The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-26
STATE FIREMEN
 IN. CONVENTION
 AT WEST HAVEN
Opening Day Given To Reports And Election
 Of Officers
Tomorrow Will Be Show Day
 And Pacific Engine Co. Is Booked For The Parade

/ West Haven, Conn. Aug. 26-The State Fireman's Association held it's a nnual convention here, today, as the guests of the local companies. The day was given up chiefly to the trans action of the business of the associa- fion, including reading of reports and election of officers. Tomorrow will be the show day when fire companies from various sections of the state will take part in the annual parade. At the conclusion of the days busi- ness, this afternoon, the delegates will attend a memorial service to be held at Christ church.
 Considerable interest was manifested in the meeting of the credentials com mittee which preceded the opening of the convention as there were con- testing delegations from Naugatuck. Recently, the borough authorities of Naugatuck ordered the Naugatuck Hooker. Hose and Ladder Company No. 1, Incorporated, to vacate the premises which it had occupied as a, fire company of the borough This the fire company declined to do, assert ing that the borough board was ex- ceeding its powers. More recently, the borough authorities organized a new company to take. the place of the old one and this is. known as Naugatuclz Fire Department No. 1.
 The old company has sent as its delegate to the convention Foreman Peter J.. Foley. and the new company, Willard Seueck. The former bears ere dentialsf from his company but not from Tire Chief Clerk, while Selleck has credentials from that official. Fo- Iey's claim to a seat is based on the fact that his company has paid it's dues for a year. The new company, it is stated, also holds a receipt for a years dues and on the ground that it's delegate bears credentials from the receipt claimed place in the con- ventfon.
 2 President John D. Milne. in his re- port, said that claims made during the year upon state funds far exceeded those placed at the disposal Of the ae- sociation by the state The last con vention named Secretary R. V. Ma gee, George s. Pitt, John c. Moran, Thomas Dennison and John D. Milne as a legislative committee for the pur- pose of securing an increased appro- priation. The success of the commit tee is reported upon by the secretary.
 President Milne said none too much credit can be given Robert V. Magee for his services in pushing the matter before the legislature. Being a mem Der of that body, he was able to keep in touch with the work and to take ad- vantage or every pOSS1Dl0 pO1nL WHICH would help us in gaining our ends.':. he said.
 Reference was made to the various reports as showing the substantial standing of the association.
 Secretary Magee, in his report, show ed that claims for benefits had been quite heavy in-the rear. The comp tro1ler's- orders totalled $11,129.2s. He said:
 ''1t appeared early in the year that funds in hand would be exhausted Iong before the appropriation of 1913 be- came available, viz, October 1. 1913. Soon after the legislature convened in January, a bill was introduced by ex- President Mcdonald, of Putnam, call ing for a deficiency appropriation of s5,0o0. This bill passed both houses early in the session and we have b zen paying claims from that apl,ropria Ii on since May 1, of this year. Another bill introduced by ex-President Mac Donald was passed increasing the amount of orders which may be drawn. annually from $10,000 to $12, ,0O0. This appropriation is based on payments which we have been called upon to make Curing the past few years, with a margin for future increases Last year or the year 1911-1912, we ran over $1,OO0 per month. For the present year the average per month is $927.44. With our appropriation increased in the sum
 
 appropriation Of $1 ,000 annually, the to- tai amount of the fund from which we can draw, commencing October l. for the two years following, will be $26. 900. The association account shows gratifying gain. Since the last conven-, ton the deaths of William Squirees Waterbury George La11y, Ansonia, and Lieut.. J. L. Cronan, Bridgeport, have occurred"
 The secretary recommended the set ting apart of 8 portion Of the reports i'll the future to a tribute to departed members.
 The Srew organiza tions in the mem nership are three companies in Terry vile and Truck Company No. 1, Tax payers Club, Incorporated. The mem bership, May 1, in companies was PTS and in department members 172, mak- ing a total of 447.
 The secretary collected from compa- niee $1, ,666; from department. mem bers $171, making a total of $1.S37. In the last distribution of claims Bridgeport received $2,156; Waterbury $1,572; New Haven $1,37s; Hartford s75s; Meriden $64O: New Britain $196; Danbury $1s4 New London $164; Derby $60; Ansonia s52; Torrington s46; Norwa1k $36; South Norwa1k $22.
 Treasurer s. c. Snagg reported that |. he had received from the state treas urer $1 900 and brought over 8 balance of $7162.2 The expenditures from the state account were $764, leaving bal ance of $7, 398. 20.
 In the association account, the total receipts were $4.5s4.9o. The expenses, $1, 909.67 and the balance, $2, 675. .23. The total balance on hand May 12, last, was $10,073.43.