66 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [ 1 98 



conventions and conferences. These disbursements, as a 

 nile, varied but slightly from year to year until 1900. In 

 1877 the annual per capita expenditure for general pur- 

 poses was $1.13; in 1899, $1.47. Since then there has been 

 a. rapid increase in general expenditures from $27,364.40 

 in 1900 to $43,756.92 in 1914. The annual per capita ex- 

 penditure has increased much more rapidly from $1.95 in 

 1900 to $8.08 in 1911. In 1914, a normal year, the per 

 capita cost for general expenses was $6.36. The increased 

 outlay has been the result, chiefly, of the cost of publishing 

 the Amalgamated Journal, undertaken in 1899,*" and an 

 increase in office expenses. The greater increase in per 

 capita outlay is the result of a decrease in membership. 



{b) The expenditure of the Association for "protective" 

 purposes includes the benefits paid for the relief of mem- 

 bers on strike, the expenses of administration and special 

 donations made to assist local unions not legally entitled to 

 benefits. 



The introduction of labor-saving machinery, together 

 with changes in the conditions surrounding the industry, 

 have affected the amount of strike expenditure. The ex- 

 penditure is highly variable from year to year. Strikes 

 have frequently been of considerable magnitude, often cov- 

 ering a whole competitive district, but occurring only at 

 long intervals. Such, for example, were the strikes of 

 1882, 1895, 1900, and 1910. Omitting from account the 

 several great strikes, it will be noted that the per capita 

 expenditure seldom exceeded $3. In 1893 the per capita 

 outlay for strikes was $11.03; i" 1902, $8.29; in 1905, $8.47; 

 in 1910, $19.59; ^"fl '•" 191 1, $-25.89. These were years of 

 unusually bitter contests. 



(c) Since 1904, the Association has paid a death benefit. 

 The amount, originally $100, has since been increased; the 



2° Until 1903 subscription to the Amalgamated Journal was op- 

 tional with the members. Since then a quarterly per capita tax has 

 been levied for its support ; 30 cents originallj', but 37!-^ cents from 

 i9Ci7 on. The expenditures have been included in the disbursements 

 for general purposes, but a separate account has been kept by the 

 manager for convenience in comparison. 



