Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-06-18
corpora ting in connection with tht
present laws"

Braiperd did not believe that the
ADVANTAGES M Incorporation were
sufficient to induce it's adoption as
legal regulations might restrict the
organization in some Of lis acts.
After detailing the reasons. the
following conclusion was reached:
"The consideration we have been
able to give to this topic leads US to
the conclusion that the benefit t. he
derived from Incorporating under
the present laws of the state OF Min
nesota can not be greater than the
advantages and privileges enjoyed
by the voluntary association whose
meetings are conducted and whose
business ia transacted by delegates
from1ocal fire department and the
officers of their choice"
Topic No. 5 was: 1.-The saving Of
life being the first consideration,
should not designated number he
detailed for the special duty?'
Moorhead expressed u belief that
at every fire the firemen should
promptly ascertain il any lives were
In danger in the building, and that
where practicable certain f1remen
should he detailed for that especial
duty. -.
Melrose was strongly of the opln-
ion that in each company there
should he. some members with the
special duty OF looking after the In.
mates OF any building that was
burning.
Topic No. 6-"Should rot the state
legislature enact law creating the
office of state fire warden, whose
duty shall be to investigate the
causes of fires. with power to EN-
panel juries."
The papers on this topic developed
a radical difference among firemen. :.
and each side vas in no dOnbt what
ever as to it's Position.
The Minneapolis department
favored the creation Of the office oi
state fire marshall, with jurisdiction
over all fires, and the right t" ap'
point deputies. They to have power
Etoinyestigate fires, and to ,empane,
juries. compel attendance Of wit
nesses. Also with power to arrest
parties supposed to be guilty OF in
cendiarlsm. The Minneapolis dele
gates thought that such law
would result in an increase Of con-
victions for arson, and also a de-
crease in inceDdiary fires. 1t was
suggested that the matter would
come before the next legislature, and
the members of the convention were
advised to aid in its enactment into
q law.
Morris briefly objected, declaring
that there was no need for such an
office, and that it "would only make
another or many officers to drain
the treasury, and give positions to
an army OF office seekers, whow ould
not make firemen or anything else. ="
Granite Falls objected because it
was In the interest of 'insurer and
insured;" also that it would create
more litigation in courts; that the
public would he no better protected
than now; that it might help the in
surance companies and be detri-
mental to public interests.
Alexandria, in a lengthy and care
fully prepared paper, urged that a
state fire warden be provided for,
and gave reasons why the citizens,
property holders, and all Interests
would be benefited. The frequency
of inceudiary fires was referred to,
and statistics given to show how
large proportion OF the loss was
due to violations of the law, and
that the efforts to punish the offend.
ere under the present laws were not
successful.
An adjournment was taken fol
dinner when the topics were about
half completed. Among the papers
in the afternoon was ono by tht
Excelsior department on Topic No
l2. which was 1.-THE prOpriety o
paying a pension to permanently
disabled firemen."
The paper urged tho granting OF {
pension and closed with the follow
ing:
We pension the old soldier, and that we should
| God knows;
We yearly scatter DER their graves the violet an
All this is right, we honor them, they are ou
! country's pride;
But let US put the soldier and the fireman sid
by side.
The soldiers place IL in the field to fight th
country's foe.
The fremen with hose IN hand to another battl
Each hsve their work. we need them both. W
l love their deeds to tell.
You pension the old soldier, pension 6reme
i Us well.