The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-15
WOODMEN SUFFER
. SHARP CRITICISM
Examiners Find Extray-
agance in Sovereign
Camp.
PAID THEMSELVES
LARGE PER DIEM
Enormous Mileage Allowances
Related in Official Report,
Pointed Out That Remedy
Is in Publicity and Demand
for Reforn-Big Mem
bership in Virginia.

EXtrara sance on tho part Of the
members OF the Sovereign Camp. cnor-
nous per diem and mileage allow
ances, high cost Of new business and
lack Of competition in the contracts
for printing and supplies. arc among
the allegations against the Sovereign
Camp Of Woodmcn Of the World, made
by committee of examination The
report was flied yesterday with tho
Virginia Bureau of Insurance.
While the statement made by the
official examiners will not be at all
pleasant reading to the 5,ib6 members
in this state. there is no immediate oc-
casion for alarm. In fact, with these
members themselves rests the oppur.
tdnity for reform in the manag cement
OF affairs Publicity is advocated by
the examiners, so that a repetition oil
undesirable conditions may be avoided
Big Organizations.
The Sovereign Camp of Woodmcu of
the World is believed to be the sec
ond largest fraternal beneficiary or
sanization in existence. It has good
surplus so far, pays its claims prompt
". and shows spirit OF square deal
Ing. according to the report. II seems
however, that a raise OF rates in the
future Is inevitable. While this subject,
Is not specifically treated at this time
an insurance authority says that It's
method OF creating a reserve is not
sound according to acturial standards
while 1t is solvent under the laws OF
the State because it has the power TO
make unlimited assessments.
These examinations are now made
Jointly by agreement between state
Commissioners OF Insurance. IN this
instance the States of Minnesota, South
Carolina and Nebraska Joined in max I
ing the investigation and report.
.'ExtravaEnncc mt Zenith,
Il appears that the Sovereign Camp
meetings OF the order have cost as
high as s3S,52o.TS. Its mem bcrs have
supreme power and could vote them
selves any amount of per diem and
mileage. The electromagnetic reached
its zenith" according to the report, at
the meeting In Norfolk in 1870. The
members of the Sovereign Camp voted
themselves SIS per day each. and In
addition 10 cents per mile In addi
ton, they took SIS per day for travel.
The body was in session ten days, ac-
cording to the record. yet the rulers
paid themselves twelve days per diem.
and in addition took travel pay. near
~ all for six, seven or eight days. and
days Most of them turned in an ac-
count OF ooo 10 800 miles Travelled.
and seven turned in more than 1000
miles.
The examiners secured a caiculatio
from a railroad man as to the time
used In travel from certain points. II
was learned that while the railroad
time from Fort Worth to Norfolk is
f,fty-scven hours and fifteen minutes.
I, al
lowed eight days pay for travel alone.
From San Antonio the time is fifty
two hours, vet here ten days was al
lowed and paid for. From st. Louis
the distance IS thirty-onc hours, and
the man got eight days.
Travelled Mt Homo.
When the body met In Detroit one
man who lived right in the city got
two days pay for travel From Cedar
Rapids to Detroit. twelve hours is con
sumed in travel, yet delegate was
However, the order became at least
partially aroused TO the condition OF
affairs. since twelve OF the twenty one
making the time Of meetings limited TO
one week, and limiting the per diem to
$40, The latter has been adopted.
AT the Norfolk meeting the sovereign
although he was getting a salary Of
$4,000 a year from the order. The
sovereign clerk was paid S4S6.20 for his
per diem and expenses, in addition to
his annual salary OF $500: the SOY ;
ereign adviser S45o.60. with a salary of
IS, 1000, and the sovereign banker got
$4,000. in addition to his salary Of
$4,000. IS
Three Millions Psfd.
The Woodmen of the World do an
enormous business, having paid out So.
soe,s7s.e7 in death claims during the
past fiscal year. The cost of new mem
bers is very high, but the examiners
were not prepared to say there was en-
trava gance here.
The cost of printing and lodge sup
plies. says the report, is exorhitant. It
amounted to S13a.96S19 in one year.
Most Of this is done by a. l. Root.
opera ting as the Beacon Press. of
Omaha. II is not stated whether or
not he is n relative of Joseph c. Root
the sovereign commander The latter
has ritual copyrighted. and the report
recommends that this be turned over
in the name of the order.
The book value OF certain pieces of
property owned arc too high. say the
examiners. Further, they remark that
the advertising matter does not state
the whole truth regarding old age dis
ability benefits.