CHAPTER IV 



Finances 



The early national unions, because of their loose organi- 

 zation, did not require large financial resources. The chief 

 functions of a national union, in the earlier days, were the 

 super\asion of a "traveling card" (by means of which a 

 member moving from the jurisdiction of one local union 

 to that of another became entitled to all the privileges of 

 membership), and the collection of voluntary contributions 

 for the aid of local unions in conducting strikes.^ Thus, 

 the funds of the Heaters' Union were never over a few 

 hundred dollars. 



Reimiie. — As a consequence of these limitations, both in 

 activity and in authority, the early organizations in the iron 

 and steel trade were granted revenues of meager character. 

 A per capital tax was paid, at regular intervals, by each 

 local union for the privilege of representation in the annual 

 convention. In the case of the Roll Hands, it was a 

 monthly assessment of twenty-five cents per member.^ The 

 Sons of Vulcan levied a "semi-annual tax," the amount 

 per capita being fixed by the president and varying accord- 

 ing to the funds required.* 



As the Sons of Vulcan extended its functions, larger 

 revenue was granted. The annual tax increased irregu- 

 larly from fifty cents in 1867 to $1.75 in 1873. Delegates 

 to the convention in 1872 were paid wages for lost time, in 

 addition to railway fare, by the national union. In 1873 ^ 

 salary was paid the president. These expenditures were 

 reflected in the increased capitation tax, as seen in the 

 semi-annual assessments from 1867 to 1873: 



1 A. M. Sakolski, The Finances of American Trade Unions, p. 11. 



2 ConstiUition, Iron and Steel Hull Hands, 1874, p. 11. 



8 Vulcan Record, no. 14, pp. 18, 34; Constitution, 1874, p. 9. 



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