the annual interest on investments was exceeding the total income for its early years.
The Orphan Fund was just being mooted, and was strongly pressed by Bolton, alternative schemes being outlined in the "Journal." The Executive declared it was not practical, and that an increased contribution would have to be paid to meet the liability, They could not recommend anything being taken from the Trade Protection Fund, which was very substantial, as they felt its liabilities might be very heavy, and might be faced at any time. They therefore addressed the following questions to branches:—
In October of 1896 the votes were returned, showing a majority of 72 for the Orphan Fund, a majority against the Bolton scheme, a majority against increased contributions, and a majority of 371 in favour of the Executive drafting a scheme. The Executive decided that nothing further should be done until the next delegate meeting, but propaganda continued, and at the 1899 Conference the Orphan Fund was decided upon, on the motion of Mr. Geo. Moore, the Bolton delegate, now Assistant General Secretary.
The Jubilee year, 1897, was a trying one for organised labour, and a busy one for the Society. A conference was called in January to consider the position of affairs on the London & North Western Railway, and in February the Society voted £50 to the relief of the locked-out Penrhyn quarrymen. In March the Executive met specially at York to consider the very serious position developing on the North Eastern, and it was resolved that in the event of a strike developing amongst other grades, enginemen and firemen must refuse to fulfil any other duties than their own. Our members at Hull and other stations were not in favour of a strike, because the Society had submitted its own distinct programme, and when
