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Show WHY IS A FIREMAN? ' T The action of the State industrial commission in asking the Town of Bingham Canyon to pay the aum of $998.40 into the employees combined injury and benefit fund for the death of Harold A. Anderson, a volunteer fireman, who was killed August 17th, 1924, while fighting a firs makes the people of Bingham Canyon wonder "WHY IS A FIREMAN?" . Inciting this editorial the-writer knowa full well what it means to write a atory concerning firemen, and yet, a little forethought concerning the edict of the state industrial commission shows that something should be said. ....,,.,' ,, For the sake of argument, let us see what the firemen of Bingham Canyon; Can-yon; really do to deserve the name of FIREMEN. Firat of all, they are volunteers. They are willing at any time of the day or night to come to YOUR rescue' The ' Volunteer Fire Department of Bingham Canyon is made Up of the finest men in the camp, who never atop to take a back seat when danger approaches. They work at YOUR fire and MY fire with equal fervor. Their one object in being firemen of Bingham Canyon it to save life and property. t . t ' ' No revenue is received by the Bingham Canyon, Volunteer Fire Department, Depart-ment, except through donations, although the Town of Bingham Canyon gives the sum of $25.00 each month to the firemen for the upkeep of their club rooms, janitor service, etc. The money as given by the town is NOT in the form of a- salary, as there is not a fireman in Bingham Canyon who receives a five cent piece as compensalloii for his Services. -"- Money for the treasury -of the two companies is obtained through the giving of dances, the proceeds of which are alwaya divided equally between ; the two companies. The money thus obtained is in turn used lor joint meet- lngs, at which time discussions are brought forward that have a bearing on ', "THE GOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION." Other money is uaed for the ; upkeep of the club rooma, such as buying coal and wood, etc - ) Now we get back to the edict of the State Industrial Commission. In their report, they state that the money should be paid to the FUND because ! the family of Harold A Anderson was not dependent upon him. Now the ) question arises as to whether the family of Harold A. Anderson, who lost ' his life while fighting a fire here August 17, would have EVER BEEN DE- PENDENT UPON HIM. The fact that he is gone and cannot be called back proves that he will never be able to help his family in case they do need his assistance, and yet the industrial commission denied the claims filed by ; the Anderson family for compensation. Being the parents of a grown fam- i ily necessarily means that the father and mother are getting old, an 1 al- j though at the present time they may be able to care for themselves, it can't 1 go on forever. EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO RE- 4 CEIVE THE ASSISTANCE OF HAROLD A. ANDERSON. The question once more is brought forward: WHY IS A FIREMAN? j Many of the Volunteer Firemen of Bingham Canyon HAVE dependents, a wife and perhaps children. Should they risk their lives for the aake of put- i ting a few dollars into the coffers of some FUND from which no one connected con-nected with them will receive compensation? The Injury and Benefit Fund concerna PAID FIREMEN ONLY, thus Bingham Canyon Volunteer Firemen Fire-men would never derive benefits from this fund. Should a man who HAS dependenta take a chance of losing his life, knowing full well that his family would be in need, without recompense in case of an accident? We say that with the ruling of the State Industrial Commission on the Anderson case puts the Volunteer Fire Department in a quandry aa to what to do. Should they respond to a fire call, and force the Town of Bingham Canyon into paying out cold cash to some foreign fund, or should they stay at home and care for their dependents? There is something wrong somewhere, and we would suggest that the trouble is in the mandate issued by the Industrial Commission. The writer does not know the Commission, but he does know that the Bingham Volunteer Volun-teer Fire Department ia aecond to none in the state when it cornea to fighting fight-ing firea and facing danger. We don't need a new volunteer fire department depart-ment here, perhaps we need a new-It new-It ia to be hoped that the town of Bingham contests the ruling of the State Industrial Commission in the Harold A. Anderson case. ! The taxes of Bingham Canyon which comprises a goodly share of those paid into Salt Lake County, are used for the upkeep of the state capitol, county officials, and the volunteer firemen of Bingham Canyon receive but little of thia tax money sent from Bingham Canyon. Probably some of the state officials would do well to remember who is putting the butter on their bread. |