The maximum death benefits paid by the Cigar Makers and the Glass Bottle Blowers are $550 and $500, respectively. The Iron Molders pay a maximum benefit of $200; the Carpenters of $200; the Pattern Makers of $400; the Germania Typographia of $200. In all these cases except that of the Glass Bottle Blowers the benefit is graded according to the period of membership. The maximum benefit is paid in the Cigar Makers and in the Pattern Makers to members of fifteen years' standing.
Only a few unions have decreased the amount of the benefit from that first established. Among these are the Brotherhood of Carpenters, the Brotherhood of Leather Workers on Horse Goods, the Tailors' Union, and the Metal Polishers' Union. In the case of the Carpenters the death benefit which was originally established at $250 in 1882 was $100 in 1905. Changes of this kind have naturally followed the too liberal policy of inexperienced unions.
The following table, giving the amount of the death benefit as originally established and as paid at present in certain of the more important unions which have adopted the graded death benefit, illustrates the variety of forms which the systems take:
| AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Union | Date of Organization | Date of Introducing Death Benefits | Amount of Death Benefit Paid Originally | Amount of Death Benefit Paid in 1905 |
| Boot and Shoe Workers | 1895 | 1898 | $50 for six months' membership. | $100 for two years' membership. |
| $50 for six months' membership. | $100 for two years' membership. | |||
| Carpenters, Brotherhood of | 1881 | 1882 | $250 for six months' membership. | $100 for six months' membership. |
| $200 for one year's membership. | ||||
| Cigar Makers | 1864 | 1867 | Yield of a 10 cent per capita assessment. | $50 for two years' membership. |
| $200 for five years' membership. | ||||
| $350 for ten years' membership. | ||||
| $550 for fifteen years' membership. | ||||
| Granite Cutters | 1877 | 1877 | $50 | $50 |
| $75 for six months' membership. | ||||
| $100 for one year's membership. | ||||
| $150 for five years' membership. | ||||
| $200 for ten years' membership. | ||||
| Iron Molders | 1859 | 1870 | Yield of a 40 cent per capita assessment. | $100 for one year's membership. |
| $150 for five years' membership. | ||||
| $175 for ten years' membership. | ||||
| $200 for fifteen years' membership. | ||||
| Leather Workers on Horse | 1896 | 1896 | $40 for one year's membership. | |
| $60 for two year's membership. | $40 for one year's membership. | |||
| $100 for four year's membership. | $75 for three year's membership. | |||
| $200 for five year's membership. | $100 for four year's membership. | |||
| $300 for eight year's membership. | ||||
| Metal Polishers | 1890 | 1890 | $100 for six months' membership. | $50 for one year's membership. |
| $100 for two years' membership. | ||||
| Machinists | 1890 | 1890 | $50 for six months' membership. | $50 for six months' membership. |
| $75 for one year's membership. | ||||
| $100 for two years' membership. | ||||
| $150 for three years' membership. | ||||
| $200 for four years' membership. | ||||
| Painters | 1887 | 1887 | $100 | $50 for one year's membership |
| $100 for two years' membership | ||||
| $150 for three years' membership | ||||
| $200 for four years' membership | ||||
| Pattern Makers | 1887 | 1889 | $50 | $50 for one year's membership |
| $75 for two years' membership | ||||
| $100 for three years' membership | ||||
| $150 for five years' membership | ||||
| $200 for seven years' membership | ||||
| $250 for nine years' membership | ||||
| $300 for eleven years' membership | ||||
| $350 for thirteen years' membership | ||||
| $400 for fifteen years' membership | ||||
| Piano and Organ Workers | 1898 | 1898 | $50 for six months' membership | $50 for one year's membership |
| $100 for five years' membership | ||||
| $200 for ten years' membership | ||||
| Tailors | 1884 | 1890 | $75 for three months' membership | $25 for six months' membership |
| $100 for one years' membership | $40 for one year's membership | |||
| $50 for two years' membership | ||||
| $75 for three years' membership | ||||
| $100 for four years' membership | ||||
A few of the unions require only that the deceased member shall have been in good standing. These unions ordinarily pay a small benefit, although the Glass Bottle Blowers pay five hundred dollars without requiring a preliminary period of membership. The term of necessary membership varies from thirty days in the case of the Barbers to two years in the Cigar Makers. The usual requirement is that the member shall have been in good standing for six months.
A few of the unions restrict the benefit to members under a certain age at the time of admission. Where such an age limit is imposed it is ordinarily fifty years, but in a few unions it is sixty years.
The following table shows the conditions imposed upon the payment of the death benefit in the more important unions:
| Name of Organization. | Age Limit. | Preliminary Term of Good Standing Required |
|---|---|---|
| Bakers | 50 years | 3 months |
| Barbers | 50 years | 30 days |
| Boot and Shoe Workers | 6 months | |
| Glass Bottle Blowers | None | |
| Carpenters | 50 years | 6 months |
| Cigar Makers | 50 years | 2 years |
| Granite Cutters | 6 months | |
| Iron Molders | 12 months | |
| Iron, Steel and Tin Workers | 3 months | |
| Leather Workers on Horse Goods | 1 year | |
| Lithographers | 30 days | |
| Machinists | 6 months | |
| Metal Polishers | 1 year | |
| Metal Workers | 12 months | |
| Painters | 50 years | 1 year |
| Pattern Makers | 50 years | 52 weeks |
| Piano and Organ Workers | 1 year | |
| Plumbers | 6 months | |
| Stone Cutters | 6 months | |
| Tailors | 6 months | |
| Tobacco Workers | 60 years | 1 year |
| Typographical Union | None | |
| Weavers, Elastic Goring | 6 months | |
| Wood Workers | 60 years | 6 months |