738 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



J\/ov. 19, 



run many lawsuits. All dishonest honey commission-men are 

 to be prosecuted. I lind no fault with that, but I think it 

 would be much better to steer clear of dishonest commission- 

 men. 



Dr. Miller — I think if Mr. Whitcomb recalls the work of 

 the Natioual Bee-Keepers' Union, he will find that this is a 

 continuation of the same thing. That was for the defense of 

 bee-keepers in their rights, and yet they always kept within 

 the limits of the money they had to use. They did a great 

 amount of good by it. If something very important comes up, 

 or they find that they cau do a big business prosecuting dis- 

 honest honey commission-men, we can make au assessment of 

 another dollar, but can go no further. I would rather have 

 paid an extra dollar a year to the Bee-Keepers' Union for the 

 prosecution of such commission-men. 



Mr. York — I don't think we can reach out as far in this 

 prosecution as this Article contemplates. 



Pres. Root— We have a National Bee-Keepers' Union with 

 some money ahead, and some attorneys to look after our in- 

 terests So far as my experience has gone, it is only neces- 

 sary to suggest this fact, and we are respected. We have 

 $700 on hand. 



E. R. Root -If we go about prosecuting dishonest honey 

 commission-men, a great number of men will come into the 

 Union. I have received a number of letters from men who 

 said they would join if we would prosecute such commission- 

 men. If we get members we will have money. I think we 

 can start with a membership of 500. If we can establish a 

 precedent in Chicago, St. Louis, and several large cities, that 

 will be sutBeient. I believe that people will join this Union in 

 order to get protection. 



Mr. Whitcomb — I was not making any objection to this 

 Article. I was just trying to get a little information. 



Mr. Aikin — We have arrived at just the point I supposed 

 we would when we came to adopt this Article. That is all 

 right, except one thing. If we say in our constitution that we 

 must do certain work, and then, when our Board of Managers 

 is organized, undertake to do the work, where is the money 

 coming from? If we just say what work we want done, and 

 then leave it in the hands of our Directors to do that work, so 

 far as we back them up with money, we are all right. 



Mr. York — I think Mr. Aikin's remarks are all right. We 

 can hardly compare this new society with the State associa- 

 tions. I, as a publisher of one of the bee-papers, expect to 

 push this thing among my subscribers. The Directors can 

 only use what money is on hand, or what is received as dues, 

 and what can be called in in one assessment. They cannot 

 run us into debt. 



Mr. Aikin — I have no particular objection to the Article. 

 It just puts it into the hands of the Managers to adjust it the 

 best they can. 



When Art. VII, Sec. 2, was read, it was discussed as fol- 

 lows : 



Mr. Frazier — Shall we make the General Manager re- 

 sponsible for these funds ? 



Dr. Mason — That is what we have done. 

 Mr. Frazier — That is uot a fair deal. 



E. R. Root — I understand that is the custom in all associa- 

 tions. If the Treasurer holds in his possession any money, he 

 should give bonds for it. The association should not suffer 

 from the unwisdom of the General Manager. 



Mr. Frazier — It is all right to make the General Manager 

 give bond. But to say that he shall put the funds on interest 

 is going too far. He should put it in some strong box. But 

 when you require him to put it on interest, the association 

 should be responsible for the money. 



Dr. Mason — In Ohio, our county treasurer is required to 

 deposit the money in banks, where it draws interest. 



Mr. Whitcomb — The responsibility only lasts while it is in 

 his hands. A test case was in the Capital National bank here. 

 The United States Supreme Court gave the decision against 

 the State. 



Dr. Miller — Here are two cases: In one, the man who 

 holds money, invests it at his own risk and gets paid for it. In 

 the other, he is not held responsible for it. 



Mr. Whitcomb — It could be added that he should put it 

 out on the consent of the Board of Directors. When you com- 

 pel a man to do a certain thing, you cannot go back on him 

 and send him to the penitentiary for it. 



Mr. York — I move that Art. VII, Sec. 2, be omitted. 

 Dr. Miller — 1 am against omitting it, but I would rather 

 err on the safe side. Therefore, I am in favor of Mr. York's 

 motion. 



Mr. Frazier — There is another stumbling block. It says 

 " let it out at the highest rate " 



Dr. Mason — It says " the best obtainable rate," not " the 

 highest." 



Mr. York's motion to omit was carried. 



After the Constitr.tion had been read entire, Mr. Kretch- 

 mer said : " I move that the Constitution as read and 

 amended be adopted as a-whole." Carried. 



Mr. Aikin — This is understood now to be our act. The 

 next thing is, what will the National Bee-Keepers' Union say ? 



The following is the Constitution as adopted: 



Tlie Conslilution for the New Union. 



ARTICLE I.— Name. 



This organization shall be known as the United States 

 Bee-Keepers' Union. 



ARTICLE n.— Ob.jects. 



Its objects shall be to promote and protect the Interests of 

 its members ; to defend them in their lawful rights ; to enforce 

 laws against the adulteration of honey ; to prosecute dis- 

 honest honey commission-men ; and to advance the pursuit of 

 bee-culture in general. 



ARTICLE III.— Membership. 



Sec. 1. — Any person may become a member upon the pay- 

 ment of a membership fee of one dollar annually to the Sec- 

 retary or General Manager on or before the iirst day of Jan- 

 uary of each year, except as provided in Section 8 of Article 

 VI of this Constitution. 



Sec 2. — Those who are members of the North Ameri- 

 can Bee-Keepers' Association and of the National Bee-Keepers' 

 Union when this Constitution is adopted by each organization, 

 shall be members of this Union. 



ARTICLE IV.— Officebs. 



Sec. 1. — The officers of this Union shall be a President, a 

 Vice-President, a Secretary and a Board of Directors which shall 

 consist of a General Manager and six Directors, whose terms 

 of office shall be for one year, or until their successors are 

 elected and qualified ; and the Director, aside from the Gen- 

 eral Manager, receiving the largest number of votes shall be 

 chairman of the Board of Directors. 



Sec. 2. — Those who are officers of the National Bee- 

 Keepers' Union when this Constitution is adopted by said 

 Union, shall constitute the Board of Directors of this Union 

 until their successors are elected, at the next annual election 

 in December, and qualified. 



ARTICLE v.— Election of Officers. 



Sec. 1. — The President, Vice-President, and Secretary 

 shall be elected by ballot by a majority of the members pres- 

 ent at each annual meeting of the Union, and shall constitute 

 the Executive Committee. 



Sec. 2. — The General Manager and the Board of Direc- 

 tors shall be elected by ballot during the month of December 

 of each year by a majority of the members voting ; blank 

 Postal Card ballots for this purpose, accompanied by a full 

 list of the membership, shall be mailed to each member by 

 the General Manager ; and said ballots shall be returned to a 

 committee of two members, who shall be appointed by the 

 Executive Committee, whose names and postoffice address shall 

 besenttothe General Manager by said Executive Committee 

 on or before the loth of the November preening the elec- 

 tion. Said committee of two shall count the ballots and cer- 

 tify the result to the General Manager during the first week 

 in January. 



ARTICLE VI.— Duties of Officers. 



Sec. 1. — President — It shall be the duty of the President 

 to preside at the annual meeting of the Union ; and to per 

 form such other duties as may devolve upon the presiding 

 officer. 



Sec. 2. — Vice-President — In the absence of the President 

 the Vice-President shall perform the duties of President. 



Sec. 3. — Secretary — It shall be the duty of the Secretary 

 to keep a record of the proceedings of the annual meeting; to 

 receive membership fees; to furnish the General Manager 

 with the names and postoffice address of those who become 

 members at the annual meeting ; to pay to the Treasurer of 

 the Union all moneys left in his hands after paying the ex- 

 penses of the annual meeting; and to perform such other 

 duties as may be required of him by the Union ; and he shall 

 receive such sum for his services, not exceeding $25, as may 

 be granted by the Board of Directors. 



Sec. 4. — General Manager — The General Manager shall 

 be Secretary of the Board of Directors, and shall keep a list 

 of the names of members with their postoffice address ; receive 

 membership fees, and be Treasurer of this Union. He shall 

 give a bond in such amount, and with such conditions as may 



