The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-20
F1REMEN's BOOK DISCUSSED.
Scheme of Securing Subscriptions is
 Questioned.


 Scheme of Securing Subscriptions is
 Questioned.
 An article which appeared in the New York Herald yesterday concerning the publication of a book concerning the tlremen of Connecticut has excited con- siderable comment about the city. In the article in question it is stated that the Mac Printing company of this ety. of which Samuel MacLauchlan is member, made a proposition some time ago to the State Flremen's association to publish a book to be known as Fire Fighters of Connecticut" to contain history of the association and pictures, 50 per cent. of the receipts from the sale of the book to go to the association. The proposition was accepted and eX-Chlet Snagg of Waterbury was made custo- dian of the fund and all subscriptions were to be made payable to him.
 In the Herald article it is alleged that agents hired by MT. MacLauchlan to canvass for subscriptions made false representation to the effect that the en- tire scheme was in the interests of the firemen's association and by means of this representation obtained subscrip- tions, some for $200 being received from Morris F. Tyler ex-Judge Samuel l.. Bronson William s. Bronson and James $. Toy.
 1 Among others who subscribed were the Aetna Fire Insurance company, Pope Manufacturing company, Hart ford Steam and Boiler Inspection com- pany, and the Hartford Electric Light company, of Hartford, $100 each; Elsie M. Montgomery, $200; New Haven. Gas Light company, New Haven Water, company, former Lieutenant Governor S. F. Merwin, Henry F. English, $1O0 each; L. Candee & Co.,, of New Haven, $t0O; Charles Parker company, $200; Merlden Britannia company and Brad ! ley & Hubbard Manufacturing com- pany $100 each, all of Meriden; H. l.. Judd & Co.,. of Wallingford; American Hosiery company, Russell & Erwin Manufacturing company, Stanley works of New Britain; Cheney Broth CTS, Manchester; Ansonia Water com pany, Fountain Watch company of An sonia; Derby Gas company of Derby; Birmingham Water company of Bir- mingham; Naugatuck Water company, H. Twitchell & Son. each $100, of Nau- gatuck; Ousatonic Water company of Derby; F. s. Osgood, $20O, of Norwich; Naugatuck Malleable Iron company, and George A. Lines of Naugatuck, and ] the Strong Manufacturing company of Winsted
 The agents were supplied with en- dorsements from prominent men of the state, including Governor Cooke, and a prospectus. It is alleged that ex-Chief Snagg received $4000 in subscriptions ard that of this MT. MacLauchan drew $35O0 for expenses of publishing the book. From statements made yester- day by Samuel MacLauchlan and eX- Chief Snagg, it appears that agents hired to solicit subscriptions for the book ovegstepped instructions in their canvass and that at a conference held between these two it was agreed that other canya ssers should be hised. MT. MacLauchlan states that he met the state association in Meriden and con- tracted for the work and that he was told that the president, secretary and treasurer of the association were ap- pointed a committee to close the con- tract. He says further that at a later meeting held in New Haven the matter was discussed and the members decided that they could not sign contract, but authorized him to go ahead with the work and that the president, Captain O'Neil of this city, deputized Chief Snagg to take charge of all the funds and turn them over to the association at the next annual meeting. MT. Mac Lauchlan alleges that Captain O'Neil was fully cognizant of the whole mat ter and said at a meeting of the asso- ciation held in Hartford that fully $10- 051 Woffid he realized from the hOoly The complaint which started the dis cuss on is said to have come from Tor rington, where an agent of MacLauch- Ian represented that he was a member of the New Haven ,. fire department. This agent was discharged. MT Mac Lauchlan says that the book will be published as per the agreement