The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-05
Mr.. Kitz ard His Grocery Orders.

10 the Eoltor OF the IndlanapOIiS JOurnal:
In your issue of this morning "wednesday,
Feb. A. you have an article in your columns re-
fecting very severely upon me as township
trustee. You can, of course, criticise me as
township trnstee as much as you please; that is
your privilege, and possibly your duty; but as
an ordinary citizen as we'll as trustee, claim to
be entitled TO fair treatment at your hands
You say that all of my orders for groceries are
given to applicants to be filled only by Patrick
]. Ryan, grocer at l91 West South
street, toutskirts of Greenlawn cemetery.
It your reporter had made further
inquiries, where he made those upon which his
article is based he would have found that on
last Monday approved grocery orders furnished
by the FIVE following grocers, all of which were
on file in the Commissioners Court at the time
your reporter got his information: Henry Geisel,
John H. Rothert, James Maley, William Pfafflin,
Patrick ]. Ryan. Other grocers were furnishing
groceries on orders from me at the same time,
but had not been reported. Now, as to this grocer,
Patrick j. Ryan. My relief record shows
that for the months of December and January
last past issued grocery orders to the amount
of s., 228. OF this amount Mr.. Ryan filed or
ders to the amount OF $218, less than 10 per
cent OF the whole amount of orders issued.
You say in your article that the applicants for
relief have to go from all over the township to
Mr.. Ryan's store. This is not true; they do not
not have to 90 at all, as ! order for
them a general list of groceries, such
as are ordinarily used by families. The
applicants have the undisputed privilege to ex,
change any of the articles in the list FURNISHED
for others to the same value, that they may
need-no delicacies are aliowed-and the appli-
cants are informed of these facts. ask every
applicant who comes for relief to make complaint
to me if they think they do not get the full value
of their orders, and make 1t point to impress
upon the grocer who furnishes the articles that
such articles must be good, and IL they are not
future orders will invariably be cut off
You say also in your article that
"the values are attached by a grocer. u
and are fair retail prices for the qualities fur
nished." Don't you think it is little unfair to
get rival grocers to figure at these biilsq
The men whom l mentioned above as filing
my orders are well-known and reputable men,
and if they have cheated poor applicants it is a
very sorry matter. indeed | have full faith in
these men, and do not think they would aid me
in defrauding poor people who get but pittance
at best
If your reporter wants fair and full report,
send him to my Office My records are by law
open to the public, and are certainly as reliable
as the source from whence your reporter got his
very unfair information. In your article you
make covert threat about an investigan. am
open to such; but as it will have no more effect
than the one l submitted to once before, I can
only too well imagine the disappointment of
your reporters informant.
ERNEST KrTz Trustee Center Township