Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-12-12
FIREMEN ARE
DETERMINED.
Another Meeting Will Be Held
Tonight to Discuss Plans
for Getting Pay.

A meeting of the Richmond Bor-
ough Firemen's Association was held
at the house of Niagara Engine Com
pany, at Tompkinsville, last Saturday
night. There was O good attendance.
thirty-four of the companies in the
borough being represented by dele
gates. The meeting was called to
order by President Macklin. After
Secretary Eadie had read the minutes
of the previous meeting he read the
report of the committee on organiza-
ton. In the bylaws was q recon
mendation that the officers of the
organization be a president, five vice.
president, n from each ward, a
corresponding secretary, a recording
secretary, q financial secretary and a
treasurer, these officers to form a
board of directors. The committee
also recommended that the annual
dues of each company be S..
! After considerable discussion it was
moved and carried that the secretary
furnish each company on the island
with a copy of proposed bylaws, the
companies to report Lback within
thirty days.
MI. John B. Merrill, president OF
the Queens Borough Volunteer Fire
mems Association was then invited to
address the meeting and his remarks
were listened to with close attention.
He spoke of how the Queens Bor-
ough organization was conducted aud
in the course of his remark said that
when u fireman takes his exemption
he does not cease to become n member
of his company. He again explained
the matter of compensation and in
answer to a question said that if n
volunteer accepted the proposed paw
it would not affect his standing as q
volunteer. He also explained what
apparatus Queens Borough has re-
ceived from the city.
Replying to a question by one of
the delegates, MIR. Merrill said that
even if a volunteer fireman holds q
position in the public service, he is
still entitled to receive pay as a vol
unteer fireman.
Counsellor William I. Croak, who
at the present time holds a number of
claims for pay for the firemen, which
claims were signed several years ago,
said that the firemen were entitled to
receive pay and that if they wished
to secure it they must act promptly.
He said he agreed that the claims
could be pushed Oh a 10 per cent.
basis, and that he was willing to take
up claims for 10 per cent. Of the first
payment. Under the agreement
which some of the firemen signed and
which Mr.. Croak now holds, the latter
was to receive 1913 per cent. on ali
amounts to be paiu both on the first
payment and forever hereafter. Mr..
Croak then announced that he would
reduce his commission on the claims
signed some years ago, from 1873 to
10 per cent. and would only ask for
compensation on the first payment.
Mr.. Merrill then stated that he
would not expect any compensation
on any claims filed with him, when
the persons filing the claim had al
ready signed Croak's agreement.
The next meeting will be held this
evening at the house of New Brighton
Engine Company No. j, on Jersey
Street, New Brighton.
Before the firemen left for home
t icy were supplied with claim blanks,
each company represented receiving
its share and it is hoped that the fire.
men will promptly sign them and
nand than in