197] 



FINANCES 



65 



age for the forty years of the union's history is $6.71. In 

 1904 a death benefit fund was estabHshed; and in 1909 a 

 sick and accident benefit. In 1914, a normal year, the 

 annual per capita expenditure was $12.62. The increase 

 in expenditure far outstripped the growth in membership. 

 Since 1900, roughly speaking, the expenditure has con- 

 stantly increased while the membership has actually declined. 

 The growth of expenditure of the Association is con- 

 veniently shown in the following table giving the per capita 

 expenditure for various purposes at five year intervals since 

 1877: 



Comparative Table Showing the Growth of Expenditure of the 

 Association for Various Purposes, from its Beginning 



The disbursements of the union are classified under three 

 heads, and correspond to the divisions made, until 1915,'° 

 in the funds (a) for general purposes, (b) for " protective " 

 purposes, and (c) for benefits. 



(a) The disbursements of the union for administrative 

 and miscellaneous purposes are classed as general expendi- 

 tures. They include, besides the ordinary charges of ad- 

 ministration and of^cc management, the expenses of " or- 

 ganizing," printing, Journal publication, and the cost of 



** In 1915 the three funds were merRed into one general fund; 

 this ol)viatcd the necessity of transferring funds from one account 

 to another. 



