Culver Volunteer Fire Company No, 1
Constitution and By-Laws, 1906

NOTE: Because of the deteriorating and fragile condition and the blue ink print - I decided to transcribe in full tho not bad for being 120 years old at the time of being transcribed!

Culver Volunteer Fire Company No, 1
Constitution and By-Laws
Revised and Amended January 25, 1906

PDF of orginal booklet

Order of Businees.

• 1. Roll Call.
• 2. Reading od minutes of last meeting and questions of approval.
• 3. Reportt of Committee on Fianaces.
• 4. Hearing excuses of delinquents and payment to the Secretary of fines and dues.
• 5. Reoprt of officers
• 6. Propositiopms for membership
• 7. Admission of new members.
• 8. Roports of all committees.
• 9. Resignations of membership.
• 10. Election of officers.
• 11. Miscellaneous business.
• 12. Remarks for the good of the Company.
• 13 Adjournment.

Constitution and By-Laws of Culver Volunteer Fire Company No. 1

PREAMBLE


WHEREAS. The strict oobservance of order constitutes the basis of all improvements, and is the only guarantee for the prosp erity of the Company, and as it is the duty of every member to respect and obey the officers when on duty; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we solomnly pledge ourselves to sustain our officers in the discharge of their duties, and hold ourselves bound in honor to conform to and abide by, in every respect, the following Constitution and by-laws.



CONSTITUTION


ARTICLE I
Sec. 1. This Company shall be known and designated as Culver Volunter Fire Company No. 1

Sec. 2. Officers. The officers of this Company shall consist of a Chief, Assistan Chief, Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Secretary, Treasurer, and three trustees.

Sec. 3. Duties of Officers. It shall be the duty of the Chief to take command of the Company at fires, and at all stated and special meetings, and drills; to grant leaves of absence in his descretion at fires or meetings; to call special meetings whenever he deems it for the best interest of the Company, or at the written request of five members; to dismess as soon as possible after all fires, and to officials as chairman at all business meetings, at which meetings he shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Company, and to appoint all committees unless otherwise decided by the Company

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief to take the general superintendance of the engine and other apparatus, under the direction of the Chief, seeing that proper care is taken of the some; to assist the Chief, under his direction, in the discharge of his duties at fires and meetings for exercise, and in the absence of the Chief to discharge his duties; to be the chairman of the Sick Relief Committee; by members of the Company in turn, and to report same to Company; to sound the fire alarm one-half hour before each regular or special meeting by tapping the bell three taps at short intervals for six times.

Sec. 5 It shall be the duty of the Company Engineet to perform such duties as the Chief and Assistant Chief may direct at fires, reviews or meetings, in absence of these officers to perform their duties, and to see that the apparatus is kept in the best possible working order; the engine to be exclusively under his control as to repairs and cleanliness.

Sec. 6 It shall be the duty of the Company Assistant Engineer to assist the Company Engineer with the Engine, or any other apparatus that he may have supervision over at fires, reviews or meetings, as the Company Engineer may direct, and to perform his duties in his absence, or while performing the duties of a superier officer.

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to call the roll of members at all fires or meetings under the direction of the officer in command; to note all absentees at all fires and meetings, and to safely keep all books and papers in his possession belonging to the Company, to collect all fines, dues and assessments, giving a receipt therefor and to pay the same over to the Treasurer who shall receipt the for the same. He may select an assistant subject to the approval of the Company, whose duty shall be to render such assistance as the Secretray may require, and in his absences to discharge the duties of the Secretary; said secretary shall execute a bond in the sum of $15.00, with security for the faithful preformance of his duty.

Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep correct account of all money received and expended by him, and to make a report thereof once every six months, or as the Company may direct; he shall pay no bills unless approved by the Company on the order of the Secretary, countersigned by the Chief which order of shall state for what purpose it is to be expended, and when approved by the Company. For neglect of either of the above duties he shall be subject to the same penalty as the Secretary, and he shall execute a bond in the sume of $50.00 for the faithful peformance of his duties.

Sec. 9 It shall be the duty of the Foreman of the hose company to take command of the hose company at fires and all stated meetings for drill exercises; to grant leave of absence in his discretion at fires or such meetings. The members of the hose company to be under the direction and control of the Foreman or assistant, and the officers of this Company to be under the direection of the Chief Engineer of the fire department of the Corporation of Culver.


ARTICLE II.
Sec I. Duties of Members. It shall be the duty of every member of the Company immediately on hearing the alarm of fire to repair to the engine house, unless he shall know that the engine has left the house, in such case he shall join it as soon as possible, and using his best exertion in working the same, and in discharge of such other duties as may be assigned to him by the officer in command, and he shall obey all orders of such officer and shall not leave the engine unless ordered or by permission until the engine shall have been returned to the house. He shall also attend all meetings of the Company and use all proper efforts to promote its welfare, and to co-operate with the sick relief committee in the discharge of their duties, and any member in need of aid shall at once report it to the relief committee.

Sec. 2. In going and returning from fires, each member except the Chief and Assistant Chief is to assist at the drag roper. Any member refeusing to do shall be subject to a fine of fifty cents.

Sec 3. Should any member refuse to obey the officers in command he may be arraigned by such officer before the company at the next meeting; after hearing the case he may be fined or expelled at the discretion of the Company

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of each member, upon leaving this Company, by reisgnation or otherwise, to return his uniform, book of by-laws, and badges, in good order to the CHief or officer in command, and he shall be reimbursed from the treasury of the Company to the full amount paid for same when received from the Company


ARTICLE III.
Sec. 1. Meetings. There shall be an annual meeting of the Company on the second Thursday of January of each year, eight p. m. for the election of officers and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.

Sec. 2. There shall be a regular meeting of the Company on the second Thursday of each month.


ARTICLE IV.
Sec 1. All furniture, books and other property purchased by the Company shall belong to the Company, and all persons expelled or who shall withdraw from the Company shall forfeit all interest in such property; all such property except the officers' books to be kept at the engine house, subject to the direction of the Chief.


ARTICLE V.
Sec. 1. Funeral. This COmpany shall attend the funerals of deceased mebers in uniform, with crepe on the left arm, unless otherwise requested by the family of the deceased. The meeting room and engine shall be dressed in mourning for thirty days, unless otherwise ordered by the Company.


ARTICLE VI.
Sec. 1. No part of this Constitution shall be repealed or altered unless a proposal in writing specifying the intended alteration shall be made to the Company at a previous meeting, when by a three-fourths vote of all members present, it shall be adopted.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I
Sec 1. Any person desiring to become a member of this Company can be proposed by a member at any regular meeting. A vote shall be taken by ballot at the next regular meeting and should there be no black balls appear the canditate is elected; but it one or more black balls appear a second ballot shall be taken, and should three or more black balls appear the candidate shall be rejected, and so declared

Sec. 2. No person expelled or rejected by the Company shall be admitted to membership without the unanimous consent of all members present at the time at which such election is made.

Sec. 3. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business

Sec. 4. Every member, upon joining the Company shall sign the Constitution and By-Laws.


ARTICLE II
Sec. 1. Vacancies at meetings. In case of absence of officers at any meeting, their places may be filled protem, by the Company if necessary.

Sec. 2. In case of absence of the Chief, Assistant Chief or Engineer, at a fire or an alarm, the member who first arrives at the engine house shall take command and be obeyed until the arrival of either of those officers when he shall relinquish it.

Sec. 3. The Chief shall, at the commencement of each term, appoint a Committee on Finance, consisting of three members. It shall be their duty to superintend the financial concern of the Company, and to inspect and report on all accounts presented to the Company; it shall also be their duty to inspect and audit, at the end of each term, the accounts of the treasurer and Secretary, and to report speedily on all matters they have on hand.




Article III

Sec. 1 Admission Fees. Admission fee, payable when application is made, Twenty-five cents. Sec. 2. Fines.
Chief, Assistant Chief, Engineer, Secretary and Treasurer, for neglect of their duties, One Dollar for for each offense.
Absence for fires, One Dollar.
Leaving any fire without permission, One Dollar.
Absence from roll call, stated or special meetings, Twenty-five cents.
For wilfully disobeying any officers in command, for each offense, Two Dollars.
For leaving engine or hose more than fifty feet, unless under orders or excused, Fifty cents.
For wilfully defacing engine, hose, or other property belonging to the Company, Five Dollars.

Sec. 3. Any Member using tobacco in any form in the meeting or engine room, except by permission of a majority of the members present, shall be fined Ten cents.

Sec. 4. Any members arriving at a regular or special meeting, or drill or exercise, then or more minutes late, without a valid excuse, shall be fined Five cents.

Sec. 5. When dues and fines or assessments of any member shall not have been paid for three months, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to give hime notice thereof in writing, and if the same be not paid in one month from the service of said notice or a valid excuse for their non-payment, he shall no longer be considered a member of the Company and his name shall be stricken from the roll.

Sec. 6. Any member of the Company feeling himself aggrieved by the decision of the Chief in command, on account of any fine imposed may appeal to the Company at any stated meeting. No fines shall be remitted, however, unless three-fourths of the members present vote in favor of it.

Sec 7. Any member in arrears for fines, when his name is called and the Secretary has stated the amount of fines incurred, shall rise and state his excuse, and the Company may excuse or not, at their discretion.

Sec. 8. Excuses. Sickness of self or family; absence from home on business; not having heard the alarm or fire, or unavoidable detention by business.


ARTICLE IV.
Sec. 1. Expulsion. Any member of this Company, being charged with a misdemeanor, not otherwise provided by these By-Laws, shall be summoned before either a regular or special meeting, and shall be tried by the Company, and shall, upon conviction, be fined in any sum not less than Five Cents nor more than Four Dollars, or may, by a two-thirds vote of the members present, be expelled from the Company; PROVIDED, that all such charges be made in writing and signed by at least two members of the Company and sumbitted to the Chief, who may, if they be deemed of sufficient importance, call a special meeting to consider and act upon such charges. The member thus fined or expelled shall have the right to appeal to a Court of Inquiry, consisting of six members including the Chief, to be appointed by the chairman of the meeting at which the appeal is made, who shall investigate the subject and report at the next meeting, when, if two-thirds of the members present so desire, the fine may be remitted or he may be reinstated.

Sec. 2. If any member shall be known to give an incorrect excuse for non-attendance to any part of his duty, he shall, on conviction, be expelled from the Company.

Sec. 3. Any member absent from two successive regular meetings of the Company, shall be notified by the Secretary to be pesent at the next regular meeting, and if he fails to appear or send a good and sufficient written excuse, he may, in the discretion of the Company, be expelled

Sec. 4. Any member or members of the Company who shall make unnessary noises in the engine house, or shall bring to cause to be brought in the same any intoxicating liquor for drinking purposes, or shall appear intoxicated at any review, fire or meeting, shall be fined for the first offense the sum of one dollar, and for the secocnd offense shall be expelled from the Company.


ARTICLE V.
Sec. 1. Any member wishing to speak on any question shall rise and address the Chair, and cinfine his remarks to the subject in discussion and avoid personality.

Sec. 2. The uniforms of the officers and members of this Company shall be such as may be from time to time adopted by the Company.

Sec. 3. All votes to be taken by the C Ompany affecting the character or personal interest of any member, for fines imposed otherwise than to be entered up by the Secretary, to be determined by ballot.

Sec. 4. All bills contracted on account of the Company mest be certifies by the person contracing the some to the Secretary, when they shall be refferred to the Finance Committee for t heir approval, and it allowed by the Company the Secretary shall draw an order of the Treasurer, attested by the Chief for the amount of the same.

BOUNDARIES OF FIRE WARDS.

There shae be four fire wards as follows:
First Ward - All North of Cass Street
Second Ward - Ale bewtween Cass Street and Madison
Third Ward - All between Madison street and the North line of Assembly Ground.
Fort h Ward - All South of North line of Assembly Ground.

RULES OF ORDER

I. During the continuance of a meeting, officers and members shall retain their respectinve places, and no one shall leave the room without pemission of the Chief

II Every officer and member shall be designated in debate, or otherwise, by his proper title, according to his standing in the Company.

III The Chief, while presiding, shall state every question coming before the Company, and immediately before putting it to a vote shall ask: "Is the Company ready for the question?" Should no one rise to speak he shall rise and take the vote, and after he has risen no member shall speak upon it except by his consent. He shall announce the vote and decision of the Company on all questions. His decisions on questions of order shall be without debate, unless entertaining doubts on the point, he invites it, and shall have the privilege of speaking on such questions only, from the chair when his decision had been appealed from the question shall be put thus; "Will the Company sustain the Chair in its decision?"

IV. Debate. Every member when he speaks or offers a motion shall rise to his feet and respectfully address the Chair, and when he has finished shall resume his seat. While speaking her shall confine himself to the question under debate, avoiding all personality or indecorous language, as well as any reflection upon the Company or its members. Should two or more members rise to speak at the same time, the Chair shall decide who shall be entitled to the floor.

V. No member shall interrrupt another in his remarks except to call him to order for words spoken.

VI. If a member while speaking shall be called to order he shall, at the request of the Chair, cease speaking and take his seat until the question of order is determined; when, if permitted, he may again proceed.

VII. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question without permission of the Chair.

VIII. Questions and Votes. No motion shall be subject to action until stated by the Chair and at the desire of any member, such motion shall be reduced to writing.

IX. Any member may call for a division of the question when the same will admit of it.

X, Every member present shall vote on any question before the Company, unless he is personally interested in the result, or has been excused by the Company or is otherwise incapacitated.

THE BUILDING FUND

Approves by unanimous vot of the Compnay, April 13, 1905

Sec. 1. The Culver Volunterr Fire Company No. 1, having, by an unanimous vote of the members present at a called meeting of the Company on March 16th, 1905, decided to purchase a building for the use of the Company, and to pay for said building by an equal assessment upon all members of the CO,pany, said fund so procured shall be known as the Building Fund.

Sec. 2. Said Building Fund shall sonsist of Fifteen (15) shares of the par value of Three Dollars each.

Sec. 3. Each member of the Company at t he time of the creation of said fund, manely March 16th, 1905, shall pay into the treasury of the Company within ninety (90) days from that date, the sume of Three Dollars ($3.00) and receive therefor a certificate of stock, signed by the Chief and Chief, and attested by the Secretary. Said sum may, at the option of the member, be paid in installmets, but any assessments not paid before eight o'clock a.m., March 17th 1905, shall draw interest at the rate of eight pre cent.

Sec. 4. It shall be obligatory uponeach member of the Company to purchase one certificate of stock, representing one shere in the Building Fund; but no member shall be entiled to possess more than one share exectpting hie pro-rata portion of such sahre as may held by the Company unit, as hereinafter provided.

Sec. 5. Any member of the Company, holding a shere in the building fund, who shall for any cause cease to be a member, shall, within five days after severing his connection with the Company, surrender to the Secretary of the Company his certificate of stock taking the receipt of the Secretary therefor. Said stock shall then be held in trust for such person surrendering the same, until redeemed and cancelled by the Company.

Sec. 6. Each new member admitted to this Company shall, within six months from the date of their election, pay into the treasury of the Compnay the sum of Three DOllars ($3.00), and receive therefor a certificate for one share of stock in the building fund. Said amount to be paid on or before the first regular meeting of the COmpany succeeding his election. In the event such payment, said amount shall be without interest. If paid after the first regular meeting of the COmpany following his election, or it paid in installments, such amount shall draw interest at the rate of eight per cent from the date of his election. But no certificate of stocvk shall be issued to any member so long as any portion of the amount of the share, or accrued interest thereon, remains unpaid. Wehn a mew member elects to pay said aount in installments, the Treasurer shall receopt him for each payment, and the presentation of such receipts for the full amount of the share, together with interest on the deferred payments, to the Secretary, shall constitute a warrant for the issuing to him of a certificate of stock without further order of the Company.

Sec. 7. No member of the Company whi does not own a certificate of stock in the building fund shall have voice or vote on any question relative to the disposition of said building; execpting:

1st he shall have voice and vote on all questions of repairs or improvement to the building; or any expense connected therewit, it payment for same shall come from the company treasury

2nd, He shall be entitled to his pro-rat fractional part of one vote on questions or disposition of the building, it at such time the Company jointly hold in their ppossession one certificate of stock as here after provided;

PROVIDED, however, that such stock was assumed and owned by the COmpany after his admission to membership, and afrter he had paid one or more installments on his share of the building fund.

Sec. 8. Any member of the Company sho shall have failed to complete the payment of his share in the building fund at the expiration of six months, shall be expelled from the Company. PROVIDED, that it his reason for such failure are deemed sufficient and are known bby the Company to be true, the Company may, by two-thirds vote, extended the time for a period of not exceeding three months.

Sec. 9. Any member so expelled shall forfeit to the COmpany all money paid into the treesury in payment of stock, unless the Company, by a two-thrids votr, shall order the same refunded to him.

Sec. 10. It is understood and agreed by the present members of this Company, and shall be understoof and agreed by all person making application for admission into this Company, that upon termination of their membership and the surrender of their certificate of share to the Secretary, no demand shall be make upon the COmpany for the redemption of such stock until the expiration of ove year. from the date of such surrender. It shall however, be the duty of the officers of the Company, when such surrendered certificate is paid for and assigned to a new member, to immediately pay over to the former member surrendering such certificate the full amount of the face value of said certificate, taking therefor the Secretary's receipt of surrender. The possession of said receopt by the Secretary, bearing the endorsement of the party to whom issued, shall be deemed sufficient evidence that same has been paid. SHould however, said former member b e undable to produce such receipt, the Company may, in its descretion, waive its return, accepting in lieu thereof his receipt for the money, ot other satisfactory evidence that the same has been paid. ANhd any necessary expense incurred in making such payment, such as money order, draft or the like, shall be deducted from the amount of his certificate, and shall be p aid into the treasury.

Sec. 11 If for any reason it seems desirable or expedient, the Company may, if approved by a three-fourths vote of all the members, purchase such surrendered certificate, paying for the same out of the treasury, such stock to be held by the Company as a unit. But not more than one share shall be so held and owned at one time by the Company, except by forfure and cansellation as hereinafter provided, after the original fifteen shares shave been paid for and issued.

Sec. 12. In issuing certificates to ne members, same shall be in the order in which they were surrendered; PROVIDED, however, that any share surrendered b y a former m ember shall take precedence over one held by the Company.

Sec, 13, When a surrendered certificate shall be redeemed by p ayment, the Secretary sall enter the same upon the stub corresponding in numger to such certificate, and sll also indeicate there on the member to whom it was reissued, toghter with the number thereof, in the spaces properly provided, and shll destroy, in the presence of the COmpany, the original certificate.

Sec. 14. Should any member of this Company sever his connection with the same and neglect or fail to surrender his certificate to the Secretary within the prescribed time, the Company may, at the discretion, declare the same forfeited and cancelled. In this event, it is is understood and agreed by the present members, and shall be understood and agreed by all persons making application for membership in this Company, that such share sall revert to the COmany as a unit, without recompense to the person failing to surrender his certificate. But nothing in this section shall be so construed as to deprive the legal heirs of a deceased brother of the right of surrender for redemption, and smae shall be accepted and honored if surrendered within six months of the date of such decease.

Sec. 15. Members under suspension for a definite period shall retain their certificate until the final disposition of their caae.

Sec. 16. All propositions to dispose of said bu ilding shall be effective only with the approval of two-thirds of the members holding certificates, and in the event of a sale or other disposition of said building, the proceeds shall be equally divided among the membership holding certificates.

Sec. 17. Each member shall receive, with his certificate, a key to said building, to be held by him and surrendered to the Secretary with his certificate. In the event of his neglect or failure to do so, the sum of One DOallar shall be deducted from the amount due him at the time of redemption of his certificate, which sum shall be paid into the treasury of the Company. Front door keys shall be numbered consectively F1, F2 etc., and beys to the rear door B1 B2, etc. The secretary shall upon the certificate stub record the number of the key in possession of the holder of that certificate.

Sec. 18. All by-laws, or parts of such, in conflict with the provisions of the article, are hereby amended to conform with same.