The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-15
Decision Of No Real Effect.

Decision Of No Real Effect
The decision recently rendered by Jus
tice Kelly of the New York supreme
court in the case Of Samuel Green, a New
York lawyer. against the Royal Arcanum.
holding that 4 fraternal Insurance so
cicty cannot increase the assessment
rates, is of no real effect since there is
nothing in the ruling to prevent the or
der from increasing the number OF as
sessments. The Royal Arcanum Is the
second oldest fraternal order IN Amer
lea md is now in Its 112th ye!r. Mr..
Green Joined 1t when he was thirty-seven
years old. His monthly assessment was
then Sl.SO. which was increased to Sa,16
In 1895 and to S6.S7 in 1905 The latter
amount he continued paying, under pro-
test. however. but baked when informed
that IL would be increased 10 S16,0S when
Inc reached the age OF 60. 1t was then
that he applied for an injunction and
came when ii was learned that the or
der could make the number of assess
ments twenty-four, instead OF twelve. and
even fifty-two II 1t feels 80 disposed.
The general result Of the decision has
been to give popular airing to widespread
complaints OF treatment accorded the
older members of the order. Those OF
young age can still, IL is claimed, become
members at the original amount, 1sS0,
for $4,000 of insurance.
Ono member writing to Louisville
paper advises the yoqng men men to bo get In
'should the old men be soaked as they
are?" Continuing. he says: Tho order
has contingent or emergency fund OF
on it alone being about s260,00o year
Why not leave that $4,000 900 as it Is
awhile and use the surplus TO assist
IN some way the aged who are driven TO
all sorts Of shifts TO prevent dropping
out?' Wives have been orrven TO seek
assistance In paying their old husbands
assessments and giving notes pay
able at his death, Can any one imagine
n bnryIIln condition nf fblnP3 for
the old man who doesn't die and yet
knows he ought tor
4 man in Patterson, n. J., offers a
present difficulty, he SAYS; Such men
ought not to carry $4,000 insurance. they
ought 10 cut It down TO $1,000 and make
received the following reply:
"Why not cut il 10 nothing and make
it easier stlll2'
Tho Royal Arcanum has had compare
lively smooth sailing for years; but the
older members are certainly making
trouble for II now The general opinion
is that the outcome Of 1t all will be a
change In the law Of the order govern
Ing this particular phase OF the case
Texas Commissioner Dethroned.
Contrary to ali expectations. the senate
OF the Texas legislature refused TO con-
firm the nomination OF Judge William
Hawkins as insurance commissioner, and
Governor Campbell Immediately sent In
the name OF FREDERICK Won ROSenDerS.
well-known citizen of Austin. Tex. said
to be well Informed on insurance mat
ters.
Commissioner Hawkins. who all along
pose him, and who refused to resign
when so requested by the states chief
executive. issued statement following
his dccapitation declaring that "The
governor and the senate have perpelra-
ted upon me one OF the greatest outra ses
ever peipetrated upon any citizen under
any constitution ever written in the Eng
lish language, ard the outrage upon the
people OF Texas Is as great as upon me, "
The commissioner was given a hearing
before the senate prior 10 that body's ac-
ton, and justified himself In the stand
he had taken against Governor Campbell
In the matter of the state rating ques-
ton.
The governor. along with other mem
bers OF rhe railing board. suggested that
the law be suspended until an extra ses-
sion OF tine legislature could be had.
Judge Hawkins came out In opposition
10 this. and threatened TO revoke the Ii
censcs OF the companies who followed
the governors auvice. 1t was then that
Governor Campbell got his ire up and
said he would get the commissioner
scalp.
Both houses OF the legislature are at
present sivlu% daily hearings on the
pending insurance bills. and il Is probs-
bile that the state rating board viii be
done away with altoge thor.
Nineteen fire companies have sought
the aid Of the state courts asking TO have
vacated tho rating boards order which
reduced rates June IS, 53 per cent on
mercantile risks and 20 per cent on
dwellings,. The companies declare that
the rates named arc unreasonable and
contiscatory, and do not allow them ado
duatc compensation for tho hazard as
Sumcd.
Employers Liability Insurance.
New York has added some very radical
changes TO its liability laws, and has also
G,gf tt,,,,
law Of any note in the United SITES. 4
convention OF the officials OF all or the
companies writing that class Of insurance
and doing business in tho state OF New
York has been called for August 10. when
the matter Of rates to meet the new con-
ditinns will bc considered
In this connection. il Is interesting ia
note that AT tho national convention OF
the indust rial accident insurance com
paDes just concluded al Detroit. one of
the speakers gave IL his opinion tina [.
I'm trirr ihn Now York laws