTION BASED ON
NEW YORK CONF ERENCES

Amendments but Other De- |
partments and the Fraternal
Societies win Recommend
Uniform Measure as Drafted.
Especial Correspondence TO Morning Journail
Chicago, Dec 2S,--The prediction is
made by Charles T.. Piper, chairman
of the joint committee representing
the National Fraternal Congress and
Associated Fraternities of America
with nearly 100000 members, that,
as result of the recent conference
with insurance commissioners In New
York, the commissioners uniform
bill', for regulation of fraternal in
surance will be passed by nearly every
state legislature which convenes this
winter. The measure is designed TO
conserve the outstanding fraternal III
surance in the country which now TO-
tale over nine billion dollars as COM
pared with twelve billion dollars OF
the "old line companies" The per-
petuity of the fraternal system has
been threatened by the inadequate
rates established at the outset OF
fraternai insurance fifty years ago.
"In my Judgment the prospect FOR
the uniform legislation, which the m
surance commissioners have propos-
ed during the winter sessions OF leg
islatures Is now very bright, MI.
Poper said.
correspondence with the various
commissioners showed that In nearly
every state in which sessions OF the
legislatures are to be held during the
coming winter. the bin will be intro
duoed and recommended by the insur-
ance department,
"The most important development,
came in the knowledge that the ira
ternal leaders were unanimous IN sup
port of the bill. and that the various
societies represented by them were
nrepared to use their best efforts In
support of the commissioners In Sc
curing the passage of the bill.
THUS far only two small societies
have been found In opposition. inc
Praetorian Guards of Dallas, Texas,
would like to have a larger interest
assumption in making valuations than
four per cent The commissioners
and the fraternal leaders We're unani-
nous In the thought that a four per
cent interest assumption is as nlsh
an assumption as could be regarded
safe.
"The Modern Samaritans OF Du-
luth MINI. through their actuafyt
presented a number of criticisms upon
the bill. Their opposition however
is not regarded as serious from ine
fact that the society Is not now ope-
rating under the Minnesota fraternai
law and is not regarded rs in any
proper sense fraternal organiza-
ton
"rommIssloner Hotehkis of New
York suggested two or three amend-
ments for which he said the New
York department would stand. lie
reported, however, that in every 9TH
er respect the New York demarlment
was prepared to accept the bill. BY
agreement this department is to pre-
pare such a bill as viii meet the en-
dorsement OF the department, and
submit same to the special committee
appointed by the two fraternal or
ganizations, for approval or disap-
proval.
Commissioners Hardison Of Massa-
chusetts, desired to make number or
changes in conformity to practice IN
Massachusetts. Ills sugsesAous'
however, did not meet with the favor
of the fraternal representatives ana
fn lher conference viii be necessary
in Massa chusetts
",rhe uniform bill for the regua-
ton of fraternal benefit societies IS
now pretty well understood by the
managers of the various societies. The
executive committee of the national
fraternal congress and of the Asso-
ciated Fraternities of America, to-
gether with the special committee in
charge of the fraternal interests re-
lating to the bill, were all on hano'
Every phase of the situation with
to the enactment OF the bill
into law was carefully inquired into.
Regarding the commissioners bill
as it affects the future Of fraternal
society A. L. Hereford, former pres
Ident OF the National Fraternal CON
gress and supreme chancellor OF the
Court OF Honor said:
"The new uniform insurance law.
If enacted az agreed upon and after
wards faithfully administered, Will
bring every fratcrnal ben
eficiary society upon the same basis
with approximately the same mortu-
ary rate, with the added assurance
that all of them are of sound and
permanent nature.
aside from compelling every fra
ternal beneficiary society TO deal hon
estly with the insuring public and TO
make good its promises to its mem
bers. the proposed new law viii not
disturb the affairs OF the associa-
tions, and ample time is allowed TO
the societies to readjust In conform
Ity with its provisions
"The bill iF not all that many OF
the advanced fraternalists would de-
sire nor does II express the position
Of belief of any single fraternalist OF
Insurance Commissioner. but like
most important measures, Is com
posite of numerous views and ideas
In some sense . compromise. but
chiefly valuable.
1T may develop that the bill when
enacted into law will prove as good
, law as could be made. n. what
Is more likely It shall prove deieet-
I've in one CT many particulars, the