The Indianapolis times., 1924-03-24
Shank Says He Wants Otto
Ray Investigated, Citing
Plumbing Charges
on Houses,
RECORDS ARE PROMISED
Probe Committee to Organize
at 5 p, m, in President
WiSe'S Office,

Mayor Shank, in answer to Council
man Otto Rays charges Of graft and
corruption in the city. administration
today asked for Immediate investiga-
ton by the council In letter to
Lloyd D Claycombe. chairman Of the
investigating committee.
The letter suggested Tuesday morn
ing for the hearing and said he
would meet the committee with all
records and papers"
The mayor spent the morning at
the city hall discussing the charges
with Taylor Groninger. corporation
counsel, and James Ogden, city at
torneyA Walter w Wise, president
of the council called before noon.
Tactics Called DIRTY"
Shank denounced the councils tao
tics as dirty
Ray made the charges Saturday in
a statement to the council
II want them to look up my record
first" said the mayor. when they're
all through I'm going to investigate
Otto Ray. I want to find out why
he charged me 1850 for a plumbing
bill on two Of my houses when later
had an offer from another plumber
70 do the work for $500.
Stands Pat on Aides
II stand pat upon ell the members
OF my administration. II any OF thom
is found guilty will dismiss him. but
I don't believe any Of them has done
wrong"
Organization 70 investigate charges
will be taken up at .. m. today IN
the office Of Walter W. Wise, presi-
dent fthe council
Shank's letter.
1T looks to me ike have had
enough grief already this year with
out bringing up a case and mixing my
name up In It, where the slightest in
vestigation would have shown without
any question Of doubt that I am
guilty of no wrongdoing in the mat
ter I had nothing whatever to do
with the boulevard passing my prop
erty and part of ymy ground being
taken for a consideration. All sug
gestions In reference TO this boule-
card came from Mr. Charles A. Book
walter, chairman of the board of park
commissioners.
IT asked Mr. BoolSwalter to close
Brookville Rd. at Pearl ST., and he
said that they were going 10 make a
boulevard out Of It and tie in with
Pleasant Run Blvd. coming from
Washington St. to Shelby St The
Envelope Company wanted tho boule-
ward and after a great deal Of work
on the part Of Mr.. Charles o. Roem-
Ter, attorney for the Envelope Com
pany. they gave the city several thou
sands dollars worth Of valuable
ground and also gave the city the
privilege of using several acres of
ground for playground purposes. I
have all bills and expenses connected
with the moving Of the two houses.
the grading, plastering. changing fur
naces and plumbing.
Shank AslSS Question
II hope in this investigation that
you have Mr.. Otto Ray, council.
man. who preferred these charges
against me. testify how he ever
charge Mrs Shank s2,700 for the
plumbing work done in connection
with the two houses which had to
be moved on account of the boule.
ward. Mr.. Clark, another plumber.
gave me bid on the excavating OF
S400
Mr.. Ray furnished one bath tub,
one sink and one wash basin and
some sewer pipe. tile and pipe and
after the work was completed we
tried for several months TO get him
to come back and f1e the leaks in
the pipes and tank and finally had
to have another man come out and
do the work.
For over a year our yard was
torn up and we had to walk through
the mud waiting on this man Ray
to finish the work.
Mrs. Shank paid this bill to Ray
without protest Of any kind, know
ing that we had been skinned out
of at least $1,000. 1 have bills and
reports at home for every dollars
worth of expense and work that