Evening journal., 1914-07-09
SUGGESTS TRUSTEES
FOR F|RENEN' 5 FUND
Council Considers Question,
Then PoStponeS Action
For the Present
FIREMEN FAVOR
THE ARRANGEMENT

Members of City Council, sitting as
committee Of the whole, indulged
in very busy session last night
three delegations getting hearings on
matters of public interest. A delega-
tion Of members Of the Volunteer Fire
mems Relief Association appeared be-
fore the Councilmen relative to the
appointment Of a board of trustees
to have charge OF the benefit fund
which has been created by the relief
association with money appropriated
for that purpose by the city
After some discussion upon the
subject action was deferred temper
arily, owing to a misunderstanding of
the exact status of the matter.
The spokesman of the delegation,
William J. Lutz, president Of the re-
lief association. stated that the fire
men were present relative TO a let
ter which had been sent to Council
some time ago, regarding the APP
pointment of three Councilmen 70 act
in conjunction with three of the fire
men as the board of trustees of the
association.
Councilman McGoldrick, who had
presented the letter some time ago
explained that the idea was to have a
committee composed of the president
of City Council, the Mayor. the chair
man OF the fire committee, and the
city treasurer. to act with the three
firemen in the trusteeship.
President White explained the idea
of forming the trusteeship to Mr.
Lutz, and asked what his idea was on
the subject.
THE association has been going on
for about a year" replied Mr.. Lutz.
1T is up TO Council whether they
want to shoulder the work of the
relief or allow the association to
continue as we are doing. II is i'm
material to us. If Council wants
to take any more labor on their
shoulders it is up to them"
Mr.. Lutz further stated that he
supposed Council wanted to know
that the money is being properly dis
tributed for death benefits. He said
he was willing to give bond for any
amount required to assure Council
that the money is being expended
as they desire 1t. I'VE are into
this in good faith,". he said. "We
are trying to do the right thing and
use the money only in a legitimate
manner"
Councilman Stover explained that
about ayear ago some members OF
the association had appeared before
Council regarding criticism that had
been made relative to the expenditure
OF the money, and 1t was suggested
az that time that the association
should have on its board Of direc.
tors some members of Council Sc
that If any further criticism aros,
they could say that the body Is undei
the direct supervision Of Council. III,
explained that there was no question
hut that the affairs of the association
were properly conducted, but the sug-
gestion was made simply to prevent
criticism. He assured Mr.. Lutz that
at the present time there Is no
thought that the affairs Of the as
sociation are being mismanaged
AS It was not clear just what took
place at the hearing a year ago. Mr..
Haney suggested that the Couneii
should look at the minutes of that
time to set themselves straight He
He suggested that it would be a good
loea TO have an annual report sent
70 Council from the association. and
a committee should be appointed to
act with the fremen on that point
President White then said as there
appeared to be an absence of definite
understanding on the matter 1t would
be a good idea to defer action tenn
porarily and take it up for further
consideration in the near future. This
was made in the form of motion
and prevailed