Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-22
SMALL SPITEWORK
Aid. Schroeder's Revenge on a
Fireman.
LET 60 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

vindIctiveneos 1T the Bottom OF Charges
Preferred By the Dissruntled Third
wardsr who Could Not be Rsslsctsd-
A. 70 joseph Exner.
The fire and light committee of
the city council conducted an iuves-
tigation-so cailed-at the Central
engine house last evening of the
charges preferred against Joseph
Exner, relief fireman of the depart
ment. who was dismissed by Mayor
Knox April 16. Exner had been de-
MED fair and non-Partisau inves-
tigation BY the council. and the COM
mittee last evening decided that the
charges preferred by Chief Johnston
and Capt. Hastings that he was
quarrelsome were sustained. The
fire and light committee is entirely
republican and is composed of
Aids. Schroeder. Zeis. johnson, Tin
dali, Schneider, Gall and Nelson.
Exner is a democrat, and this &C.
counts for his being dismissed. Fur
Their than this Aid. Schroeder. the
defeated alderman of the Third
ward, is responsible for the action of
tue mayor. The circums stances which
angered the Third ward councilman
toward Exner may be briefly related.
At the time of the repu bile an
primary in the TIL ird ward
Aid. Schroeder asked Exner to
do what he could for him. Exner
told Schroeder he could not con-
sistently do this, besides he could not
leave his duties il he would
Schroeder was mad. and the night of
election day said Exner had caused
his defeat and he would get revenge
by having him removed from the fire
department. The extent Of Exner's
work had been his vote.
The Discharge.
The next Exner heard was his dis
charge by Mayor Knox. He asked
for an investigation by the council.
and it was denied. When he heard
that the fire and light committee had
taken it up he sought to know the
charges that he might defend him
self. He was told by Aids. Schroeder
and Schneider that he would know
when the committee met. Last
night he found himself charged with
being quarrelsome and that he had
sought to have the clothing allow
ance for the firemen increased.
There were instances cited of both
these causes. and Exner upon inves-
tigation ascertains that the charge
of quarreling grew out of a little dis
pute several months ago, in which
another fireman was equally to blame.
As to the accusation about the cloth
ing allowance. the names of all the
firemen were signed to a petition for
increased clothing allowance and the
chief approved of it, and at the time
stated he would be glad to append
his signature to it also, but that was
the last of it. Both these instances
occurred several months ago. and un-
der the rules of the department,
even il reprehensible. could not have
been brought up now. The rules plain.
ly provide for the time within which
charges may be preferred agains,
any fireman, 80 days being the maxi
mum time. As far as the charges
made by Capt. Hastings 60, of ExneI
being quarrelsome, the latter ascer.
tanned the source of the complaint
this morning from Capt. Hastings,
and upon investigation found i,
groundless.
The charges against Exuer are
trumped up in their entirety by Aid.
Schroeder in a malicious and spite
full spirit, and are unworthy of any
one claiming to be q man.