Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-25
TO HELP EMPLOYEES.
Benefit Association FOstered by a
Rapid Transit COMPANY


Rapid Transit Company
During the sixty days ending June
10 concession will be made to The
employees of the Brooklyn RAPID
Transit company who have not vet al
lied themselves with the Brooklyn Rap
id Transit Employees Benefit associa
ton. This organization, founded In
1902, has today Il membership of $3.50
men, about one-half the whole number
employed by the company. The ad-
vantages of membership are such that
the officers of the company expect only
a short time to elapse before practical
| ly all of the company employees are
enrolled in an association organized
and governed by their fellow en-
ployees.
At a recent meeting of the board of
trustees of the benefit association it
was decided to suspend the usual mi
tiation fee of 81 for a period Of sixty
days as an inducement to nonmembers.
The only expense will be the payment
of months dues of 90 cents. to be de-
Quoted from the salary of the new
member ON the last week of each
month. In return for 90 cents month
in the Benefit association will be is
sued, emitting the holder to club house
privileges at the nearest club building,
including the use of billiard tables,
bowling alleys, gymnasium, shower
baths, reading room, musical entertain>
ments, band instruction and educa bon-
al classes in many practical branches.
Membership also permits of participa
ton in summer excursions to Coney
Island and Rockaway Beach.
But the benefit association is as tru-
ly q mutual insurance society as any
fraternal organization in the country.
The associations physician is paid Il
liberal salary to give his services eX-
clusively to the members who receive
free medical attendance during any
period of sickness. Any member who
has been incapacitated from his work
by Illness for as many as fourteen con-
Secutive days is entitled TO Il benefit |
of 81 per day, commencing with the |
eighth day of sickness. He profits also |
from a reduction in prices OIL medi-
cines from some thirty druggists who
fill the association physicians prescrip |
tons. In the event of death Il benefit
v,
and this sum has often sufficed TO
bridge over a period OF special eX-
penses.
During the year ending March 81,
1906, the Brooklyn Rapid Transit EN-
ployeeS' Benefit association paid out
over S22.O00 to members or their fami-
lies in sick and death benefits. During
1905, 520 members received sick and
death benefits amounting to S14,7T7.
Of this amount $1,000 was paid to the
families of fOrty-seven members who
had died. These figures do not ade
luately represent the protection afford
I'd by the associations medical pro-
risions, for the 525 members amount
o only % per cent of the number of
members given free medical treatment
" the associations physician during
he year Notwithstanding these dis
'ursements, 1t had on hand on March
i over $4,000 in cash to meet its OBJ
lgatiOns.
The officials of the company are so
thoroughly convinced of the advan-
ages to their men of the association,
which they have fostered through the 7
Uncertain years of infancy to its pres
mt assured position, that they recent
Y issued circular letter urging their
Employees to accept the special terms
n force for sixty days. The response
o this by the employees who have not
ct joined will probably add another
hOuSand members to the roll, thus en- ! :
bling the association to provide more
of which there are now
inc scattered over the borough of
'rooklyn. The headquarters at 1 Ju-
laica avenue, known as the Railroad
lens building, is center of radiating :
lfiuences.