Evening star., 1931-12-27

were entitled to compensation not to exceed
$780, the value Of the stolen property to be
ascertained by three judges. While the COM
pany never failed to recover eventually every
horse stolen from its members, and therefore
was never called on to pay this s100 indemnity.
the advertised reward was paid on a number
of occasions. When the funds in the treasury
we're not sufficient to pay this sum, members
were assessed in proportion to the number Of
horses each had placed under the companys
protection Any member who failed to pay
his share within 80 days after assessment au-
tomaticany forfeited his claim to protection
until his arrears were met.
The original bylaws are very interesting and
indicate the strictness with which order was
enforced by the early members at the meet
tngs. They were sticklers for propriety in those
days, one section of the bylaws stating that
members who entertain private discourse or
otherwise interrupt speaker shall be fined
Csc" Moreover, "any member manifesting any
warmth IN debate, or making personal re-
proaches, or not speaking on the subject under
discussion shall be called to order by the
president" Members leaving the room with
out permission Of the president were fined 25c,
this fine being later increased to $1.oo No
liquor or cigars were allowed in the meeting
place and members were warned that any ap-
pearance Of intoxicatton would bring . fine Of
s1OO.
The regular income of the company was de-
rived from initiation fees, annual dues and
from the $10 fine assessed on all members
who failed to attend the annual meetings
With the exception of the few woman members
who were excused by reason of their sex" and
members over 70 years of age, excused because
of bodily infirmities' no excuse for non-at-
tendance was considered reasonable save ILL
ness OF the member or in his family. Each ex-
cuse was considered individually by the entire
membership. In several instances members
were dropped for non-payment of this fine. In
1880 members who considered themselves ag-
grieved at this assessment were granted the
right Of appeal to the following general meet
ing.
This vexed question of fines was a constant
source OF argument among members in the
old days. Many and varied were the discus
sions as to the validity OF other pleas. War
rington Gilingham. who served as secretary
for 81 years, from 1876 to 1897, records some
of these discussions in humorous vein his chatty
ana conversational accounts Of the proceedings
giving vivid picture of the problems with
which the older members wrestled. In 1884,
after a detailed report of the varied excuses
onered by members for non attendance at the
1883 meeting, and their attempts to obtain re-
mission Of their fines all of which were finally
refused after number of spirited roll calls,
Gillingham says: Now as these minutes read
so far 1t would seem that the business of dis
posing OF the above mentioned written excuses
for absence was gone through with according
to the strictest letter Of parliamentary law and
with all due gravity and decorum, but as full
minutes seem to be approved by this society IN
annual meeting assembled, it may not be amiss
to state that there was a good deal of lee
turing ndulged in, lively bit of discussing il
not a little cussng without the dis, SO that
altogether it very nearly recalled session Of
the House Of Representatives at Washington"
Evidently the treasury was enriched by goodly
number Of quarters at this meeting If the
original bylaws were still enforced at this
time!
Again, in 1890, Gilngham wakes facetious
on the same subject: walter Walton sent q
written excuse for his absence, stating that he
was obliged to attend a meeting Of the County
Board of Supervisors on the same day and by