New Britain herald., 1917-06-04
plainvfue News

to Grant, Piremen's Petition NEW MEMBERS FOR HOSE co. Numerical Strength of Fire Depart
 ment to Be Increased to Forty
 Stores to Close at 1::s0 on Wednes-
 days-Ready for Registration Day.
 Dissatisfied with the action of his associates in approving the petition of the Hose company for permission to increase Is membership from SS to 40 while the nation is at war; Hugh M. Flood has rendered his resignation to the selectmen as a fire commits sioner. MT. Flood has declined to re- consider the resignation and has de- clared that his decision is final. The selectmen have not as yet named his successor.
 MT. Floods resignation is sequel to the efforts of Chief Norton and officers of the Hose company for g. larger fire department while the coun- SAy A0 P0ocAA8 tAEOu8A AI0 8I6dt CIlSlS. As many of the firemen are subject to draft and the indications are that the ranks will soon be somewhat de- pleted because of the members going into tho federal service. the opinion Is held in the company that extra men should be named that the efficiency of the department will not be impaired when resignations begin to come in. The officers want some of the reser- vists made regular members to bring the numerical strength of the depart ment's members from thirty-dve to forty.
 They argue. among other things. that the reservists are entitled to bet ter protection than they are now re- ceiving. At the Hills factory fire the reservists worked with the other members but because of their status they would not receive aid from the State Firemen's association should they have been injured. By taking them into the ranks the regulars ex- plain they will be entitled to the same benefits as the others.
 Commissioner Flood held that 1t would be time enough to make new appointments when the resignation of any of the regulars was received. He believed that it would be saddling an extra burden of expense on the town to have forty men draw pay every time the ire alarm was sounded. In his opinion an increase in member ship Is unnecessary at this time.
 Commissioners Thompson and Simpson, constituting 8 majority of the board, concurred in the opinion of Fire Chief Norton and the petition of the company was granted.
 Commissioner Flood, who Is the oldest members of the board in point of service, told his associates that he had been considering resigning for some time and he believed the pres- ent disagreement made his action op- perfume.
 MT. Flood has been the democratic representative on the board for a number of years and has given splen- did service. His associates and the f1rennen as well regret exceedingly his decision to quit but they have been unable to pursuade him to reconsider his decision.
 Joseph E.. McNerney Dead. Joseph E. McNerney. aged about forty years, died early this morning at the home of his sister, Mrs. Joseph F. Dimes of Crown street, after a pro- LIACt0Q ll1uSSSs <AAToA60AASAASS AoA eAAS funeral, which are being made by Undertaken M. Leo Prior have not been completed but it is expected that the services will be held Wednesday morning in the Church of Our Lady of Mercy. Burial will be in St. Joseph's cemetery.
 MT. McNerney leaves, besides his sister, two brothers. John of salmaca. N. T., and Thomas of Jamestown. N. Y.
 Ready for Registration Day. Plainville young men. at least those who were included in the military census recently taken, today received postal cards from the state council of defense reminding them that to- morrow is registration day and they are obliged by law to report at the Town hall between the hours of z a. m. and p. m. to have their names put on the list of those eligible for conscription.
 The registration board, which Is made up of the selectman, the town clerk and the two registrars of voters. and the eleven volunteer aides, have completed arrangements for the part they are to take in the work and they will be on hand at o'clock tomor- row morning to begin their duties.
 In conference with the kuggestion