NEW JERSEY FIREMEN’S HOME.

NEW JERSEY FIREMEN’S HOME.

At the ensuing annual convention of the State Firemen’s Relief association, to be held at Atlantic City, N. J., on September 11, the question will be considered of providing some permanent plan for the maintenance of the Firemen’s home at Boonton. The home was established by legislation in 1898, and the institution was opened in July of last year. At the time of the annual report, in October last, there were seven inmates in the home. The home was established with funds taken from the two percent, tax levied upon all foreign insurance companies doing business in the State; but no definite provision has ever been made for its maintenance and the support of its inmates. Many of the veteran volunteer firemen, who practically control the relief fund, are anxious to have a part of the two per cent, tax applied to the maintenance of the home, and the convention will probably take under consideration some plan. A committee of the State Exempt Firemen’s association has this matter now under consideration, and it is not improbable that the relief association may appoint a committee to co-operate with them. If this course is adopted by means of a revision of all the State laws relating to relief association matters and the management of the Firemen’s home at Boonton so as to bring them all into one act, which shall be in harmony with the principle of fairness to all associations, and to the method adopted in the State of New York for New York city—that is, in cities having a paid fire department—the home will receive twenty per cent., the Exempt Relief association forty per cent, and the Paid Pension Fund forty per cent, of such two per cent. tax. The two per cent, tax is divided equally among the volunteer and paid departments of the State, the amount received by each relief association this year being about $195.

A parade and banquet will be features of the convention, following the business session. General Bird W. Spencer, who has been president of the association almost from its organization, will undoubtedly be re-elected without opposition.