The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-15
FIREMEN MAKE PROTEST.
Our Legislators Voted TO Fight the Re.
peal of the Relief BiIl..-ResoIu.
tions That Were Passed.

A special session of the Volunteer
Ftremen's association was held in
Durr'S hall last night to make formal
protest against the proposed repeal of
the Firemen's Relief Bill, which, as is
generally known, provides that two
per cent of the tax on foreign fire in
surance companies shall be turned
over to the firemen for the purpose of
establishing pension fund.
a committee consisting of II. f. Fer
ber, II. r. Long, NJ. II. White, j. G..
Muller, of Priceburg, and Charles f.
Becker, was appointed to draw up a
set OF resolutions expressing the sem
timent of the association on the pro-
posed action. The reported the follow
Ing, which was unanimously adopted:
Scranton, Pa, May IA, 1887.
AT meeting of tiremcn of Lackawdnna
county, held in Firemens hall, Sl3 Lacka-
wanna avenue, this night, the following
resolutions wer adopted
Whereas, After ten or more years of in
cessant labor on the part of the CHlcers
of the Firemen's association of Pennsy!-
vania, bill ito provide remuneration for
iiremen injured in the performance of duty
as firemen. or their families in case of
death resulting from fire. was duly
passed by the senate and house of repre-
sentatives of Pennsylvania and signed by
Governor Daniel II. Hastings, thereby
giving the firemen of Pennsylvania what
was justly due them; and
Whereas, At the present session of the
legislature an amendment was proposed to
repeal said act, thereby denying persons
who fearlessly risk their lives as firemen
without any remuneration and assurance
that they or their families will be taken
care Of in case of accident or death at a
fire. and
Whereas, The bill imrosec no hardship
on any person or persons, as the insurance
companies, who pay this money must con-
tribute the same amount to tho state Of
Pennsylvania regardless of It's disposition;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the firemen of Lack
awanna county, in meeting assembled this
fourteenth day of May, 1897, do protest
against the adoption of said amendment
by the senate or house of representatives
of Pennsylvania; and, further, be Il
Resolved, That a copy of these resolu-
tions of protest be sent to the senator and
four representatives of this district, re-
questing them to use all honorable means
to defeat the amendment.
The refusal of the city of Scranton
in common with other cities through
out the stae, to turn over to the fire.
men the money derived from the oper-
ations of the relief bill was brought
once more to the attention of the as
sociation by the reading of latter ad-
dressed to Hon. James Clarency, of
Philadelphia the firemen's friend" by
Governor Daniel II. Hastings. In 1t
the governor emphatically states that
while the bill did not explicitly provide
that the money was to be turned over
to the firemen, which would be uncon-
stituional, it was understood by the
legislators and by the governor that it
was to be put to such use. This hu-
name purpose the governor says, "en-
listed my interest in the bill, and under
no other circumstances would l have
signed It,"
Because the act merely says that
the money is to be returned to the city
from which it is derived to be used as
the city may direct, several cities,
Scranton among them, refuse to turn
the money over to the firemen, alleging
that they have no authority for so
doing.