New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-26
number Of deserving Welshmen The dinner when
took place after the meeting. was great success
FIREMEN CALL 1T UNJUST.
A BILL. TO CONTINUE GIVING THE En-
EMPT ASSOCIATION THE TWO
PER CENT TAX.
TIE RELIEF FUND OF THE PRESENT DEPART
MENT SHOULD HAVE THE BENEFIT VI
THE ASSESSMENT OK PREMIUMS OF

THE RELIEF FUND OF IHrs ihfsSA-'A
MENr SHOULD HAVE THE BENEFIT OF
THE ASSESSMENT on PREMIUMS OF
FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES.
A bill is now pending in the State Senate when
the members OF the present Fire Department S's 10
unjust and inIm!cal TO the department OK the CITY
Of New-York The bill proposes 20 renew for fur-
Their period OF ten years after its expiration III
1897 the act under which the Association OF Exempt
FVremen OF the City OF New-lork IL MADE the re-
cipcnt OF the per cent tax annually assessor
under the laws OF the State on the total premiums
collected by foreign insurance corporations on poll
cles written within this State. and under when law
tho money so collected throughout the State -
turned over TO the various local fire departments
who are the direct benelciaries OF the tax 'nus AS
sessed in their immediate locality. Tho only ex-
cepton 10 this rule throughout the entire STATE IL
in the city of New-York. Here the funds arising
from this tax have been diverted ana pau u d"
association OF exempt fremen
The enactment OF the bill continuing to pay this
association this tax the passing or any measure
that would accord to the Exempt Association any
OF the revenue derived from this source. H. the
present nnnen say. manifest wrong ana ac'"a
injury TO the Fire Department. The Exempt AS
socia,lon Is receiving the benefit OF tax assessed
on insurance companies which, for the larger part
vere not in existence In this State and subject TO
such n law during the existence OF the volunteer
servica.
Under n retiring act passed by the present Legs
Ia ture OF 1884, having relation to the uhiioine"
force OF the New-York Fire Department. II VIII De
necessary to encroach upon the capuh lui'u
OF the Ncw-York Fire Department RELIEF fund
TO the extent OF 10000 The increasing membership
of the uniformed force OF the New-York Fire De-
partmenL and the duties se'f-imposed ana o'ose
esta b,shed by the law In the maintenance OF 'hls
fund require grave care. and mpe the department
10 secure for this fund all the emouments anu
benefits 10 which II IS entitled under the law
II must be remembered. the present fireneh say.
,hat the dangers to volunteer fremen ceasei
fully thirty wears ago. with the DISARMAMENT Oh
their organiza lion. The men or the e"-io'N ''
Department to-day are those subject TO thae per
Torrance Of duty involving the sacrifices 10 he"'
and d,npors to lie and limb 1t is that body OF
men which should entirely benefit from TINS IN
surance revenue. and 1t is that body OF men ana
their families which Il IL distinctly contemplated
should receive the benefits when the Original Ia"
enacted -. ...,,nare
IL IS also argued that time were members
OF the Volunteer Association deoarrei by reason VI
their volunteer duties connected with the hfe eA
tingushment. from entering upon the professor "a
trade or mercane pursuit or IN ns so'e
leaving handsome competence lnder Ine PIese ,a
law the members OF the Fire Department. ue'ote
their entire time wholly and exclusively TO fire ex-
tlnglishment and duties connected WIN w uepa,
"arninSs save their respective salaries In order
that the community may foster the best interest," OF
h.
competent men enlist and remain therein. II ~
fitting that they should he assured IN me e'ent o.
misfortune in the discharge OF their duties: 1t is
an incentive TO the discipline and entire ehclency
~ thp department when the men know That they
o.ir he nroyded for I'm the measure and 10 the ex-
,ent contemplated by the creation OF the New-lork
Fire Department Relief + nd.
I, il not Intended 10 reflect upon the duties that
were performed by the volunteer hrenen OF this
civ II is aimed however. 10 point out that, taxing
advontage Of the generosity of the members OF the
Tew-York Fire Department who interposed no OBJ
tcc,ion TO permitting the Exempt Association 70
On Inv for some period the entire income from THIS
aourCe and for other times considerable portion
~ tho income the Exempt Association assumed
,h,, they can secure for themselves In perpetuity
The on iovrnent Of this income.
Tho respective amounts at present IN the treas
ures OF the relief funds OF the Exempt Association
and of the New-York Fire Department, the dlmir-
ishing disbursements imposed upon the Exempt AS
sociafion in view OF the age OF It's beneficfar1es
ard the number 70 whom benefits OF the fund eX-
,end ~ COMPARED with the largely increasing de-
,nnnd ut,on the ew-York Fire Department Keller
Fund viii clearly demonstrate the wrong position
taken by the Exempt Association on this point
The most cursOry examinations into the enactmerts
ma sscd In the last twenty-five years In regard 10
,his tax support without any other testimony the
contention OF the New-York Fire Department that
The Legislature only contemplated the diversion OF
his tax 10 the Exempt Fund for limited period
beginning first in 1856. with permission to receive
mo same for five years The renewals for limited
uerlods evidence that the Legislature never Intended
that the tax should be awarded year after year 10
the Exempt Association.