Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-08-19
CUMBERLAND VALLEY FIREMEN ASSEMBLE
IN ANNUAL CONVENTION IN hiARTINSDURO,
MANY ROUTINE MATTERS GIVEN ATTENTION
fty Delegates Here-Gven Banquet At Noon-AsSoCation
Approves Use OF Universal Coupling To Accommodate f
Sizes Of JointS-Com. To Revise Basis Of Membership

SlZGS vi JOlIllS-CUili. ~ r
More than fifty accredited dele
sates from fire companies which are
! members of the Cumberland Valley
4 Volunteer Firemen's Association
net in this city this morning, at the
American Legion headquarters, for
heir annual convention BY rea-
50n of the condition of the streets
Eere the usual demonstrations incl
dent to such conventions were omit
ted this year, and the delegates de-
voted themselves to a day of bust
! ness which was interrupted only by
\ the dinner-banquet at the Parish
House at noon today and attend
ance upon the baseball game this
afternoon The delegates came from
over the entire section covered by
/ the association, including points as
far distant as Keyser, Shippensburg
and Winchester.
President Robert Gray. Of Win
chester, had charge of the business
ession this morning, which was pre-
coded by formal opening exercises
N which the Reverend Frank Steei
| man, of First NJ. e. Church, offered
The prayer, Mayor Cleveland Nj. Sci
Vert welcomed the delegates to the
| City, and a response for the associa-
ion was made by President Gray.
The opening exercises were in
'Ncharge Of A. s. Poisal, the Oldest
volunteer fireman in the state in
point Of service and in the associa-
zion, who was chairman of the COM
lnittee which arranged for the en-
tertainment of the meeting Mayor
\ Seibert said conventions Of firemen
always brought pleasure to Martins
burg which had always been inter
ested in the work Of volunteer fire
men and in the work Of the Cum
Yberland Valley Association in par
ticular. Responding President Gray
said he felt it rather happy situa-
4 ton which susu ed for the year
! the customary lstrations by
the firemen with lie necessarily con-
sequent expenditure of time and
money and energy, and added that
the association could spend whole
day at ork-interrupting only for
1Minner and the game.
Routine Matters Up.
y A number Of routine matters were
taken up in the session this morn
ing. President Gray named com
nittees for the session as follr"-s:
Auditing, G. Fred Gibbs, of Cham
kbersburg, and George r. Garrettson,
of Mechanicsburg; credentials, o. II,
lewis, of Winchester, and d. S. Ma
son, Of Martinsburg; memorial, f.
B. Munson, Of Hagerstown, and Mar
e
These committees went to work
Immediately and promised reports
y the first thing this afternoon.
President Gray called attention in
his opening remarks to the question
of a uniform coupling for hydrants
| and hose to be used throughout the
association territory and no sooner
had the discussion been opened than
! the suggestion was taken up for CON
4 sderatiOn. J. II Johnson, this city,
} suggested that the chiefs of the va
riOus companies in the territory be
urged to confer and adopt a stan
dard coupling; but the matter was
finally disposed Of when A. NJ Staub-
", this city, offered a motion, sub
sequently adopted on a divided vote,
that the universal coupling, used in
this city and explained to the meet
ing in detail by Chief Quinn who
\ produced one now in use here, be
approved by the association; and a
subsequent motion prevailed that
committee ~. rom each dele
CATION to cone "ICh the admins
tration of the city in which the com
l pany lives and urge the adoption Of
the coupling. The need Of having
such a coupling, it was pointed out
lay in the experience which some
companies have had when called to
neighboring cities to help fight fire
to find their hose unserviceable be-
cause it was impossible to connect
either with the plug or local hose.
The coupler, it was shown, was at
tached to the plugs in any city, and
on the end opposite the plug con-
nection is an adjustable connection
which can be varied to accommo-
date any standard size hose.
Change Membership Basis.
Delegate Munson, of Hagerstown,
raised the question as to whether
it would not be advisable to revise
the membership basis and permit all
volunteer fremen to join whether
, they are delegates or have been
delegates or not. On motion Of w.
| r. Kline, this city, motion prevail
I ed to appoint committees u three,
with Mr.. Munson as chairman, to
prepare a proposed change and sub
nit it to the convention for final ac-
ton at the meeting next year, the
action being required to wait over
year before passage because it
would involve a change in the con
.stitution.