The Calumet news., 1914-09-17
Hancock Department

wall, as "A result of high assessments.
Mr.. Bullard fears that if the Modern
Woodmen OF America is forced 10 OPP
crate under a similar plan, the order
will sooner or later follow the footsteps
Of the United Workmen.
Provisions Of Amendment.
The more important provisions of
the proposed amendment are as fol-
lows:
| Section 10. The Legislature shall
provide by law for the Incorporation,
regulation, and supervision Of frater-
nal beneficiary societies, with the pow
er to issue death benefit certificates,
which law shall require that such So
| cieties, in order TO be Incorporated, or
to do business within the state, must
have
(a) A representative or a demo-
| cratic form Of self government, in
| cluding the fixing Of its own rates, and
the election of its officers. with provis-
ion for the recall of officers by "A ma
jorlty vote Of the membership, upon
petition of not greater than 10 per
cent of the membership.
CD Provisions for initiating chang
es i'm constitution of laws upon petition
Of 10 per cent. of the membership, and
for a referendum vote Of the member
ship upon any changes in the consti
tuition or laws, upon petition of the
same percentage.
(c)-Provisions requiring the OFF,
GERS, upon demand of five local branch
es, to furnish complete mailing list Of
members for use in connection with
the exercise of the Initiative, Referen-
dum or Recall
No law shall be valid which shall re-
quire any such society:
| (a) To create a legal reserve fund
or to be valued or collect assessments
upon any basis of rates which will in
operation collect an amount annually
in excess of the average mortuary cost
per C$1,O00) insurance in force Of sue
cessful legal reserve insurance com
panies of fifty years experience, in ad-
dition to the necessary expenses of
such societies: or
(b) To have lodge system or
ritual.
All fraternal beneficiary societies
authorized to do business in this state
on March /, 1914, may continue to do
such business until the legislature shall
, pass law in compliance with the fore
2 going provision; provided, that no such
, society may continue to do business
: for more than one year after this sec
I ton shall go i'm effect. unless it's con-
stitution and laws shall comply with
this section; provided, however, that
Y any such society organized under laws
r or any other state may provide that
Y as to business within this state the
e foregoing provision shall govern, and
$ that as to such business the vote OF
n the majority of it's members in this
= state shall be binding, in which case
= all liabilities accruing on Michigan
business may be made payable from
assessments on Michigan members"
Mr. Billiards. Warning.
Mr.. Billiards. es olanation of the eff
ID feet the proposed law would have oI
the w OOuIntfl bihtis lpii'NSs
IS IF this amendment was TO be adopt
Y ed the Modern Woodmen Of America
$, To comply Herewith, would be re
: quired to change their laws within ont
X year after it's adoption. To change IL
n laws would require a special session o
IF the head camp an act that is entirel!
A out of the question, and. were 1t call
J. ed, many of the states would be gla'
To have Michigan set off into a sep
j. arate state jurisdiction where Michi
l. gan death claims would he paid b,
g Michigan members only. The last sec
81 ton of the amendment provides as fol
10 lows:
Dl "All Liabilities accruing on Michiga
u business may be made payable fror
'e assessments on Michigan members.
10 Let us see what this means to yol
During the year just passed, 1913 IN
!" Modern Woodmen Of America l
IL Michigan contributed to the benet
III fund of the society s453,547.O5, and tn
II society paid 1886 death claims in thi
10 state amounting to $552,l4O.OO; !
other words, the society paid to tn
beneficiaries of Michigan member
during the year 1913 the sum of $9S
552.95 more than they received froi
co the Michigan members. one assess
ment on all Michigan members brina
s37,795.59 and if this state was In
jurisdiction by itself. as it would be
'' this amendment was adopted-Mich
gan members paying Michigan deaf
claims-you would have been requii
=" ed to pay fifteen assessments last yea
Ut instead of the twelve you did pay"
a