Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-21
SHANK RELIEF
FUND INQUIRY
PROVES FLUKE
Lone Witness Appears - And
His Testimony Is Some
what Balmy.
OFFICIALS ARE READY

One lone witness testified at the in
vestigation into the city administration
use Of the $40, 900 emergency relief fund
launched by President Theodore j. Bernd
at the regular meeting OF the city coun-
Gil last night.
It had been advertised thoroughly the
probe was going to be reaching and
would develop some startling facts, such
as, for instance jobless, needy men had
been refused work on the 2-a-day plan,
because they had not worked for Mayor
Samuel Lewis Shank politically.
The inquiry collapsed when the lone
complainant John McMann, 1864 Martin
dale avenue, admitted he had not been
refused a Job and his politics had not
even been asked. He declared he had
been sent to the Merchants Heat and
Light Company to work cutting as
phalt with a chisel," when he wished TO
spread cinders in Brightwood. 1t de-
veloped the job ne refused would have
paid him thirty five cents an hour, where
as the one he insisted upon having drew
only twenty five cents an hour.
MEETING PROVES
PRAISE SERVICE.
The meeting finally turned into a praise
session for Street Commissioner Martin
J. Hyland, who had come anticipating
g trying evening, with several assistants
and City Attorney James M Ogden, who
was fortified with a voluminous report
showing how every penny Of the relief
money had been spent in his department.
John F. Walker, superintendent of street
cleaning. whose department also uses
men under the S2-a-day relief plan, was
present, prepared to face all corners,
Neither his nanl0 nor his department
were mentioned.
Spectators who had turned out % have
some fun got but one little taste Of what
they had come to see.
This came when Councilman John E.
King answered Mayor Shank's remark
the Investigating council" might better
spend its time trying to help relieve the
sufferings Of the unemployed, as those
in the mayors office, and particularly
Mrs. Shank had been doing.
Mr. King said he did not know how
much charity work Mrs Shank and the
mayor had been doing, but he did know
IF Mr.. Shank had not been out in the
State so much trying to do something
about the unemployment Of one man" he
might know more about what the council
men have been doing. He said he had
been getting ten or twelve calls a day
MAYOR SPEARS
FOR BEVERDGE.
The mayor has been stumplng the
State for Albert J. Beveridge, candidate
for the Republican nomination for United
State Senator. Mr. King not long ago
was appointed q prohibition enforcement
agent. Senator Harry s. New, Mr..
Be7eridge's opponent, IS generally be-
Heved to pass out the patronage at the
Federal building.
After Mt. Kings pleasautT.es. which
were accompanied with the statement the
only thing he had 10 say about the ad
mnistration OF the relief ordinance was
city councilmen had not been sent any
names to pass upon for appointment to
the Sunday jobs recently, as the meas
IRE provided, the council adjourned
peacefully.
It looked rather gloomy for the In
vestigation at the opening Of the meet
ing when no one responded TO Mr.
Bends question II there was any one
present who wished 70 talk about the re
lief ordinance. He said the matter would
he taken UP later, then. With regular
business out OF the way, he repeated HIS
request those interested in the inquiry
make them selves known. All was quiet.
The pres dent picked up the figures Mr..
Highland had supplied him and read
there remained S14, 53435 of the $4,000
fund and $572.37 had been spent out Of
the $1,000 appropriated to the assistance
OF the relief station operated by the
National Disabled Soldiers League and
other patriotic organizations
INVITATION BRINGS
No RESPONSE.
If anybody ia interested they can
come mp and read these reports and see
iuyt the money was spent" said
dent and repeated his invita-
those who thought they had
,-satad unfairly to come forward.
o.. silence continued
III say in the last four or Eve weeks
l have had no complaints out Of Martin
j. HylaEd's department and, in all fair
ness. I have gotten prompt action upon
all requests I have made OF him. re
marked the president, he then sug-
gested adjournment would DO in order.
Councilman Heydon W. Buchanan got
the door and asked the audience II there