Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-20

wagon in the fire department. was yes
terday discharged from the service of
the department by Chief Shultz. The
charge against Afford was that of in
subordination Back of the chiefs ac-
ton in the matter lies a story with
some of the features of the sensa ton
al attached to it.
Several days ago several of the
members of the fire department. men
employed under Chief Shultz, prefer
red charges against he chief to the
fire committee. The committee met
in the Offices of Mayor Fl. King White
To make an investigation of the mat
ter, but il is said that when the men,
bers of the committee learned the ma
ture of the charges they declined to
make any further investigation of the
matter, merely stating that whether
they be true or not, they did not inn
rair the efficiency of the chief for the
W III ~ IOi "hlSI uS 10 C1IitIlOS VII w HllC
the whole matter has been kept wrap
ped in something like secrecy, and
rothing whatever has been given out
for publication, either by the fire COM
mittee or by the chief of the fire de-
partment, it is rumored that the
charge preferred against Chief Shultz
was that of immortality. This. howev-
er, could not be substantiated by the
reporter, and there is still some doubt
as to the exact nature of the charges
II remains a fact, however. that the
charges were preferred. And as soon
as the committee learned the nature
of them it decided that they did not
need investigation by that committee,
and the matter was dismissed.
When asked about the matter by
a representative of the Graphic, Chief
Shultz decluined to discuss it, except
to acknowledge that charges had been
preferred and dismissed by the COM
mittee. Report says that there were
three or four members of the fire de-
partment whose names appeared to
the charges. but just who they are
Thursdays action on the part of the
chief let out the fact that Afford was
one of the men involved in the matter
In discussing Affords discharge from
the department. Chief Shultz simply
stated that Afford had been discharg-
ed for INSTRUMENTATION, and declared
that nothing could impair the efficien-
cy of his department worse than
lack of discipline therein. and that
as matter of protection to himself
and to the property owners of the city
he could not afford to harbOr the
spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION within the
ranks of the fire department. He de-
clared that it was imperative that
he should take the action he did in the
premises. however much he regretted
the whole occurrence. Further than
this. the chief refused to discuss it
for publication. but the chiefs action
in letting Afford out leads many to
the belief that this is but the begin
ming of renovation of the fire de-
Lartment, and it would not come as a
c,,r,,r;co ta opyono ~cpvorcapt with
the actual conditions now prevailing
in the fire department to learn that
ether dismissals from the service will
follow this one
Thursday afternoon, Robert Carson
was placed ON the force to take AL
ford's place. Mr.. Carson was former
ly member of the police department,
but recently resigned. together with
three other members of the police
force. He is we'll known throughout
the city. having resided here for sew
eral years.
Report says that the fire committee
will hold another meeting this after
noon. For just what purpose the meet
ing is to be held is not yet known, but
that it has something to do with the
present embroglio in the department
can scarcely be doubted. In fact, the
same source of information which con-
veyed the intelligence Of the meeting
also stated that it was very probable
that the committee had been called
together to take action ON Affords dis.
charge, but whether at the instigation
of the discharged man or the chief of
the fire department is not known.
The present trouble in the fire de-
rartment has been brewing, it is said.
for some time past. 1t will be remem-
hered that Chief Shultz discharged an