The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-03
A TIlcn,c for st,c Ti.mcs.


There is no royal road to knowledge. and,
vi general, every community and every class
must solve for itself the practical problems
Of the age. But m understanding of what
others have accomplished, under similar cir
cunlstanccs, may facilitate the solution of
grave questions in social aud economic sci.
cncr, and, while the Trades Unions now
forming in the South may he long i'm rcuchnr
The highest degree Of usefulness, we feel that
their value may be increased, and their icgfti-
mate powers enlarged. if Trades Unions and
their purposes through the means of the press,
are better and more thoroughly understood.
Anl this mny be accomplished by passing
i'll review the history Of these associations
in England, where there are not less than
1000 Trades Unions, and where they have
shown in full force the errors we desire TO
avoid, ms well rs the gool qualities which
the Trades Unions Of III Souti desire to
emulate md surpass.
In England there a.c two classes of
unions-ihc Trades Union pure and simple,
which aims ut protecting the workman
against the employer; and, secondly, the
Trades Union which combines that obicc,
with the character Of ~ Friendly or Provi-
dent Society, and which undertakes to Sc
cure to its members certain benefits of
allowance in sickness or accident, supcran-
nualion in old age, and payments in aid OF
funeral and other expenses. The combna-
| ton of the two objects certainly inpairs
the financial soundness of these bodies.
The revenue which forms the insurance fund
is liable to bear the cxhausting drain OF
strike, and is the purse from which the
capitalist is TO he fought with his own wen-
pons. The workman who has paid his dues
for years 10 provide against IA rainy day"
is exposed in this way TO serious danger.
There is also the doubt whether the contri-
buttons of the members, at the usual rate.
will meet the demands made upon them
for benefit purposes only. The general
opinion in England is that, under the most
favorable circumstances, the contributions
or dues are totally insufficient to secure
the benefits specified. Neson and DR.. Farr
publish statements upon this subject i'm tho
Registrar Generals Report, and if there
is anything in the calculations of these
eminent actuarics the societies will inevi.
tahly come 10 ruin, and the longer they last
before the crisis come the more widespread
the ruin will he. These views are fully ex-
planned in the reports of the Royal Com
missioncrs submitted to both Houses of Par
Lament in 1867.
hn t,,-~ Il
can Trades Unions, of which we have
knowledge, arc not rs lavish in making
promises as the English Unions are. The
amalganized society OF carpenters and Join
ers, for instance, gives the following benc-
fits: When out of employment So SO q week
for twelve weeks, and ST SO for twelve weeks
more; sick benefit So week, or 81 SO II
week rs long as the sickness continues; ac-
cident benefit, $500; emigration benefit $50;
supcrannuated benefit for life, if member
twenty-five years, So q week; il member a
eighteen years, 81 rs u week; il MEM
Der twelve years, 81 25 u week; funeral
benefit $50. This the English society pro-
poses to provide for by contribution OF ST
month, with an entrance fec ranging
from 81 as to S5. In regard to this socie-
ty the Royal Commissioners report that, if
thcplan of having an uniform rate of sub
scription for all ages is to be adhered to,
the oues should he ut least Jicc dollars n
month, instead OF ono dollar. All these
amounts are in gold, at the rate of four
shillings sterling to the American dollar.
Taking an American society rs an exam
pie on the other side, we have the Charles
ton Typographical Union which pays in
case OF sickness So week, equal TO SO 40
in gold, and gives !. funeral benefit of $40,
or SD in gold, the monthly contribution
being so cents, or 40 cents in gold. One
half OF the dues are applied to benefit
purposes, but 1t seems clear enough that
tile Charleston society is in stronger posi-
ton than its English brother
We think that VIC have said enough to
show the necessity Of holding the benefit
fund inviolate, and Of exercising the great
est care in regulating the scale Of benefits
so that more may not bc promised than
can certainly he performed. At this point
we leave this branch Of the subject of
Trades Unions.
WE are indebted to the Columbia CORES
f,r