Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-19

Committees Named and Convention
j Gets Down to Active work.

Committees Named and Convention
Gets Down TO Active work.
BEATRICE, Neb.. Jan. 1S.-(Special)-Th
state fremen's convention was called to
order yesterday morning at $50 o'clock by
President Mckay. with an increased at
tendance. The reading of the minutes was
dispensed with.
President Mckay then read his report for
the past year. He strongly recommended
that a tournament be held this year, as the
instruction received by those taking part
was very valuable In the fighting OF fires.
The report OF the secretary was also sub
mitted and was rather brief on account OF
no tournament being held the past year. He
referred to the question of transferring
fireman from one town to another, as some
firemen would wish to finish their term of
FIVE years even il they did change their
residence and enter some other hose COM
pany. He recommended that something be
done TO settle this question.
The secretary's report was adopted after
which President Mckay appointed the fol-
lowing committees:
Auditing-J. H. Parker of Belden, John
herst Of Crete, II. Smith of Clarks.
Constitution and Rules-George Howe of
Fremont. ]. Goehring OF Seward. II. L. Her-
per OF Beatrice, AL Marks of Stanton, John
Legislative-L w. Hague of Minden, J. c.
Cleland of Fremont. John Wilson of Kear-
Press-M NJ. Falk of Beatrice. W. r. will
| liams of Blair, Peter Kjar of Holdrege.
po,nt Re Rp6wn ., Wv El4tt OF w Ms
Memorial-A. c. Hull of. Fremont. R.
Lewis Of Humphrey. c. johnson of Ne
| braska City.
The remainder of the forenoon was taken
up by the reading of the reports of the
chiefs of the various departments. AS a
rule they showed splendid equipment and
a minimum of fire losses
| At the afternoon session Charles Chain of
! Bushnell, ILL.,. vice president of the Ma
| tional F1remen's association. opened with a
brief address in which he extended greet
| ings to the Nebraska association from the
| Illinois association.
Secretary Miller reported the death OF Mr..
; Spalding of Norfolk. at one time president
of the association, which occurred since the
last meeting, and the memorial committee
was instructed to draft resolutions.
The following new companies were
added to the roll call of the association
yesterday: Hose company at York; Hose
| companies Nos. and q Friend Hose
company No. 8, Holdredge; Hose companies
Nos. / and ., Geneva; two companies at
| Fullerton and Tekamah.
| J. l. Schiek moved that the Western
Fireman be made the official organ of the
| Nebraska association, and the same was
| adopted. A letter from ]. D. Mcneil,
president of the National Firemen's asso.
citation, was read in which no expressed
| regrets because Of his inability to be pres
emit.
Lou Holmes OF Friend reported that hi.
department was unable to secure posses
sion of the insurance tax money due them
J. c. Elliott of West Point stated that
this matter had been settled at a meeting
FIVE years ago. He said that the Law
specifically stated that this money should
go to the benefit of fire departments and
not city councils.
Quite a number of delegates from variou.
towns and villages reported that insurance
agents paid the money to the city coun.
ellis all right, but they refused to turn 4,
over to the firemen. The duty Of the fire
men in that case. Mr.. Elliott said, was tc
mandamus the city council or villag,
board, and compel them to turn the none,
over. On the other hand, If a fire insur.
ance company refuses to pay the tax, tn,
matter can be brought before the stat,
auditor. and the company speedily brought
to time. as its license to do business could
I.i be revoked.
After roll call the convention adjourned
, to Thursday morning at $780, Last evenin,
the delegates and the local flremen me
, at the department rooms and in a bod,
attended the performance at the Paddock
opera house by the "A Trip to Egypt
company.
At the convention this afternoon Gran,
Island was selected as the place for holdin,
, the next annual meeting.
These Officers were elected: Charles Hollis
Of Wahoo, president; j. v. Hydner of York
first vice president; M NJ. Mortensen O
Fremont; second vice president; e. A. Mil
Ter Of Kearney, secretary; Harry Gran o
I Seward, treasurer; J. F. McGee of Kearney
| George Howe of Fremont AL Marks O
= Stanton. Jacob Goehring of Seward, b. ]
Galley Of Columbus. board OF control; ma
, tional delegate, l.. w. Hague of Minden, .