Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-23
POSSIBILITY OF
MONDAY SESSION
FACESDELECATES
Business of R.N.A. Taking More
Time Than 1t Was An
ticipated 1t Would.
DISCUSS THE SCALING PLAN
Change to Avoid Necessity of Rate Re-
vision to Be Threshed Out
at This Session.


Neighbors was set for this morning
the many important matters of bust
ness that have come before the So
ciety has necessitated the postpone
ment of the close of the convention
and the delegates may be compelled
to recess until Monday to complete
the business Sessions are being held
this afternoon and will also be held
this evening and an effort will be
made to rush matters through to SOM
pletion.
The session of this morning was one
! of the most important and interesting
of the supreme camp, the question of
the scaling of certificates occupying
the attention of the delegates, the
question being unsettled at the time
of adjournment for luncheon.
The matter of revision of bylaws
was reported on by the committee in
charge and number of minor changes
were agreed upon. The committee on
resolutions reported and action was
taken in a number of cases. A resolu-
tion had been introduced by dele
gate from Michigan asking that free
bed be established in some hospital
centrally located in the state. The
claim was raised that with such an en-
dowed bed the work of securing new
members would be facilitated and she
referred to the fact that in numerous
other societies similar beds were main
tanned and had proved of great advan-
tage to the society. The committee
reported adversely on the resolution
and the report was adopted.
Change in Rites.
The resolution submitted to the
committee relative to the revision of
the installation ceremonies of the SUI
preme officers was reported upon fav
orably. Mrs. Enright, the supreme or
acle appointed at the suggestion OF the
resolutions committee, a comittee of
three to make such revisions as were
deemed best to add to the impressive
ness of the ceremony, Mrs. Pierce of
Colorado, Mrs. Richards of Michigan
and Mrs. Dell Newton of Illinois COM
prising the committee. These matters
out of the way the question that con-
Germs the great body of the society
more especially, the scaling of certifi-
Gates, came up for discussion.
Mrs. Enright announced that the
subject was open for discussion and
interest at once became intense A !
delegate from Alabama did not believe |
that the delegates sa body were "a
miliar enough with or understood the |
question of the scaling of certificates /
well enough to vote intelligently, and |
suggested that a committee be ap-
pointed to formulate some plan and |
submit report to be acted upon at !
the next supreme camp. However, the |
majority of the delegates were of the |
opinion that the matter should be |
further delayed. u. A. Schreechfield,
legal advisor of the Neighbors. was
thereupon called upon to explain cer
tain features of the proposed change
Some Action Necessary.
He spoke at some length ON the var.
ious technical features and explained
that while neither the supreme officers
nor the delegates as a whole, were
responsible for conditions, the fact
nevertheless remains that something
must be done in regard to the scaling
of certificates at this session. He
cited the fact that 26 states have
adopted the Mobile bill and that it
would be incumbent on the society to
make its valuations. 1t was danger
Gus to let the society go on as in the
present condition and take chances of
allowing it TO be forced to take a step
that it could just as well take now,
and one that would be of benefit to the
at large. Screechfield felt
that scaling certificates was the only
thing to do and called attention to the
fact that the suprme recorder had
prepared a report showing the mortal
ty of the society for the past several
years, and that this report would be
to members of the conven-
ion during the day. He also stated
that the actuary who had prepared the
mortality report was now working on
I report showing the amount of money
he society would have saved had it
lad the scaling plan, and also the {
amount that would be saved in the
uture.
Only New Members Affected.
The supreme oracle also spoke at f;
ength on the subject and assured the
delegates that only new members
would be affected. the former members
If the society continuing as in the
past. She said she had the interest of
he society so much at heart and had
studied the question so carefully and
'ully that she felt it was the only plan
advisable to adopt She suggested I
hat the first year certificate be scaled
o 40 per cent on those members who
would die; the second year to 90 per
;ent, the third year to so per cent and I
beginning with the fourth year the
certificate TO be in full force and to be
worth 100 cents on the dollar. She
vas confident that after the delegates
lad given the matter careful thought
md after they had opportunity to ex-
lmine the report OF the actuary which
would be distributed. they would adopt
he plan as proposed. Her remarks
we're met with round after round of
applause and cheering by the delegates
general sentiment In favor
If the proposed plan.
Mrs. Hanson, deputy from Spring