If not, why am I subject to
His cruelty or scorn ?
Or why has man the will and power
To make his fellow mourn?”
The first rule-book of the “Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen” was published to members in the year 1881 as “Registered under the Trades’ Union Acts,” with registered office at the Commercial Inn, Sweet Street, Holbeck, Leeds. Its objects were specified in Rule 2 as follows:—
"The objects of this Society shall be to form funds, by entrance fees and weekly contributions, for the relief of its members in sickness, incapacitation by old age or accident, from following their profession or calling, by paying a sum of money at death of members or their wives, and for the relief or maintenance of the members when on travel in search of employment, or when in distressed circumstances, and to advance the interests of its members in their various professions and callings by procuring a reduction in the excessive hours of labour, regulating the speed of trains, the adoption of modem improvements for the general safe working over all sailways in, the United Kingdom, and generally in such other manner and to such extent as the Executive. Committee may determine."
The Executive Committee consisted of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Three Trustees, General Treasurer, Secretary, and Seven Committee-men, who "shall be elected from the branch or branches in the town or city where the head offices are situated, and shall elect their own chairman."
Three auditors were to be chosen for the first year by the Executive Committee from the first three branches whose names shall appear on the books of the Society, and in each succeeding year by the three branches following next in rotation in such books.
The first executive was paid a sum of one shilling per meeting. They usually met on Sundays, and there are many records of these first committee-men sitting from 9.30 a.m, to 9.30 p.m., getting 1s.
