In the Beggar's Union, rank was indicated by the number of bags that a member carried. With the exception of the Union Chief, who carried only the Dog Beating Stick, all other members carried an increasing number of bags for each rank that they are promoted. The most "decorated" members carried up to eight bags.
Wasn't this a bit of a burden? Maybe it symbolizes the burden of responsibility that came with higher rank, but it must have gotten cumbersome to have to carry seven or eight bags around all the time.