(1) The Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotire Engineers, the oldest and most pow erful of the railway unions. was organized August 17, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Foot board, and reorganized under the present name one year later. Between the biennial national conventions the supreme powers are centred largely in the grand chief engineer, who is elected by the convention for a term of four years, and receives a salary of $5000 a year. The brotherhood lays unusual emphasis upon charity and mutual insurance. The local subdi visions in almost every case pay sick and out-of work benefits; while the international division maintains a charity fund for the payment of pensions to the needy widows and children of deceased members, the expenditures for which average about $42,000 a year. The insurance system of the brotherhood is conducted by an auxiliary company—The Locomotive Engineers' Mutual Life and Accident Insurance Association —which was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, March 3, 1894. From its first organization in 1S67 to January, 1903, the insurance department paid out $12,000,000 at an average cost of about $16.55 a year per $1000 of insurance. The mor tuary fund at that time contained $109,309 and the contingent or strike fund more than $100,000. There were 596 subdivisions in the brotherhood with 42,000 members, of whom about 33.000 be longed to the insurance association. The official journal is the Brotherhood of Locomotirc Engi neers' Journal, published monthly at the head quarters in Cleveland, Ohio.
(2) The Order of Railway Conductors of America was organized July 6. 1868, as the Con ductors' Brotherhood, adopted the present title in 1878, and in 1890 abandoned the non-protective policy which it had followed for a number of years and under which members were pledged not to participate in any strike. Between the hien nial conventions the principal powers are exer cised by a salaried grand chief conductor and a board of three trustees. The mutual benefit department is separately conducted and is con trolled largely by three insurance commissioners, from whose decisions an appeal lies to a board of directors. Policies of from $1000 to $3000 are issued at an average cost per year of about $16 per $1000 of insurance. The order is noted for its conservative methods and its elaborate ma chinery for conciliation and collective bargain ing. It maintains, however, a protective fund of $100.000, and striking members are paid $50 a month for a period not exceeding three months. Reports covering the biennial period ending December 31. 1902, show 424 divisons, 27,899 members, 24,488 members of the insurance de partment, and the payment during this period of 604 insurance claims amounting to $1,206,000. The official journal is The Railway Conductor, published monthly at the headquarters in Cedar Rapids. Iowa.
(3) The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was organized December 1, 1873. and operated as a fraternal organization until 1877. when it adopted trade-union tactics, absorbed the exist ing lodges of the aggressive International Fire men's Union and Protective Association, became involved in the railroad strikes of 1877. lost its
funds and a large part of its membership, and by 1878 seemed bankrupt and in a hopeless condi tion. In 1880. however, the strike policy was abandoned and the national officers were changed, with the result that since that year the brother hood has'grown front about 3000 members to 45. 112 at the beginning of 1903. The government of the Brotherhood of Firemen does not differ materially from that of the engineers and con ductors. Each member is assessed 50 cents quar terly for a protective fund, assessments ceasing when $250.000 have been accumulated. Members on strike are paid $25 a month for a period not to exceed three months. The brotherhood maintains a useful and successful employment bureau. The official organ is the Locomotive Firemen's Magazine, published monthly at Pe oria, Illinois.
(4) The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen was organized September 23, 1883, as the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, and adopted its present name in 1890. It admits conductors, baggage men. brakemen, flagmen, yard-masters, assistant yard-masters, yard conductors, foremen, and switchmen. In structure and government the brotherhood is about identical with that of the Locomotive Firemen. Active members are as sessed $1 a year for the protective fund until it readies $300,000. Members participating in an authorized strike receive $35 a month during its continuance. Reports covering the biennial period ending December 31, 1902, show 646 sub ordinate lodges. 54.963 members, 52.591 members of the beneficiary department. and the payment during the two years of 1556 insurance claims amounting to $1,670.790. The official organ is the Railroad Trainmen's Journal, published monthly at the headquarters in Cleveland. Ohio.
(5) The Order• of Railroad Telegraphers was organized June 9, 1886, and admits telegraphers, linemen, levermen. in connection with the tele graph department and electro-pncumatic or me chanical interlockers. The telegraphers ,elect no legislative boards; the representation of the local divisions in the biennial convention varies in ac cordance with their membership, and the power of the chief executive is somewhat more curtailed than in the other brotherhoods. The mutual benefit department, which was not established until 1898, is governed by an insurance commit tee as in the Order of Railway Conductors. The protective fund is fixed at $50,000, for the es tablishment of which members are taxed $1 a year. No fixed amount of strike' pay is guar anteed. Up to 1902 the order was regarded as the weakest of the large brotherhoods. but from January, 1902, to April, 1903, over 18,000 new members were initiated, making the total mem bership about 30.000. The official journal is The Railroad Telegrapher, published monthly at the headquarters in Saint Louis, No.