26 ASSOCIATION- OF IRON', STEEL AND TIX WORKERS [l $8 



charges against a member who is brought to trial ; the latter 

 audits the accounts of the officers who have charge of the 

 funds. 



The important officials of the local union are a president, 

 a recording secretarj-, a financial secretary, and a treasurer. 

 The financial secretary keeps accounts of receipts and ex- 

 penditures. The local dues of the secretaries and treasurer 

 are sometimes remitted as pay for their ser\-ices. The 

 minor officers are a vice-president, three trustees, an inside 

 guard, an outside guard and a guide. In recent years 

 there has been added a journal agent, who solicits patronage 

 for the trade journal, and for his effort receives a small 

 compensation. All the officers work at their trades and 

 perform their official duties during spare time. A business 

 agent is rarely employed by any local union. 



The distinctive feature of the constitution of the Amal- 

 gamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, adopted 

 in 1876, was the supreme authority given to the annual con- 

 vention of delegates* from the local societies. The na- 

 tional union has power to elect its officers, to decide "all 

 matters of general importance relating to the welfare of 

 the several Lodges," and to determine " the customs and 

 usages in regard to all matters pertaining to the interests of 

 the Association." Executive and judicial as well as legis- 

 lative functions are exercised by a single body. In the ex- 

 ercise of its legislative power it has equal authority to pass 

 every kind of law. Xo distinction between constitutional 

 and statutory law is recognized. At one moment, there- 

 fore, the assembly may be remodeling the constitution or 

 transferring important functions from the subordinate so- 

 cieties to the national union ; at another, it may be passing 



* The convention meets at present annually on the first Tuesday of 

 May. Delegates to be eligible must be clear on the secretar>'s books, 

 must be working at some trade under the jurisdiction of the union, 

 and must have ser\ed six months in some office of the local union. 

 The national lodge pays railway fare only ; the local union pays other 

 necessary- expenses. Any sub-lodge failing to send a delegate with- 

 out sufficient excuse is fined fiftj- dollars. 



