Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-24
MAINE CENTRAL RELIEF
Members Discuss Its Condition and
Needs at Bangor Meeting.
(Rangor COMMERCIAL


The conditions and needs of the Maine
Central Relief Association were ably dis
eussed at an enthusiastic meeting of
railway trainmen, Sunday afternoon.
Despite the unfavorable conditions of
the weather, there was very good at
tendance, a point which was clearly
brought out by all the speakers on
the occasion. w. A. Wheeler, chief dis
pateher. called the meeting to ORDER and
acted as its chairman, and he intro
duced for the first speaker John A Web
Der. secretary of the association
Mr.. Webber began by recalling the
origin of the association. inasmuch as
there We're some in attendance, who did
not understand how the relief had its
beginning. He remarked that in the
year 1887, in the early fall, Leroy H.
Foss, at that time a young clerk i'm the
general offices at Portland, made the
suggestion to f. A. Hall. president, that
an association such as that of the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad be organized The
suggestion was duly considered, and APP
pealed favorably to the officials and
November I. 1887. saw the birth of the
relief association.
Mr.. Webber further remarked that the
association had started with an extreme
ly small membership. but rapidly in
creased in its strength The first death
benefit was paid to the beneficiaries of
Johnson Boothby, father of Wallace
Boothby, now an engineer in the EN-
ploy of the company. The association is
now strong relief. having present
standing of 1868, of whom 3Sl are ex-
semployes. He brought before the mem
bers. the ways of losing members. Death
and leaving the company's employ were
the principal ones. The first cause he
said was inevitable The second he ex-
planned by remarking that the railroad
man was of natural floating DISPOSE
ton.
In the classification of the expenses as
stated by Mr. Weber. the following
statements may be of interest. From
January, 1912. to and including June of
the same year, the relief paid 10 death
claims amounting to $4,000 and 10 dis
ability claims amounting to $780, making
a total of s16, $50 returned to the members
and their beneficiaries. This was done
he remarked by $50 per month. Rela-
tive to salaries. the small sum of $500 has
been paid this year. He has worked
hard for the association. and has been
recompensed only by thanks The re-
serve fund amounts to $4,000; sS76,S94 has
been paid out in death claims since the
organization and $ls2.200 in disability
claims.
: Vice President Horace II. Towle fol-
lowed, and his remarks dealt largely
with the non-interest of some members
brought about by the concentration of
the board of directors at Portland, which
he explained as necessary, because when
they were separated it was almost inn
possible to gather them in meeting.
F. H. Ramsdell, master mechanic in the
Watervile shops, discussed the decreas-
ing of the expense by the increasing of
the membership, and f. s. Whitney adj
dressed a few words relative to the bene-
fit derived from the relief Chairman
Wheeler urged all the members to strive
earnestly to obtain new members for the
association, and gave as an example for
them to follow. Albert Nickerson, an
employee of the eastern division. who
has already secured 10 new members.
The meeting was concluded by an UNI
animous vote to send President Hall a
vote of thanks and appreciation for his
valuable services as president of the as
sociation