The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-06

years ending in 1866 amounted to S65, ,26e,
whereas, in order to meet the liabilities it
ought, according to the most favorable as
sumption, to be about S425,00 In the
case of the Society of Engineers, the fund
in hand in sixteen years, ending 1866
amounted to $500, sos, whereas it ought to
have been 50, 363, S05. No further comment
is needed on the financial circumstances OF
these societies. We have said enough to
prove the necessity OF acting cautiously, so
that no Trades Union in the South may
take upon itself liability, in the nature OF
sick benefits and superannuation and death
allowances. greater than its income VIII
allow it to meet, when in the course OF time
the influx of new members shall have ceased
and the infrmitics and mortality OF the Old
members increase in corresponding degree.
The mode of administering the affairs OF
the Unions is simple in the extreme. An
Union comprises an aggregation more or
less numerous of Branches or Lodges. Each
Branch or Lodge has its own committee
which regulates its affairs and decides, ac-
cording to the rules, any differences that
may arise between the members or with the
employers. The central body is an Execu-
tive Council, in the nature of an Executive
Committee, the members OF which are peri
odically elected by the several Branches.
This is really the court OF appeal from the
subordinate Lodges or from individual men,
bers. In most of the English Unions the
practice, when suspension of labor is con-
templated, is stated to be this: The ques-
ton is first entertained by the Branch Com
mittee Immediately concerned in the dis
pute; from that committee it is referred to
the Executive Council for their considera-
ton; and in the event Of their approval, 1t
is submitted to the votes Of all the lndlVld-
ual members of the Union. and if decided
upon by majority, the strike takes place
The staff of the Amalgamated Engineers
Trades Union costs about 100000 year,
and consists of president, vice-president,
and other officers-among whom the secre-
tary holds an important position. The sec
retary generally holds Office longer than the
other members of the staff. In the last
named society he holds it for three years,
and is capable OF reelection. The secre-
taries are the mouth-pieces of the Unions,
and exercise very considerable influence
over their respective Unions, being in most
instances intelligent men. and no doubt ac-
customed, to great extent, to direct the
policy Of the societies.
We have now described at sufficient length
the Provident features of the English Trades
Unions, and the plan OF their general ad-
ministration. We shall now consider the
aims and ends OF the Unions, and the means
used for accomplishing their purposes, tax
ing care to show in what particulars the
English Unions are detective, as well as the
degree in which their operations are con-
trary to, or in accordance with, the laws
which regulate labor and capital. In con-
clusion, we shall endeavor to lay down a
practical plan for the thorough organization
of Trades Unions in the South, believing,
as we do, that when properly organized and
properly understood, they may be made OF
the highest utility to the working classes,
and, through them, to every class OF our
people