purpose of the proposed Order was stated to be the protection of “the members and their families in case of sickness, accident or death."[44] The mutual insurance association instituted by the first convention paid a disability benefit equal to the death benefit.  The law under which the association operated was repealed at the second convention in October, 1869; but when the third convention in October, 1870, adopted a new insurance plan, provision was made that disability insurance should be paid in an amount equal to that paid in case of death.  Not until 1881, however, did the Conductors satisfactorily solve the problem.

[Footnote 40:  Locomotive Engineers’ Journal, Vol. 1, p. 9.]

[Footnote 41:  Constitution, 1869, in Locomotive Engineers’ Journal, Vol. 4, p. 31.]

[Footnote 42:  Locomotive Engineers’ Journal, Vol. 5, p. 11; Vol. 7, pp. 28, 60.]

[Footnote 43:  Ibid., Vol. 7, pp. 28-60; Vol. 11, p. 78; Constitution, 1884 (Cleveland, 1884).]

[Footnote 44:  Proceedings of the Order of Railway Conductors of America, 1868-1885 (Cedar Rapids, 1888), p. 19.]

The difficulties experienced by the Engineers and the Conductors in establishing disability insurance, without doubt, served to deter the Firemen from adopting a similar system until their fifth convention in 1878.  During the period 1868-1880 the disability benefit was in process of evolution.  By 1880 the three older organizations had demonstrated the possibility of maintaining the benefit, and since that time it has been regarded as an essential element in railway insurance systems.  Hence the Trainmen in 1883, the Telegraphers in 1887, and the Switchmen in 1886, in their first constitutions, and the Trackmen in 1893, made the disability insurance equal to that paid in case of death.  All of the railway organizations, except the Telegraphers, follow this policy at the present time.  The Telegraphers have not paid a disability benefit since 1897.  They provide, however, that should a member become totally or permanently disabled the insurance committee may order his assessments paid and shall deduct the amount of these assessments when the benefit is finally paid.[45] The failure of the Telegraphers to pay a disability benefit is largely due to the fact that their occupation is less dangerous than other forms of railway service.

[Footnote 45:  Constitution, 1903 (St. Louis, ii. d.), p. 106.]

The Letter Carriers also have not the same urgent need for the payment of a disability benefit and until the Denver convention, 1902, paid insurance against death without direct provision for disability.  At this convention, however, the National Association organized a Retirement Association for the payment of superannuation benefits to the aged and disabled members.[46] The Association had in view in founding this department the growing necessity of making some provision for the large number of carriers whom old