The Washington times., 1895-05-05
cIGARMAKERs' BENEFITS.
Record of a Model Organization {
Work inUmeu


Record of a Model Organization of
Workingmen.
Cigarmakers' Union, No. 110, was organ
lied November 20, 1881, with the fol-
lowing officers in charge: John E. WeIch,
president; Augustus Moreland, vice pres
ident; William Loeffler, financial seere-
tray; August Stansbury, recording sec
retary; Henry Weaver, corresponding sec
retary; John ossinger, treasurer, and
Henry Preston, sergeant at arms.
1t had then but twelve members, and
exerted but little influence until 1888,
when the Internal revenue tax on cigars
was reduced from Sc to So per 900. The
union Immediately took advantage of the
reduction and presented a scale of prices
to their bosses. One firm, the largest in
the city at the time, had a demand made for
the union label, and this was agitated
among the local organizations, and their
men Joined the union. II was but a little
while until every cigaJmaker in the Dis
trict and i'll y AleXandria, Va, became
meHbers, swelling the number to seventy
six.
The organization then suffered from a
period of depression, aud in 1886 its mem
bership was reduced TO eleven. Asita-
tion was discontinued, and the union seemed
ENANNNN4'~-A
keep up the interest.
There has been another revival since,
however. In May, 1886, an International
law was passed filming members fifty cents
per hour for working over eight hours per
day, from to 2 and from l TO O'Clock,
which la " has since been riGidly enforced.
in addition to this enactment the Bingham
ton Convention passed a law, sanctioned
by all locals, providing for work beue-
fit, which has been the means OF keeping
a much larger percentage OF members in
good standing.
There is also a death benefit provided
for, which is graded according to the term
| during which the member may have been
in good standing. II for one year, the
sum is $50; five years, 5000; ten years,
$3.50, and fifteen years, $3.50, payable TO
the legal representatives OF the deceased.
A small sum as funeral benefit is also paid
to member who may lose his wife; If
unmarried, it is paid upon the death of his
mother. In order to get this assistance
the member must have been on the rolls,
in good standing, for period OF two years
next preceding the death.
Another form of benefit is in making a
small loan to member who may be in
good standing. but out of employment, to
assist him from one town to another where
there is a union.
To meet the outlay in death benefits
the members pay two assessments OF so
cents each per anuum. To cover other eX-
penditures and beuefits dues are collected
at the rate OF 20 cents per week per MEM
ber.
The present officers are: August L.
Dahler, president; Peter Hahn, vice-presi-
dent; Charles ]. Hunter, financial secre-
tary; Fred. J. DahIer, corresponding and
recording secretary; John Wiugate, treas
uIer: Milton Baker, sergeant-at-arms.
The label committee consists OF two
members. John Buechling and S. j Lerch;
finance committee, Henry Weaver and John
Buechling; auditing committee, Peter Hahn,
John B. Buechling aud Fred j Dahler; trus-
tees, John Ester, John B. Buechling and
August L. Dabler; delegates to the feder-
alton of labor, John Willis, c. A Myers,
Walter Whitehead, F. r. Hall and Joseph
Hart.