The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-09
OLDER MEMBERS
OF K. OF C. LOSE
FRIENDLY SUIT
Supreme Court of Connecticut
Hands Down Far-Reaching
Decision
Mortuary Fund That Existed
Prior to 1902 Must Apply
to Whole Membership

~ w nOlC WkCIllUCl SkllU
BY q decision handed down yester-
day afternoon the Supreme court OF
the State Of Connecticut has decided
adversely to the claims of the older
members of the knights Of Columbus,
who petitioned to have a certain por-
ton of the orders reserve fund set
aside to abate the assessments of
those who were members Of the order
prior to 1902.
The courts action sets at rest once
and for all a vexed point in the
knights of Columbus organization,
and may have an important influence
on other fraternal organizations.
While the action originated in Bridge
port, and received its first trial here.
In effect 1t means that the oldest
members Of the knights of Columbus
must pay heavy assessments. even
though they belonged to the order at
its inception. before 1t was changed
from q purely fraternal organization
into q more comprehensive insurance
society.
While this decision is seeming hard
ship on many Of the older members,
as rule the expression Of opinion
among them today Is to the effect
that they are content to forget their
personal loss and regard it as a sac
rifice to the welfare of the order. The
courts decision places the Knights of
Columbus on an insurance basis as
sound an = the staunchesE of the OLD
line companies.
The suit throughout was contested
with the friendliest feeling on both
sides. and its trial was necessitated
within the knights of Columbus. due
to the orders change of policy regard
Ing insurance in 1902.
The nominal plaintiff in the case
was Judge Patrick Kane of this city,
and Attorneys Miles NJ. Dawson and
A. Q. Harwick of New York two in
surance experts.
For the knights of Columbus. the
awyers were Attorney William Ken
ledy of Waterbury, District Attorney
lanes Pelletier of Boston. and Attor-
ley Frank Lafey of Boston.
The case was tried before the Su-
,erior court in Bridgeport last Octo-
Der and went TO the Supreme court on
reservation. From the length of time
hat has transpired il is evident that
he Supreme court has given the case
is carefullest decision. warranted
" the importance of the precedent
hat is established.
This is not the first trial of its kind
within the Knights kof Columbus. 4
imilar suit was brought before with
n this State. and decided in favor of
he organization.
After the bringing Of that suit a
lumber of similar suits in other or
Jew York and the decisions there
we're favorable to the bringers of the
uits
Taking this as a favorable symptom
# the aspect of the courts some of
he older members in the Knights of
ase in Connecticut that should be so
comprehensive as to settle the matter
nee and for all. For this purpose
Judge Patrick Kane came forward as
he nominal plaintiff and brought suit.
t was agreed that the welfare of the
he question be decisively settled, and
he more speedy the settlement. the |
etter the organiza ton could make it's
lans for the future.
The Supreme courts ruling provides |
he required settlement. and there is |
o appeal
The history of the case dateg back |
D the organization of the Knights OF |
Columbus in 1882. The society was |
hen almost purely a fraternal organi- |
alton. In order to benefit the FAM I
les of deceased members it was pro- !
ided that on the death of member.
ach living member of the order
hould be assessed 81 and the amount |
e paid to the family of the deceased. |
his process was continued until the |
membership of the order passed the
900 mark. and the payment Of
cath benefit was limited to $1,000
AS the order grew and its member
nip came to be numbered in many
a very considerable reserve
Ind was accumulated. In 1902. this
md amounted to between $4,000 and
100. 00o
At that time a radical change was
ade In the insurance plan, upon the
surance actuafes in the country.
was decided that in order to pro
de for the future Of the order and
prevent a repetition Of the expert
ice of some other fraternal insur-
ice societies. a step-rate rl'1 Of as
ssment must be adopted. based up
/ the age Of the members
1t was foreseen that as the orig
al members Of the order reached old
re. the death rate would increase
Try rapidly and some provision was
,cessary to meet this contingency.
SO the step-rate plan was then
Iopted. This largely increased the
sessment Of the older members. 200
300 per cent in many cases.
In view Of the fact that the older
enbers themselves by their own
Lynents had accumulated the big re-
:. V Icy thoushI thdt IL was
ly Just when this new policy was
Iopted that the reserve fund should
applied to mitigate their assess
ents. $
This was the basis of the lawsuit
lich has Just been determined adj G
rsely TO the claims of the older ]
errbers. |
The court has decided that the NOR {
airy fund which existed prior to 1902 I
indeed trust fund, as the old {
embers claimed but that It must I
ply to all the members Of the order {
a whole. and not simply to those t
10 Joined before 1902. K