246 B. F. MEYER 



told of the thorough examination recently made by the officers 

 of a different state, the society was informed that such an ex- 

 amination could not be accepted by the department of this 

 state. A second examination was made, for which the society 

 paid $1,615.50. Irrespective of the merits of these two exami- 

 nations, it is evident that in such damnable iteration hes a 

 real evil which the law should remedy. A single thorough 

 examination by competent men ought to be sufficient to satisfy 

 every insurance department. The law allows a larger fee for 

 the examination of societies which have a reserve fund, — the 

 uniform bill providing that any fraternal beneficiary associa- 

 tion may create, maintain, disburse and apply a reserve or 

 emergency fund in accordance with its constitution or by-laws. 

 The proposed law calls for an annual report to the commis- 

 sioner of insurance, embracing twenty five items. Such report 

 shall be in lieu of all other reports required by any other law, 

 thus doing away with the objectionable multiphcity of reports. 

 The twenty five items in the report, taken collectively, are 

 sufficiently comprehensive in their scope to give the officers of 

 the state an intelligent view of the condition of the organiza- 

 tion submitting the same. However, the conmiissioner of 

 insurance is authorized to address any additional inquiries 

 to any such organization in relation to its doings or condition, 

 or any other matter connected with its transactions. The 

 incorporation of new societies is provided for; and the employ- 

 ment of paid agents, except in the organization or building up 

 of subordinate bodies, is prohibited. The present laws of 

 several states contain an absurd provision making the em- 

 ployment of a paid agent a chief test of the fraternal character 

 of the organization. It is needless to add that the employment 

 of any agent, paid or impaid, to solicit insurance for an organi- 

 zation which does not provide insurance which is absolutely 

 sound should be forbidden. That provision of the proposed 

 law which makes a contract invalid if the beneficiary agrees 

 to pay the dues of the member is of doubtful utility, because 

 numerous instances may arise in which such a course of pro- 

 cedure would be beneficial to both parties. The usual pen- 

 alties are imposed for violations of the law; methods of judicial 



