The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-16
AS TO STATE EXPENDITURES
HEARING YESTERDAY BY SPECIAL
 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

Held in County Building in This City, Representatives of State Firemen,s Association and Oyster Growers, Asso- ciation Heard--Firemen's Peculiar Handling of State Funds-Taxution of Oyster Beds.
 A hearing was held yesterday in room 15 of the County building by the special legislative committee appointed to investigate state expenditures Rep- resentatives of the StaIe Firemen's as- sociation were heard, the president of the association, Capt. ONeil of this city. the secretary, ex-Chief Jones of Vest port, and the treasurer, Chief Snagg Of Waterbury, being present to repre- sent the association. Ex-Chief Hen- drlck of this city was also present and by invitation of the committee took part in the discussion. The association recelVed annually an appropriation from the state to be expended in bene- 1ts for sick and injured firemen. Last year $9,000 was received. The secretary or the association was the first one heard by the committee. He described the system under which the fund is dis posed of. He said that the salary of the secretary was $600 Mr. Snagg treas urer of the association, was next heard He said that the appropriation was paid directly to him by the order of the state comptroller. He said that the as- sociation account was kept separate from the state fund account. The sal ary of the treasurer is $500. From the evidence the fact was also brought out that salaries of officers of the associa- tion are paid out of the state fund.
 During the past thirteen years the association has received $S0,350 of which s62, 159 has been paid out in bene- fits as provided by statute, and $13,523 has been paid out for salaries and other expenses of the association
 Major Barnes of the committee read from the statute as amended in 1893 to show wherein it is provided that the appropriation from the state shall be used as a benefit fund for the relief of firemen injured in the service, and the relief of widows and children of fire men who have met injuries in the ser vice which have resulted in death. Then Major Barnes said that the payments from the state fund which have been made to pay association expenses are clearly violation of the law. It was obviously the intention of the state to create a trust fund in the associa- tion to meet demands for relief, and not pay salaries and other extrenuous opl- gations
 Chiefs Snagg and Jones thought it doubtful about the association being able to pay back the $13,523 that has been expended for expenses.
 In the course of the hearing the fact was brought out that $500 had been paid from the fund to William c. Smith, ex- superintendent of fire alarm telegraph in this city. Major Barnes asked for an explanation of this, and Captain O'Neil said that the directors of the as- sociation had voted unanimously to pay the amount to MT. Smith.
 Chief Jones said that $550 was paid to the widow of deceased fireman and of this $150 was allowed for funeral eX penses, $2 per week is allowed also to each child of deceased fireman until the child reaches fifteen years of age. He said that there were 200 fire com- panies in the association, and only one full paid department, that of New Ha- ven The association has 1000 mem bers. Each company in the association pays $2 per year. It was also brought out that the expenses of a delegate from the association to the national convention of firemens association in Atlanta a few years ago was paid from the state fund and had never been paid back.
 In the afternoon the committee heard representatives of the Connecticut Oys- ter Growers association. The commit tee endeavored to obtain at the hear ing information concerning the taxation of oyster lands. It seems that some of these lands are not cultivated, although owned by private parties, and the com mittee desires to learn why this unused oyster land should not be taxed. Henry c. Rowe and other oystermen appeared and opposed an increase of taxation on oyster lands. MT. Rowe said that any increase of taxation on oyster lands would be unwise and unjust, and that many Connecticut growers are now planting oysters in Rhode Island, where there are more favorable conditions and the business more profitable. He said that it was not time now for the state to impose additional taxation which W ould only drive the oyster grow CTS out of the state faster than they are now going. He said also that the uncultivated oyster grounds in the possession of the oyster growers was practically valueless and tht 1t could not be returned to the state as the law under which it was taken had been re- healed and that the growers were in homes tn atat some time in the future it would be of some benefit to them. But at present they can gain no profit from it. The committee adjourned at o'clock.
 MORE TROLLEY LINE EXTENSION
 New Britain, Dec. 15.-General Man. ager E. H. Mather of the Central Rail way and Electric company said yester- day that the company would ask the general assembly for an amendment to
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