Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-08-14
REMOVED FIREMAN
HAS A COMPLAINT

Rock Island, Ill, Aug. Is. Editor of
The Argus.-I desire to call the atteu-
ton of the general public, through the
columns of your newspaper, to the ac-
ton of the mayor and city council in
dcpriving me of rights plainly guaran-
teed to ME by the city ordinances. This
is not merely private grievance
which | desire to air through your pa
per- but it is a case of a longtime
citizen of Rock Island, and man wilD
has served faithfully for thirteen
years as member of the fire depar.-
ment of your city, being actually rob
bed of right that the city ordinances
plainly state belongs to him, and col-
sequently | consider it a matter of sui
ficient public interest to merit atten
ton.
About May 10, 1907 while acting as
a member of the fire department of
Rock Island, position which | have
stated | had held for thirteen years,
was, without any previous notification,
suspended by Charles ~ Hastings, who
had few days before been appointed
by Mayor Schaffer as chief of the d.
partment. The reason Mr.. Hastings
assigned for my suspension was that
had exhibited too much political
activity"
The city ordinances of Rock Islanl
provide that no member of the fire dc
partment may be discharged from the
department without an investigation
before the fire and light committee of
the city council, it being a part of that
committees duties to appoint and dis
charge members of the fire depart
ment, which department is virtually
under civil service From the decision
of this committee in regard to any mat
ter pertaining to the department an
appeal lies to the council as a whole
Although several months have elaps-
ed since the time of my suspension.
and virtual discharge. | have never re-
ceived an investigation of the charge
of political activity" assigned by Mr..
Hastings as the reason for my dismis-
sal. | have frequently demanded sucn
an investigation, but the matter has al
ways been juggled about in such
manner that nothing has been done in
regard to it. Alderman McNealy
brought this matter of mine, together
with the cases of two other firemen
who were summarily discharged by
Mr.. Hastings, to the attention of the
city council nearly three months ago,
and these cases were at the time re
ferred to the fire and light committee"
After patiently waiting for more than
month to give this committee ampl9
opportunity to act upon the matter, /
presented a communication to the city
council about July 18th, asking that
some immediate action be taken. On
motion of Alderman Anderson this
communication was also referred -
the fire and light committee" No fur
Their action was taken. Then, after az
other patient wait of almost month
longer, at last nights meeting of tn"
council | again presented another
communication to the mayor and al
dermen, stating again the circum
stances, and requesting that something
be done without further delay. | stat
ed i'll this last communication tn 1t
Alderman Charles Oberg. chairman of
the fire and light committee, was very
much opposed to my receiving any 10
vestigation, and that owing TO his hos
tility | did not think that the fire AMI
light committee would ever pay any