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28 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
ficate of stock of the Pittsburgh Coal Co., which I
received upon the completion of payments on my
contract in the first series (in one case five shares
and in the other 17 shares) represents about the
only money that I have saved in my life." One of
them continued—"I think I never was so proud of
any possession in the world as I am of that certificate
of stock," and the other remarked, "Every
time I get a dividend payment it is like getting
money from home."
While the distribution of relief in cases of accident
and death were considered with the stock
purchase plan in the year 1900, it was not thought
advisable or even possible to put the plan into
successful operation at that time. This conviction
was based upon the well known attitude of
the men which, as was brought out in my earlier
remarks, was that of suspicion and hostility. It
was thought best to first thoroughly establish the
investment feature which would appeal to the
better class of employes and work down through
the lower strata and it was, therefore, not until
February, 1903, that a beginning was made in the
matter of organizing the relief work. At that
time a convention was called and each group of
mine operatives was invited to select a delegate to
consider and arrange for rules and regulations
under which it would be possible to collect and
disburse relief funds on an equitable and satisfactory
basis. After a protracted session of about
three days, in which a great variety of views and
theories had to be considered and disposed of and
some radical members brought to a more conservative
attitude or voted down, the convention adjourned
leaving a conimittee of seven to draft bylaws
embodying the controlling ideas of the convention
and the proposition of the company for
the establishment of the relief organization. In
these by-laws, which were modified somewhat in
a convention held in August. 1904, the employes at
each of the mines. (no other class of employes
participating in the relief or pension benefits at
this time), became autonomous in the administration
of that mine's relief affairs. The employes
of each mine, following the program of
the convention, voted on the proposition to organize
a relief lodge, to be governed by the bylaws
adopted. If the vote was affirmative a president
and secretary and a committee of three (or
five at the larger mines) were selected to administer
the affairs of the lodge. These officers communicated
with the officers of the employes association,
advising the date upon which the first
assessment was to be made; the lodge was then
in working order. In this way the organization
of the relief work was made a voluntary matter
at each mine, but it is a feature of the by-laws,
which each group adopts when it organizes, that
every operative at the mine must be a member of
the relief organization and pay the stated dues.
To this extent, therefore, the matter is made compulsory
at a given mine by the vote of the majority
of employes. It has never been made compulsory
by any action of the company. The men
seem to attend to this detail very well themselves.
The dues paid are at the rate of 40 cents per
month per man. The benefits are graded into
seven classes, as follows: First, for a fatal accident
while at work $150, of which the company
directly contributes one-half; second, death of an
employe through natural causes $100, paid altogether
by the men; third, death of an employe's
wife (or father or mother if the employe is the
sole support) a funeral fund of $75, paid altogether
by the men; fourth, death of an employe's
child, over two years and under 12 years, funeral
fund of $25, paid altogether by the men; fifth,
non-fatal accident of a serious nature, benefits
$10 per week, one-half paid directly by the company;
sixth, non-fatal accident of a less serious
nature, benefits $7.50 per week, one-third paid
directly by the company; seventh, minor accidents,
benefits $5 per week, paid altogether by the men.
The pension fund had its start in a contribution
of $10,000 by the company. Its growth and maintenance
is provided for by monthly appropriations
of 2 cents per man of the 40 cents per month dues
paid by the men, to which is added 1 cent per
month per man by the company. This fund is to
continue to accumulate for a period of ten years.
At the end of that time the principal in excess of
$100,000.00, and earnings may be used in the
payment of pensions to operatives of the company
who have paid into the fund continuously for
a period of ten years and who through old age,
accident or sickness are not able to earn their
livelihood. The rate to be paid is $10.00 per month
—the committees of the respective mines first pass
upon all claims. All expenses of the employes'
association proper, including salaries of a manager
(Mr. J. E. McDonald, secretary and treasurer
of the association), a staff surgeon, an adjuster
of claims, and five bookkeepers and clerks,
clerical service, postage, etc., etc., at all mines,
shops and agencies are paid by the company.
These, during the life of the association, up to
this time have amounted to upwards of $35,000.
The committeemen at the mines receive an allowance
of $1.00 each for attendance at each stated
meeting which, with other expenses of the local
organizations, is paid out of the men's funds.
There are at this time upwards of 20,000 employes
paying dues into the various lodges and
eligible for benefits under the by-law provisions.
The total benefits paid up to January 31, 1905,
were $190,000, of which the company paid $37,500.
The pension accumulation at the same date was
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 38).