Exempt Firemen Want Tax Benefit Continued

Exempt Firemen Want Tax Benefit Continued

A Committee of the Exempt Veterans of Greater New York, comprising twenty-three veteran volunteer firemen’s associations, is working in conjunction with the State Firemen's Association to have the two per cent, tax on foreign insurance premiums collected in the greater city continued after 1917. For fifteen years this money has been paid to the support of disabled and indigent volunteer firemen and in benevolences for the dependent families of deceased members and a ten per cent, part has been paid to the Firemen’s Home in Hudson, N. Y. A bill was introduced in the last Legislature to continue this tax after 1917, but the Mayor of New York declined to approve of it upon the grounds that he thought the bill was premature, and, further, that he wished to look into the matter during the year. The share of Queens County amounted last year to $2.35 per member. The share to which the Woodhaven Exempt Volunteer Firemen’s Association, with a membership now of 488, is entitled, will be more than $1,000. Charles J. Schneller, of the Newtown exempts, stated that the men there were entitled to every consideration in view of the fact that they had saved the City of New York over $1,000,000 during the years, since consolidation, that they protected life and property. The committee, composed of one representative from each of the Greater New York associations, has taken the matter up with the Mayor and the Fire Commissioner. At present the moneys are paid to the treasurers of the exempt firemen’s associations. In some instances, associations refuse to grant relief to any exempt firemen not counted as members. The Fire Commissioner insists upon the proposition that it makes no difference whether a man is a member of an exempt association or not. So long as he has performed his service in the protection of life and property, the commissioner maintains, the man is entitled to a share of the money, and it is not up to a membership corporation to deny it to him.

A Committee of the Exempt Veterans of Greater New York, comprising twenty-three veteran volunteer firemen’s associations, is working in conjunction with the State Firemen's Association to have the two per cent, tax on foreign insurance premiums collected in the greater city continued after 1917. For fifteen years this money has been paid to the support of disabled and indigent volunteer firemen and in benevolences for the dependent families of deceased members and a ten per cent, part has been paid to the Firemen’s Home in Hudson, N. Y. A bill was introduced in the last Legislature to continue this tax after 1917, but the Mayor of New York declined to approve of it upon the grounds that he thought the bill was premature, and, further, that he wished to look into the matter during the year. The share of Queens County amounted last year to $2.35 per member. The share to which the Woodhaven Exempt Volunteer Firemen’s Association, with a membership now of 488, is entitled, will be more than $1,000. Charles J. Schneller, of the Newtown exempts, stated that the men there were entitled to every consideration in view of the fact that they had saved the City of New York over $1,000,000 during the years, since consolidation, that they protected life and property. The committee, composed of one representative from each of the Greater New York associations, has taken the matter up with the Mayor and the Fire Commissioner. At present the moneys are paid to the treasurers of the exempt firemen’s associations. In some instances, associations refuse to grant relief to any exempt firemen not counted as members. The Fire Commissioner insists upon the proposition that it makes no difference whether a man is a member of an exempt association or not. So long as he has performed his service in the protection of life and property, the commissioner maintains, the man is entitled to a share of the money, and it is not up to a membership corporation to deny it to him.