Massachusetts State Firemen’s Association Convention.

The Massachusetts State Firemen’s Association in annual convention at Haverhill, Mass., on September 29-October 1, elected Deputy Chief John B. Currier, of Haverhill, as president. The other officers elected were: Secretary, D. Arthur Burt, of Taunton; Treasurer, Supt. Hiram R. Williams, Worcester; 1st Vice-President, C. C. Curran, Boston; 2nd Vice-President, Frank W. Reed, Hingham; Honorary Vice-Presidents, Joseph F. Manning, Milton; Chief Patrick J. Hurley, Holyoke; Chief Edward E. Chase, Lynn; Capt. George N. Whiting, Haverhill; ex-Chief John Sullivan, Plymouth; Capt. W. C. Lord, Peabody; George A. Garrick, Athol; Commissioner of $15,000 state Relief, ex-Chief E. S. Hosmer, Lowell; delegate to national convention, Chief John B. Currier, Haverhill. The convention was called to order by President Frank P. Hall, chief engineer of the Athol department. Mayor Albert L. Bartlett delivered an address of welcome to the delegates. The convention met in the City Hall. Chief Engineer .John B. Gordon welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Haverhill fire department. Officers of the association responded and President Hall made an address on the aims and purposes of the association and said there were many firemen and departments throughout the State without representation in the State association, and he urged the appointment of a committee to arouse active interest throughout the State in the increase in membership to the association. He reviewed the work of the past year. Secretary Burt’s report showed there are 4053 memberships in the Massachusetts State Firemen’s Association, 3849 being individual, 161 company, nine life, 19 honorary and 15 manufacturers. Treasurer Williamson reported receipts for the year of $9,317.57. and expenditures of $4,527.66. leaving a balance on hand of $4,789.91. In the report of former President F,. S. Hosmer, of Lowell, commissioner of the $15,000 firemen’s relief fund, it was stated 334 claims had been considered during the last year. Of these six were death claims and of the cases presented 130 were from the call force and 204 from the permanent force. Benefits for children of firemen aggregating 1977 weeks were considered, and 29 claims and 501 weeks’ benefit for children, amounting to $2,129. laid over from 1914. were paid this year. Eighty-one claims have been deferred to next year. During the convention addresses were made by Lieut. William Mahoney, of Boston on “The Value of School Drills, etc.”; T. E. P. Wilson, of Lynn, on “The History of the Attempt to Abolish the Annual Firemen’s $15,000 Relief Fund Appropriation in the Massachusetts Legislature”; Capt. James F. McKissock, of Lowell, on the “Synopsis of Bills in the Legislature During the Last Season Affecting Firemen”; Daniel J. McDonald, of Roston, on the “Benefits of Organization to Firemen,” and Edward Fisher, of Westford, on “The Massachusetts State Firemen’s Association, Its Work and the Way It Does It, from Experiences Acquired While in the Legislature.” A paper on “Value and Efficiency of Sprinkling Systems in Buildings and the Controlling and Extinguishing of Fires,” by Fire Commissioner Grady, of Boston, was read by Deputy Chief John O. Taber, of the Boston department. W. Scott Peters, of Haverhill, spoke on “Evolution in the Fire Service.” Joseph J. Reilly, of Boston, chief examiner of the Civil Service Commission, delivered an address on “Results of a Year’s Experience in the Use of the Manual in Civil Service Examination for Firemen.” F. W. Raine and M. C. Hutchins, of Boston, spoke iointly on the question of “Results of United Effort in the Suppression of Forest Fires and Methods Used.” Leon R. Eyges, of Boston, made an address on “The Possibilities of Applying the Eight Hour Law to the Fire Service,” and an address was made on “Self Efficiency” by Re.v. D. W. Matthews, of Lowell. Fire Prevention Commissioner John A. O’Keefe, of Lynn, of the Metropolitan District, spoke on “Fire Prevention,” and an address on “Haverhill, Mass.,” was made by Mayor Bartlett. The work of the Woman’s Auxiliary was outlined in an address by Mrs. George M. Wilson, its president. A memorial service for comrades of the association who had died during the year was held by George Granville Darling, of Dedham, delivering the memorial address.