The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-06-12
From Wednesdays Daily.

MANY ~ OF kindness to me during
the "
From Wednesdays Daily
The annual convention of the state
flremen's organization was ended late
this afternoon. The delegates are de-
parting on evening trains for their
homes in the various towns of the state
igrateful for the hospitality they en-
Joyed while in Mankato and apprecia-
tive of the degree of benefit and profit
they gained from the thirty sixth an
nual meeting
4 Tne sessions today were most i'm
portant-it was the business meeting
| of the convention, the transactions be-
| Ing reported in this issue of The
Free Press, but was not without spe-
'cial features in the form of two ad.
4 dresses by prominent men-the first
| during the morning session by J. A.
! Hartigan, state insurance commission
er and the second this afternoon when
| D. w. Lawler, mayor of st. Paul
was heard.
Insurance Men and Firefghters.
Mr. Hartigan began his address with
an expression of the pleasure afforded
MIN in the second opportunity to APP
pear before the representative firemen
of the state. He always retained
boyish admiration for fireman-al-
ways regarded them as the heroes of
any town. His admiration was inher-
tied by his son, boy of six years
now, who has chosen his vacation
decided to be a fireman, and so far
arranged with the captain of the sta
ton near his home to nave a position
open for him almost any time he was
ready to begin his life work.
Taking up the subject assigned him.
"The Relation of the Insurance Com
panies to the Firemen," -Commissioner
Hartigan interpreted it in a broad
sense, defining it as in reality "the
relation of the public to the firemen."
The speaker referred to the fact that
the United States is an extravagant---
even "a profigate nation-waose people
waste in every way. This fact was
shown plainly in that the fire losses
annually $2OOOOO,OOO in the United
States as compared to losses only one
tenth as great in European countries.
There are several reasons for this, one
of which perhaps is that in the haste
of upbuilding the cities, insufficient
attention has been paid to proper con-
struction and restrictions to prevent
fires.
Commissioner Hartigan wished to i'm
press upon mis- hearers the fact that
no amount of insurance could 'cover
a fir loss Tho ic els
tributed among large number of peo-
pie and a vast amount of property,
and fire damage means simply an ac-
tual loss to the individual if he has
no insurance or to the large number
of policy holders if he supplied with
insurance. But the building if des-
troyed is loss; there is its value
to be subtracted from theIvolumn of
taxable property. The insurance prem
iums paid are simply taxes and the
5000, 900 fire losses of 1907 were
in reality direct tax in that amount
upon the people of the country.
The Live Fire Department.
After discussing at some length the
relations of the insurance companies
and the fire departments of the coun-
try, Commissioner Hartigan dwelt up
on the Importance of live fire de-
partment with an efficient, capable
the Importance of heading every de-
partment W.T.. an efficient, capable
man, Mr.. Hartigan related an Incl
The mayor reject purposed to appoint
one of his political friends chief of
The fire department. The man was
wholly unqualified for the important
post and when the report of the
appointment was learned
he underwriters of that city held a
meeting and later served upon the
,ouncilmen that the appointment of the
politician as fire chief would effect a
'aise of twenty per cent in the in
urance rate of the city. Needless to
ay, the mayor made better APP
continent and the politician lost out.
Commissioner Hartigan closed his re-
marks by going on record as favorable
o the proposed legislation to provide
tensions for fremen.
Mr. Lawler talked half hour or
onger enjoying closest attention and
ull sympathy from the large audience.
lis eulogy of the fireman was mas
erful effort and concluded in an I'M
sual demonstration.
Last Nights Parade.
In blaze of red light, and to the
nusic of nine bands of music, the dele
ates to the firemen's convention turn
d out en- masse and paraded the
rincipal streets last evening.
The parade was the big demonstra-
i've feature of the convention. Thou
ands of people were attracted by the
recession and the streets were crowded
uring the evening.
Red fire was burned all along the
ne of march and the spectacle was
grand one. The number of iremen
l line impressed the people and show
the strength of the organization.
he firemen plan to ask important
,gislation from the next legislature
nd the parade last night evidenced the
ict that every delegate is interested
/ the success of the proposed legisla.
i've measures.
The parade formed on jackson street
rNonfintrad IN paUo Sfv u