The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-29

powered TO secure suitable quar-
ters for Club House--Benefits
Are to Be Paid Only to Active Fire
nen--All Applicants for Places in
Reorganized Department Have
Now Taken Both Examinations.
Other News.
one OF the officers OF the Firemen's
Relief association explained to u Trib-
'lne man yesterday just what plans
that organization had under way for
continuing in existence after the re-
organization Of the fire department.
"A great many mistaken notions
concerning this matter have got
abroad" said he. "and I think that
1t is about time our position was set
forth clearly and correctly. The Fire
mems Relief association is n chartered
organization and will continue IN en-
istence after tn, reorganization of
the fire department the same as at
present. 1t will include in its menu
bership both the volunteers who will
be disbanded and the members Of the
re-organized department. including
permanent, bunk and call men.
1--WE shall "cNtinue in control of the
funds now in Y treasury and Of the
money now rt lived from the city,
this being the city's share of the tax
on foreign fire insurance companies.
This money wni be expended as here
tofore in paying benefits to active fire.
lnen who may be hurt while respond
ing to an alarm or working at a fire.
MANY people have got the impress
sion that sick benefits will be paid to
eN-volunteers out of this fund. Moth
ing could be further from the truth.
Benefits will be paid only 10 active
tiremen actually injured while engaged
in active service.
"The X-volunteers will. We believe,
remain members Of the relief associa-
ton merely for old time sake. The
volunteer companies will be practi-
cally disbanded, but theoretically they
will not be. Each company has Il
charter OF its own and all will be
amalgamated into the one associa-
ton In case of a parade or reunion
the companies can parade as separate
organizations.
"'rhe board of directors of the as
sociation has been instructed to look
around for suitable rooms for the To-
cation Of club house and have prac-
tically decided upon building in tn.
central part of the city. 1t is a four
story building and three floors are for
rent. 1t is very probable that these
three floors will be rented and occu-
pied by the association just as soon as
the department is rc-organiZad.
1T is planned to fit the rooms up
as a regular club house and to fur
nish them with the furniture at pres
ent in the sixteen fire houses, all OF
which is owned by the volunteer Or
9anizatiOns. There is more than suf-
ficient gynnaStic apparatus scattered
among the sixteen companies to fit
up a gymnasium and it is probable
that one floor will be so fitted up.
Baths will be provided and also a
reading room. In fact, the place will
be transformed into as cOzy and as
comfortable quarters as are possessed
by any club in the city. There are sew
eral hundred men now members of the
volunteer department who spend the
best part Of their idle time in the days
and their nights in and around the
fire houses. The disbandment of the
volunteer department will mean the
throwing Of these men out on the
streets, and we feel some place should
be provided for them.
THE active members OF the re-or-
ganized department will, of course. be
accorded the privileges of the rooms
curing their idle hours and will really
be the principal benefactors by the
tCntlnua"ce of the relief association
"o feel confident that no citizen Of
the city who thoroughly understands
our position and plans will for II mo-
nent object to the continuance of the
existence OF the organzation.'
y
Or. W. G.. Fulton has completed the
physical examination of the men who
are applicants for places under the re-
organized fire department and. to use
n slang expression, it is now ''up to-
Director of Public Safety Hitchcock.
He has the names of all who have
successfully passed both the mental
and physical examinations and their
fate rests in his hands.
The colonel will not divulge Just
when he intends to make the appoint
this line by stating that he will an
as things are in shape" He is known
to be considering the advisability OF
appointing only the permanent men
first and waiting to appoint the mum
until such time as Il sufficient num-
Der of persons pass the required eX.
animation or making no appointments
at all until enough men To fiji all va
cancies are secured.
No provision whatever has been
n ade in the appropriation ordinance
for the purchase of boots, rubber
coats on helmets Tor the bunk on call
men. 1t is claimed that by the time
a bunk or call man fits himself out
with these requisites that ii great big
parts of his first six months salary
viii be gone.
Not only this. but no provision is
made in the appropriation ordinance
for the purchase of beds for the bunk
men and additional permanent men,
The beds now in Use in the several
hose houses, with the exception OF
those used hy the majority Of the per
manent men. are inc property OF the
company. who mar be expected to-
and who will move them out just as
soon as the volunteer force is disband-
ell. In fact, when the companies move
out everything they own there will be
very little left in the fire houses en-
cepr the apparatus. New chairs ana
other furniture will have 10 he pur-
chased, bur no provision is made in
the appropriation ordinance FOR amy o.
these things.
II Is manned Ia divide The new hose