Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/158

 the second time. The delegates widened the rules to admit cleaners and electric trainmen, on a resolution moved by Swansea. It was the same branch which moved an alteration to Rule 2, to add levies to contributions, and to add the words:—

"'And by representation in the House of Commons, to be paid for by levy, not exceeding 1s. per member per annum, and from the Protection Fund.'"

Several branches advocated, as an alternative, that a levy would lead to grumbling and protest, and the Protection Fund ought to be utilised. Darlington, for example, doubted the legality of making a levy for Parliamentary purposes, but it was said that if the rule passed the Registrar it became law. The subject was keenly discussed on three days of the Conference. There was considerable applause when eventually it was decided, by 35nbvotes to 24. to establish the political levy. The salary of the General Secretary having been raised from £4 to £5 weekly, Conference turned attention to the Centralisation of Funds, proposed by Mr. Drummond on behalf of the Executive. It aimed, he said, at simplicity, economy and efficiency; it would save branch secretaries much elaborate book-keeping, and always keep the Head Office informed of the state of branches. At that time there was £4,908 lying in branch funds, which, if centralised and invested at 4 per cent. would bring in £160 a year. The Taff Vale action, too, had shown how necessary it was to control the funds. Cases of defaulting secretaries and confusion of branch books would be scarce in future. The resolution was accepted, and a sub-committee appointed to draft a scheme.

This sub-committee brought forward on the following day a scheme of ten clauses, which is virtually the scheme now in operation.

Its provisions, in summary, were:—