64 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [ I 96 



union devotes a part of its revenue to the support of a 

 benefit fund. This subject will best be discussed, however, 

 in connection with a description of the benefit features of 

 the union. 



• Expenditure. — The development of the union is naturally 

 characterized by an increase in expenditure. A rough di- 

 viding line in its fiscal history is the formation of the Asso- 

 ciation in 1876. Since that time, the expenditure has con- 

 tinuously, although irregularly, increased. The average 

 annual expenditure of the Puddlers from 1867 to 1876 was 

 $8,036.70. The maximum amount spent in any one year 

 was $23,316.95 in 1875. The increase in disbursements 

 from 1870 to 1875 was due to three innovations: (a) the 

 adoption in 1870 of a national assessment plan for defensive 

 purposes, (b) in 1872 the payment of wages and fare to 

 convention delegates; and (c) provision in 1874 for a sala- 

 ried official. 



The following table shows the growth in expenditure of 

 the Sons of Vulcan from 1867 to 1875 : 



The establishment of a "protective f und " in 1876 marked 

 a change in fiscal policy. The total expenditure is markedly 

 greater during the years of the big strikes, namely, 1882- 

 1883, 1892-1893, 1901-1902, 1905 and 1910-1911. Barring 

 these periods of unusual disturbances, the annual per capita 

 expenditure increased from $1.26 in 1877 to approximately 

 $3.00 in 1885, $8.00 in 1906, and $10.00 in 191 5. The aver- 



