The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-03
ACTUARY SCORES
PVT HAN LODGE
Says Supreme Body Should Re-
licvc Fourth-Class Insur-
ancc Members.
ACTION IN TENNESSEE
Appeal Made to Insurance Com
missioner Folk, Who Con
siders Question.
ACTION IN TENNESSEE

Members Of the fourth class OF in
surance benefclaries In the knights OF
PEthias all over the country have re-
| Gently been deeply and sharply inter-
ested in the big increase in rates made
In their class. Some of these In Ten
hessec have appealed 10 State Insur
hhce Commissioner Reau e. Folk to
axe some action. An auctuary has in
VeStiSated AMI made a report n hear
inE has been had and Commissioner
FOLK has taken the matter under adj
visement.
The actuary's report. which mako,
interesting reading, is in part as fol-
lows: oi
II would be a conservative estimate
10 say mat 100000 was contributed in
( lv"' by the fourth class. making a total
OF not less than sGs3,OOo paid toward
expenses by the members of that c,ass
ne secretary of the board states that
Inc sum of s39i.000 was 'eXpended 10
start the fifth class indicating that y
considerable amount of the accumu-
lasted funds of the fourth class was
used. ""S
The balance in the expense fund ~
the fourth class December 81. 1900 vas
Si2l,665. The information was moi
furnished az to how much of thIs
amount was used 10 start tho nf,b
class Whether or not this sio1 665
was included in the comprehensiye
trust fund declaration of the supreme
! iodge in 1906 Is for you to decide.
While the members of the fourth
class were contributing to the promo
ton of the NTH class and losing man
pers by the thousands through trans
iers and other causes. they were com
peiled 10 pay FIVE extra assignments
toward the mortuary fund of that
class
During the same period gains and
SAVINGS were being apportioned to tho
members OF the fifth class in reduction
OF the number of their assessments
me omitted number being about mo
same as the extra number levied
against the fourth class.
Point to Decide.
II Is Tor YOU to iecide whether or
not the equities are satisfied when ono
class contributes half a million dollars
ana more toward the establishing OF
another class, then nave no recogni-
ton Of such assistance in the distribu-
ton of surplus to the other class of
more than half a million dollars.
II Is Tor you to decide whether or
not secret fraternal order can estab
iish an insurance department. and an
propriate AT will the contributions Of
one CLASS OF members Tor the benefit OF
another class OF members without re-
ciprocal benefits and without returns
or accounting OF any character.
Al the end of the year 1905 the
lourth class had accumulated about
si.5oo,o00 for Its mortuary fund. In
addition 10 s42l,G65 in its expense
fund.
on October 81. 1911, there was moth
ing to the credit of the fourth class
as an expense fund anu only s5s3ssI
remained in the mortuary fund. Thr
insurance department had an EXPENSE
tuhd which is being used for the pro-
motion OF the fifth class.
Might Reduce Rates.
material reduction In the cxces-
s''e!S hish rates might have been
made had this mortuary accuru,a,inn
been applied TO the relief OF the ared
members. To demand a monthly nav
ment of Sis.60 on $1,000 of protection
-S535.20 a year-amounts to a notice
TO quit the ofurth class. Undoubtedly
there was necessity for rerating the
members OF the fourth class. Thar
necessity existed in 1901. 1t was more
pronounced in 1904 and still NOR.
pressing in 1906 and 1905, and had he
come imperative By 1910.
The supreme lodge now placAs tho
members OF the decmated fourth class
upon the fifth class rates texteuded 10 !
me extreme age OF 90), with expense
loading Included. and makes OF them
q separate ana distinct society without
any advantage on account of accumu-
lated funds and without restitution
OF amounts appropriated for the build
ing up of the fifth class.
1t is my firm conviction Gas ex-
pressed In 1000 that the supreme
lodge as such should assume part OF
the crushing burden that it has thrown
upon the members of the fourth class
III you can find some way TO compel as
sistance from the supreme lodge. IT
IS my opinion that you should do so.
Relief should be voluntary from fra.
ternal society, but the supreme lodge
has given little evidence of a sentiment
OF charity in its treatment of the
fourth class during the last six wears
If you have the power 10 compel com
pliance with the resolution of 1901.
peHeve you should exercise IL.
Should Demand Relief.
/ recommend that you demand the
application of the mortuary accumula-
ton for the relief of the aged members
Of the fourth class. and that you de-
mand an accounting and a restitution
TO the fourth class Of the funds and
contributions appropriated to build nm
the fifth class, and that the same be