The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-09
n HEADS D|NED
@rior Officers Associa-
ton Gave a Ban
If quet.
THE FORCE coHPLIHENTED
Happy Speeches Made by Pro-
minent Ofacials-The
Best Department.

regular meeting at the Avenue House
yesterday afternoon, which was followed
by a banquet tendered the visiting MEM
bers by Branch No. 1 of the Association,
comprising the officers of the Jersey City
and Hoboken Fire Departments. What
business was transacted was done in
executive session. The principal subject
of discussion was the establishment OF
sick and death benefits. The matter had
been under consideration for some time.
Yesterday definite action in its favor
was taken.
Fire Chief Conway, of this city, presid-
ed. There were present.-Second Vice
President William McGill, Fire Chief of
Trenton; Treasurer James D. Applegate,
Fire Chief of Hoboken; Secretary William
Exall. Captain of No. 1 Truck, Newark;
Battalion Chief Kern and Captains Muir
dock, Brennan, Newly. Bissell, Cleveland,
Brehn, Aumach, Birch, Harms, Brann,
Flick. Miller and Sloan of this city; Fire
. Chief Kirstead of Newark, Battalion
Chief Joseph Sloan and Captains Hambur-
ger, Ross, Price, Durkin, Dolbier. Lau-
renee, Van Valkenberg and Exall of New
ark; Fire Chief William McGill and Cap
tains Ford and Stiefhold of Trenton; AS
sistant Fire Chief John Gilmore and
Captains Cook, Boyle. Weber and Taylor
of Paterson. Captains Stanton and Dopo-
hue of Hoboken.
Ex-Fire Commissioner John Brennan,
and Fire Commissioner John Erickson.
Thomas Mills and James Hennessy. ana
Charles Esterbrook and John keatlng,
clerks respectively of the Jersey City and
Hoboken Fire Departments. Joined the
officers at the banquet.
Letters were received from Mayor Hoos,
H---f--a.--- w.. - IJOho1yan ASsfSf-
an Engineer Lowell and Chief Doan of
Plainf1eld. regretting their inability to be
present.
Caterer Kicker excelled himself in MAX
ing up a palatable and substantial menu.
IA long table extended the length of the
dining hall 1t was neatly decorated. The
dinner was greatly enjoyed and was fol-
lowed by speechmaking. Chief Conway
as master of ceremonies introduced ex-
Commissioner Brennan.
He said he felt thankful for the invf-
tation to attend the banquet principally
for the reason that it made him feel that
though his connection with the depart
ment had been severed he still lived in
the memory of the members. 1t was
often the case that when a man retired
from a public position he was forgotten
as soon as the gates of Office were closed
upon him. He applauded the work of the
association in providing for death bene-
fits and prophesied success for the as
ISOLATION as long as the members worked
in rmo with the heads of the de-
tine He said he believed in organ
ization.
President Erickson, of the Fire Board,
also talked on the same line concerning
organization. He said he had all his life
affiliated with labor organizations to pro-
tect himself. He advised the officers to
honorably protect themselves so long as
the organization did not tread upon the
interest of other Organizations. He said
he was heartily in accord with the gather
ing. It stood for education-it meant
something. All that was necessary for
success was to be honest and straight
orwar
Mr.. Erickson declared that Jersey City
had the best fire department of any city
in the State and caused some merriment
by facetiously adding. Except those of
the cities represented here"
Commissioner Mills said he had been in
and out of the department since '6S. He
had nothing to say against the depart
ment during its past management, but
had much to say in way of praise for
the present management. The insurance
people had even made that acknowledge
ment. Mr.. Mills said he would like to
see the officers and the 'tblue shirts" pull
together. He said a gentleman whose
property had been saved by the splendid
work of @firemen wished to donate some
money for the relief of the iremen. He
didn't know whether he was doing right
in admitting it, but said he advised the
gentlemen to divide his donation between
the two associations.
Chief Conway stated that when the or
SANITATION was formed it had been found
that a bylaw of the other association
prohibited the admission of officers OF the
department as members. He said that If
the officers association had been formed
to hound or pound anybody he woulo re
the first to condeina it.
Chief Applegate of Hoboken next made
a short speech. followed by Chief Kir-
stead of Newark, who caused a general
laugh in replying to the assertion that
Jersey city had the best fire department
in the State by remarking he thought the
same thing about Newark, but Intended to
wait until he got on his own dunghill De-
fore saying it too loud.
Chief McGill, of Trenton, said he appre-
ciated Chief Conway's entertainment
Discussing the treatment of the men I'M
der the officers, ne said his experience
was that the more literally they were
treated the more service could be gotten
out of them. He told a number of anus
ing stories.
Charles Esterbrook said he was glad to
see the press represented and hoped the
reporters present would help to eradicate
an impression that seemed to exist among
some members of the rank and file that
the association was formed to hound the
men. He believed the objects of the or
ganization were good. 1t makes better
captains, and if a force does not have
good officers it soon becomes demoralized'
1t is the officers duty to see that rules
are enforced.
Clerk John Heating of the Hoboken
Department followed Mr.. Esterbrook IN
a short and graceful speech.
The Paterson delegation at this point
thanked the local officers for their splen-
a.a n+ar+ainnan and fo0K their deDar-