212 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



May 



and in no case secure relief from the 

 company. Moreover. $5,000 in case 

 of death by accident is practically not 

 more than $250 in case of death from 

 any cause, determined by the ratio 

 i to 20. 



REASONS FOR SUCH PROHIBITIVE 

 PREMIUMS. 



The committee then investigated 

 through the Department of Commerce 

 and Labor, the reasons for these high 

 premiums. It was found that more 

 than 40 per cent, of all premiums paid 

 to accident and health insurance com- 

 panies go to the expense and profit 

 accounts of the companies, leaving 

 less than 60 per cent, for benefits. In 

 ten western states and territories in 

 1902, the actual losses incurred were 

 only 46.9 per cent, of premiums paid. 

 With such data in hand the committee 

 readily understands how one of the 

 leading regular companies figures 35 

 per cent, for agents' expenses and 

 commissions. 



PROPOSED SOLUTION OF THE 

 DIFFICULTY. 



Hence, the committee investigated 

 means of reducing these excessive ex- 

 penses if possible. It found several 

 mutual benefit societies of different 

 classes which succeeded in carrying 

 on business for about 5 per cent, of 

 premiums paid in. It therefore pro- 

 ceeded to plan for such a mutual re- 

 lief association as would seem to cover 

 the exact needs of the situation ; elim- 

 inating absolutely all such items as 

 agents' commissions, advertising, and 

 rent, and reducing to a minimum ad- 

 ministrative expenses and salaries. 



The constitution and by-laws sub- 

 mitted provides roughly as follows : 



Government to be in the hands of 

 seven directors. 



Administrative expenses outside of 

 necessary stationery, stamps, etc., to 

 be not greater than $250 per year. 



Membership : All government em- 

 ployees are eligible, classed as follows : 

 (A) Those who are under regular ap- 

 pointments. (B) Temporary employ- 

 ees not under regular appointment. 



Fees and dues are as follows : (a) 

 An admission fee of Si from each new 

 member, (b) Dues at the rate of $12 

 per year : class A to pay semi-annually 

 in advance, class B, monthly in ad- 

 vance. 



Benefits to be as follows : (a) A dis- 

 ablement indemnity of $15 per week 

 for not more than ten weeks when 

 members are not .drawing their regular 

 salaries, members of class B, however, 

 not to receive more than 75 per cent, 

 of weekly wages, (b) In addition to 

 all other benefits doctors', nurses', 

 hospital, and medicine bills not to ex- 

 ceed $40 per week, nor $100 per year, 

 (c) Death benefits as follows: I. $200 

 when a member dies at the place in- 

 dicated for burial in his appliaction. 

 2. If he dies elsewhere, the actual cost 

 of preparing the body and transport- 

 ing it to burial place, and $100. 



A dividend to be declared at the 

 end of each year dividing the balance 

 of annual dues on hand proportion- 

 ately among members of class A ; not 

 in cash, however, but as a credit on 

 the next year's dues in order to main- 

 tain a continuous fund in the treas- 

 ury. Members of class B do not par- 

 ticipate in this dividend. 



THE LEWIS AND CLARK CENTENNIAL 



EXPOSITION 



1 HE exhibit of the United States 

 Forest Service and the United 

 States Reclamation Service at the 

 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposi- 

 tion will be contained in a special 

 building 60 by 100 feet, located on the 



site originally assigned to the Fisheries 

 Bureau, and in close proximity to the 

 main government building, of which 

 these exhibits form a part. 



In general, the exhibit of both of 

 these branches of the government is 



