to be used to secure the payments of the same. Approval is a matter of right and must be given unless it is shown that the constitution of the organization does not conform to the provision of the law or that provision for receipts is insufficient to meet the proposed benefits. An appeal lies to the Council of State on the refusal of the minister of the interior to approve the statutes of any society. Changes in the by-laws must be approved before taking effect, and the approval of a society may be revoked at any time for cause after a public hearing, following which the organization may be dissolved. Voluntary dissolution is also provided for. Approved societies form the great body of mutual societies in France, and it is almost entirely in their ranks that the notable growth of the past decade has taken place.

Societies of the third class-i. e., those recognized as institutions of public utility-come into existence by a decree issued in the form of a public administrative regulation in response to a request from the prospective members submitted with copies of the proposed constitution and by-laws. Under the law of 1898 they hold the same status as approved societies, and since 1903 are not distinguished from them in the official statistical reports. Only one such society has been chartered since the passage of the law of 1898, and there were in all but 20 such societies in 1905. The 19 societies in existence in 1903 reported a membership of 70,439 (of which 7,595 were honorary members) and total assets to the amount of 26,731,794 francs ($5,159,236). Societies may be formed in any of the above classes of adult males, or of adult females exclusively, or both sexes may be admitted. A number of societies are organized on a basis of admitting both sexes and children as well, the intention being to form a beneficial organization embracing the entire family (mutualité familiale). The fact that the mother and children are not in many cases wage-earners prevents the usual adjustment between dues and wages, so that the entire provision in this regard is strictly on a family basis, and the dues payable and the benefits to be provided are arranged accordingly. The number of such approved family societies in 1905 was 1,230. Women and children may join mutual aid societies without the consent of the husband or of parent or guardian.

As an illustration of the methods used by a society providing for the entire family, one may be instanced in which healthy children of participating members are admitted at the age of 5 years on the request of the father or mother. They have no power to vote until they reach the age of 16 years, nor are they eligible to any benefits other than medical treatment and funeral expenses to the amount of 40 francs ($7.72). Supplementary monthly dues of 50 centimes (9.7 cents) are required for each child, and an annual payment of 1 franc (19.3 cents) on account of the funeral benefit. In another case male members may provide for medical supplies and attendance for their

wives up to 40 years of age, for their sons from 4 to 18 years of age, and for their daughters from 4 years of age until they marry or attain majority. The monthly payments required are: For the wife, 1 franc (19.3 cents); for one child, 50 centimes (9.7 cents); for two children, 75 centimes (14.5 cents); and for three or more children, 1 franc (19.3 cents).

A group of societies has sprung up within the past few years in the class of approved societies composed entirely of children, and known as pupils' societies (sociétés scolaires). These are comprised, as their name indicates, of pupils at school, but the scope of the organization may be quite varied, being restricted in some cases to communes, in others to cantons, while others operate throughout a Department. Partial statistics of these societies are given separately, though they are classed as approved societies. The field of their activities is naturally smaller than for the adult societies, the two chief aims being to provide sick benefits and to take the first steps toward securing individual policies in the National Old-age Retirement Fund. Considerable sums are also paid to common retirement funds. Thus, of an expenditure of 3,206,131 francs ($618,783) reported by 2,015 societies in 1905, the sum of 765,407 francs ($147,724), or 23.9 per cent of the total, was paid for sick benefits; 1,606,497 francs ($310,054), or 50.1 per cent, for individual policies; and 491,911 francs ($94,939), or 15.3 per cent, to common pension funds. Some of these societies pay funeral benefits and physicians' fees and furnish medical supplies.

ADMINISTRATION.

Every mutual aid society must deposit with the prefecture of the Department or with the subprefecture of the arrondissement where the society is located, one month before it begins its operations, a duplicate copy of the constitution of the society and a list of the names and addresses of all persons who are charged with any duties of administration or direction. Any changes in the constitution or in the direction or administration must likewise be reported.

The constitution must specify, among other things: The location of the society, which must be in French territory; the conditions of membership and the rights and duties of members; the character of the offices, the manner of electing officers, and the powers and duties of the latter; the amount and the application of the contributions; the manner of constituting retirement pensions, etc.

Each society is required to transmit to the minister of the interior, during the first quarter of each year, a report of its operations in a form specified by the latter.

All mutual aid societies which comply with the above requirements have a standing in court and may, through their presidents or other representatives, sue or be sued.

The above provisions apply to all mutual aid societies recognized as such. For the purpose, however, of securing a large measure of governmental control, in the interests of security and good management, over societies which desire special privileges, the law makes a distinction between free societies, on the one hand, and approved societies and societies recognized as institutions of public utility, on the other.

The free societies, which must comply with all the provisions of law mentioned above, but are subject to no further supervision or control by the administrative authorities, have power to receive and expend the amounts paid in contributions by honorary and participating members, perform acts of simple administration, hold personal property, lease real estate for their various objects, and by special authorization of the prefect they may receive donations and bequests of personal property. They are not permitted to acquire real estate in any form except such as is used for administrative purposes.

The approved societies and unions of approved societies enjoy all the powers of free societies, and in addition they are granted special benefits and privileges which the other mutual aid societies do not receive. Such societies may receive donations and bequests without restriction, and may, with the approval of the Council of State, acquire real estate as far as it is necessary for their administration as well as their relief services or when received in the form of donations or bequests. The communes, or, if they are not able, the Departments, are required to furnish the approved societies without charge the necessary accommodations for holding their meetings and the pass and record books needed for their administration. All documents are free from stamp duty, except such as are used in the transfer of real or personal property other than that incident to the payment of benefits.

The conditions and guaranties required in the case of autonomous funds maintained by approved societies, whether for the payment of pensions or for insurance on account of death or accidents, and other general conditions necessary to insure the execution of the law are matters of public administrative regulation.

During the first three months of each year the approved mutual aid societies must send to the minister of the interior, through the prefects, in a prescribed form, a report of their membership and financial operations, independently of the report required for all mutual aid societies. All their books, registers, minutes, and other documents must be open to inspection by the prefect, subprefect, or their representative.

The approval of the Government may be withdrawn from a society for noncompliance with its constitution or violation of the law by a decree of the Council of State issued at the suggestion of the minister

of the interior after consulting the superior council of the mutual aid societies. Societies whose standing is thus threatened have a right to be heard by the Council of State.

A mutual aid society may be dissolved by a judicial order, upon the complaint of the Government, whenever it violates the law or its constitution.

Detailed provision is made for the disposition of the funds, etc., in case an approved society is dissolved.

Mutual aid societies and unions recognized as institutions of public utility enjoy all the advantages accorded to approved societies, and, in addition, may possess and acquire, buy and exchange, real estate under conditions determined by the decrees declaring their recognition.

In order to facilitate the enforcement of the provisions of the law, a superior council of the mutual aid societies (Conseil Supérieur de Sociétés de Secours Mutuels) is provided for. This consists of 36 members, one-half of whom represent the mutual aid societies, 6 being chosen by the free societies. The other members represent the Senate, Chamber of Deputies, Council of State, the ministries of the interior, agriculture, commerce, and finance, the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, the superior council of labor, the Institute of French Actuaries, the Academy of Medicine, and the medical societies of France. All members are elected for four years and serve without compensation.

The minister of the interior is ex officio president of the superior council, and the other officers are elected. The council meets at the call of the minister at least once each half year and at such other times as he may deem necessary.

The superior council receives the reports of the financial accounts and statistics of the mutual aid societies and the quinquennial inventories and other documents required by the law. It is required to give advice concerning all regulations and other acts affecting the operation of mutual aid societies.

A standing committee of seven members is appointed by the minister of the interior. This committee is required to give advice to the superior council or to the minister upon all questions submitted to it.

The minister of the interior submits annually to the President of the Republic a report of the operations of the mutual aid societies and of the superior council, which is presented to the French legislature.

The law provides for the preparation of mortality and morbidity tables by the ministers of the interior and commerce for the mutual aid societies.

FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION.

The funds of the approved societies must be deposited in savings banks, in the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, or invested in state rentes, in treasury bonds, in departmental or communal obligations, or in other securities guaranteed by the State. Their funds, up to three-fourths of the total amount, may be invested in real estate. This may be sold or exchanged provided the transaction is approved by a three-fourths vote of the general assembly of the society at a special meeting at which at least one-half of the members or their proxies are present. Securities must be deposited with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.

The mutual aid societies are permitted to deposit their capital with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations either as a running account subject to withdrawal or as a common, inalienable fund set aside during the existence of the society. With regard to this matter, the constitution must specify whether or not such an inalienable fund shall be constituted and what portion of the state subsidies, donations, bequests, and contributions of honorary members shall be devoted to this fund.

Both the running account and the inalienable fund earn interest at the rate fixed for old-age pension funds (law of July 20, 1886, art. 12). The difference, however, between the amount received at this rate and the 4 per cent rate fixed by the decrees of March 26, 1852, and April 26, 1856, is paid in the form of a subsidy out of the annual budget of the minister of the interior. Unexpended interest money must be added to the principal at the close of each year.

The Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations may employ the funds of the mutual aid societies under the same conditions as are prescribed for savings banks.

The old-age and invalidity insurance features of mutual aid societies are further discussed in the chapter devoted to that subject.

PERSONS INSURED.

Little can be derived from the reports of the Government as to the classes of persons composing the societies under consideration, apart from the general conclusion that participating members are for the most part persons belonging to the employed classes, or, as expressed in the reports, to the world of labor. The report of the minister of labor and social providence for 1905 undertakes a presentation for the societies of Paris based on classes of employments or occupations represented. Of the 1,621 societies in existence in Paris on December 31, 1905, 818 are classed as societies based on trade or occupation, though a number of organizations based on