The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-08-17


OF the merger OF societies have ac-
centuated the demand for more state
supervision.
During the past year there have been
two important conferences between
the fraternal committee OF the Insur-
ance Commissioners convention and
the purpose OF formulating a uniform
fraternal society law. At the first
conference a tentative bill was draft
ed. After 1t was printed and circu-
lated a final conference was had on
June Is, In New York. for the purpose
OF overcoming the objections raised
and OF moulding the bill into moro sat
isfactory shape to all those interested
SoIvency Is States Demand.
1.-THE Insurance Commissioners fra
ternal committee takes the position
that all fraternals should be placed
upon safe and solvent basis; that
the societies should be compelled to
take such steps in regard to rates Of
assessments as would place them upon
this footing, and that this result
should follow by mandatory legisla-
ton governing all societies alike. The
societies representatives were inform
ed that this was the purpose Of the
insurance commissioners and that un-
less the societies would agree, legis-
lation In the nature OF a force bill
would be pressed by the insurance
commissioners.
"The outcome Of the New York con-
ference was a compromise rendered
by some OF the representatives OF the
frQfarnQI anntnffAo xvh trh In, hriaf
vided that those societies ut present
not having adequate rates OF contribu-
ton, might be allowed. within q rea-
sonable time, TO progress to q condi-
tion OF solvency. This compromise 10
Incorporated in the revised tentativo
hill, which will be before this con-
gress for discussion and action.
Your executive committee stood
firmly for the principles OF the Ma
tionh Fraternal Congress-. a. hereto
fore enunciated. They decided, how
ever, to report upon tho compromise
sections OF the bill to this congress
and are agreed that the revised ten
tative bill. under the circumstances,
Is the best that can be secured and
will insure the united cooperation OF
all fraternals In the enactment into
law Of a uniform bill"
High Finance 10 drilled.
Concerning the mergers Of fraternA
rce4et4esE wAaeA he referred to- "a
''scandalous transactions" President
Cannon said: Regardless Of the
rights OF members. promoters Of high
finance have undertaken TO merge
the memberships OF different organ1xas
u<x.< 1919 ctxk~>->k OLE hoo
been 20 gobbae the FUNDS OF these %
cietiess pay lasge commissions to the
merger promoters and entirely ignore
the rights Of the members. These
transactions have boen ventilated In
the courts with no credit to the par
ties concerned and have given occar
sion to the enemies OF the fraosrnal
system to decry the whole systsh -
unsafe and unsuind. AZ a conSe-
quence, the good name Of the fraxer-
nails In general has been assailed ana
II is my opinion, therefore, tha& this
congress should take some action or
give some expression an to it's posi-
tion on the merging Of fraternal so
cietiess
Cooperation between the congress
and the Associated Fraternitfes In litf-
CATION affecting fraternd insurance IN
general was mentioned by President
Cannon. important decisions In New
York, Iowa and Texas were reviewed.
The organization Of an association OF
the general counsel Of fraternal so
cieties In both the N. r. c. and A. r.
of A. camps was announced.
v"Our congress" said Mr.. Cover,
stands for adequate rates to proper
iy finance a fraternal society, and the
lodges which belong to the congress
are anxious for such regulation On
the other hand, the Associated Fra
ternities of America IL composed OF
lodges which want to be left alone
lodges which do not want any change
In their financial system. Until the
Associated Fraternities of America
sees Its way clear to come around
to our way of running affairs ! do
not see much chance for the proposed
union"
The congress had the honor of
opening the new convention hall OF
tho Pontchartrain. II 10 a large, airy
and well ventilated hall, beautifully
decorated In pleasing tints and colors,
and provided with individual, gold
tluteO CualTs. Inc dCOu6UC pTOp6r-
ties OF the hall are also all that could
be desired.
Congress Has Fat Balance.
The report OF the secretary treas
urer, @. A. Cover, OF Lansing, show
ed that the congress has balance
OF $3,125.70 on hand. During the past
year the disbursements were So
314.54.
The secretary also reported that
the knights of the Modern Macca-
bees, the w. o. w. Pacific jurisdic-
tion) and the Union Fraternal league
had withdrawn from the congress
during the year; also that, inasmuch
as nothing had been heard from the
Woodmen circle, 1t was presumed
that that body was no longer In the
congress
Speaking with q Times reporter
before the convention opened, Mr..
Cover said he didn't think there was
eny immediate likelihood OF the Ma
t!onal Fraternal congress and the As
| socinted Fraternities of America be-
ing amalgamated, as suggested.
Ballinger Says lie Has