The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-01-25
Woodmen in Opposition to
Change of Rates Active
in Chicago.
6lHEhS WATCHING CONTEST
First Meeting of Head Camp Session
Fails to Bring Any Agreement as to
Change in Rates to Be Charged for
Insurance and Session may Be Long.

Plans for increasing the rates of life
insurance in the Modern Woodmen of
America, called the largest fraternal
society in the United States, were
promptly attacked after being present
Ell to the national convention which
opened in Chicago yesterday.
The note of dissent came first from
delegates from Kansas and Missouri,
who objected to the accumulation OF
large reserve fund by raising the rates.
Speakers against the report of the
revision committee, which formulated
the plans, said any revision upwards
would have tendency to drive the old
men out Of the order, as many OF them
could not afford to pay the increase.
Charles Page, of Oberlin, Kas., said
q number Of old men in his camp told
him before he started to Chicago that
if the rates were increased they would
not pay another assessment. When the
second day session opened today there
was little chance of agreement ON any
Of the plans proposed.
CT regard the problem before the
convention largely as one of educa-
tion," said A. r. Talbot, head consul
OF the order. "Upon the facts, of our
history and upon the foundation of all
past life insurance experience but one
conclusion can be reached on this rate
question. There cannot be an honest
difference of opinion on question Of
mathematics, but there may be honest
differences due to a lack of informa-
ton.
Among members who spoke in favor
OF the increased rates were State Sena-
tor q. G.. Saunders, OF Council Bluffs,
Ia, and William S. Hedrick, of Ind
annapolis.
Many officials from other fraternal
societies and several insurance commits
sioners are, attending the convention.
They are watching the developments, as
it is asserted that whatever action is
taken must have marked effect on
envy fraternal insurance organization.
Eight hundred delegates representing
tho United States and Canada are in
attendance. The meeting is being held
in the Globe theater, Wabash avenue
and Hubbard court.
The question of insurance rates af-
fects about 100000 Woodmen. They
have now in force insurance to the
amount of $l,S62 600, 900. Through in
creased rates it is proposed to add an
additional income of $22 900 an
nually for the benefit of older mem
bers by raising the charges on younger
members. By this plan about $4,000
members from is to 81 years old will
be asked to pay higher rates for the
relief of 275,000 older members.
Sixteen states have enacted into
their insurance laws what is known as
the Mobile bill, approved by state in
surance commissioners in convention in
Mobile, Ala, in August, 1910. This bill
was defined as valuation and publiei-
ty measure for regulation of fraternal
beneficiary societies.
The effect Of the Mobile bill on the
Modern Woodmen, beginning Dec. 81,
1914, viii be to require the organization
to make annual valuations of its insur-
ance obligations and measure these OBJ
legations with the income provided I'M
der the current rates. 1t was shown by
w. S. Hart, a member Of the committee
on revision that the present rates, col
Letting twelve assessments a year from
the members of all ages, will not pay
more than 1886 of the each 81 600 in
surance under the existing system.
What the committee on reTision pro-
poses to do is to adopt d system of
rates graded to mortuary table com
piled from the society's own past ex-
perienee of % years that will provide
for the insurance unprovided for IN
der the new law equations-the s464 of
each $1,000 now in force.
Two plans were submitted. One was
the whole life level premium insur-
ancc, and the other term insurance. The
rates for the first are derived from the
mortuary table. The term insurance is
made cheaper, because it covers only a
limited period of time. The committee
proposes to write insurance good
throughout life, at rates ranging from
rs cents per $1,000 month at the age
of is years to So per $1,000 month at
the age of 81, aud at all ages beyond
"a at the rate Of $500 per $1,000 q
month. Past the age Of IS this rate