The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-28
RAISE The RATES.
FraternaI Insurance Companies
Plan an Increase.
Have Agreed Upon Bill to Be
introduced.
THE TIME HAS COME.
Supt. Barnes Says Change Must
BE Made.
Otherwise This Glass of In
surance VIII Fail.

Superintendent Charles W. Barnes
of the insurance department of the
state said today that all the fraternal
insurance organizations doing business
in this state had united and agreed
upon a measure to be presented to the
next legislature which shall provide
for an increase in the assessment of
the policy holders. There are 2S0, 900
Kansas that will be affected by this
raise, SO the Importance of the bill
cannot be overeStimated- The new
rate proposed will be a maximum rate
and apply to all fraterna1 organiza-
tions. A similar bill will be introduce
ed in all the state legislatures of the
country next winter.
The records Of the fraternal organ
iZatfons show that their charter mem
bers are getting old. That thousands
and thousands of policy holders are in
the sixties and even in the seventies.
The organizations must provide for
means with which to meet the in
creased death rate that stares them
in the face. The assessment rates up
on which these organizations were
founded are not sufficient to carry
them through the years. They must
add new members constantly in order
to keep going. When the membership
increase in rates come up. Many of
these organizations have suits now in
the courts contesting their right to
increase the rates.
According to Supt. Barnes the time
has come when this matter of in
crease IN rates must be considered If
the fraternal organizations are to con-
tinue to exist. The superintendent
recommends to the legislature careful
consideration of the plan to establish
a new and higher rate for all the frat
ernals. The new rate will be a max
imum one and will apply to all new
as well as the old societies 1t will
prevent the organization of a new So
ciety under a rate not sufficient to be
maintained continuously. The money
collected from the increase in the rate
is to be set aside as a reserve fund to
be built up and used on a modern and
scientific insurance basis
Now every Kansas legislature for
past twenty-five years has been COM
posed largely of members belonging
to some fraternal society or other. Al
least 130 out of the $50 members OF
insurance order of some kind. What
will such a mem mbership do with a bill
which proposes to raise their insur-
ance assessments? Will they recognize
the necessity for an increase in the in
terest of their societies, or will they
allow their personal interest TO IN
fuence their consideration of the mat
ter? It is a serious proposition. The
insurance bill will be one of the mos
important considered at the next ses.
sion.
Senator ]. H. Stewart of Sedgwicl
county, a member of the conservative
wing of the insurgents of Kansas
speaking of the coming session of tn
legislature and the redemption of plat
form promises, says:
eff we are to have the initiative anC
referendum, as I presume we must. tn
| law must provide for respectable
| number of voters signing the petition
| if it gets my support.
1.-THE recall probably will be passes
without my assistance If 1t becomes
| law, and I perhaps will not be consid
cred an enthusiast for a number o
| other proposed freaks in legislation.
'I am not anxious for experiment
| in legislation. At present I have i
| mind only some slight amendments t
few existing laws to make them NOR