The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-31
HOLMES ASKS
MAYORS PAY:
TURNED down
Slack Also May Find His
Salary Held Back, as
Mixup Result.
TREASURER IN DOUBT
Robinson in Quandary on
Honoring Signature on
City Pay Roll.

HVIlUl 0lYIIdluIG VII
City Pay Roll.
Ira M. Holmes today tried, un-
successfully, to collect $1,875 of the
salary of the indianapolis mayor.
At the same time attorneys for
L. Ert Slack, who holds the mayors
title, and County Treasurer Clyde
E. Robinson were holding confer
ences, the result of which may be
that Slack may not get the salary,
for the time being, either.
Holmes, rapidly following up filing
Of his quo warranto suit claiming
the mayors Office, against Slack and
Joseph L. Hogue, and the attempt
of city council by resolution to
rescind its Nov. 8 election of Slack,
asked Robinson for the mayors pay
since Oct. 81.
Office Again in Doubt
Robinson promptly refused.
The councils action of Monday
afternoon raised doubt in the mind
of the treasury again as to just who
is mayor. This is the third time
such a situation has arisen.
Robinson consulted his attorney,
Clarence w. Means. Means and
City Attorney Edward H. Knight
conferred.
Knight contends that Robinson
is required to recognize Slack as
mayor, because of a mandate issued
by Superior Judge Joseph M. Mil
ner, Jan. 4, directing Robinson to
pay on all claims presented with the
signature of Sterling R. Holt, Slack's
city controller, both then and in the
future.
Robinson was not convinced en-
tirely that he was safe under this
and discussed the advisability OF
asking Judge Miner to modify the
ruling to exempt him from paying
the mayors salary voucher to Slack
until no cloud remains upon the
title.
Pay Rolls Nearly Due
Meanwhile, a city pay roll of
$l25,000 and a school pay roll of
$386,000 come due Wednesday. The
officials were attempting to settle
the question before then.
Prompt action by the board Of
public safety Monday afternoon
blocked the move of Republican city
councilmen to seize the Office from
Slack, Democrat, it was disclosed.
The board, informed that the
councilmen planned to declare
Holmes, Republican, elected mayor,
after adopting resolution rescind-
ing their Oct. 81 declaration of va
cancy in the mayors Office, rushed
a police guard to the mayors Office.
Councilmen were holding a eau
Gus at city hall when the first po-
liceman arrived. Before the meet
ing was over a strong guard was on
duty in the mayors Office.
Arrange Police Guard
The board Of safety, apprised Of
VIC COullC44 41NOtC3 4410 AAlOO AAooVAAJ
in the mayors office with Police
Chief Claude M. Worley and ar
ranged the guard.
Meanwhile, Slack took no cog
nizance of the councils action. The
police guard was kept at the door
of the Office all night and was con-
tinued today.
The council, apparently deviating
from the plan Of which the board Of
safety was informed, merely adopted
the resolution resembling its Oct. 81
action. This, it is understood, was
for the purpose of making things
easier for Holmes in his quo war
ranto suit.
Holmes Asks Quick Action
Holmes, still contending that his
several moves to get the mayors
Office are merely for the purpose
of clearing the record so some one
may have the Office without a
clouded title, said he would ask
Slack and Hogue today to waive the
ten-day answer period so the quo
warranto action could be heard i'm
mediately. Slack was not expected
to agree.
Holmes said he did not intend to
seek a restraining order or make
any other move for immediate pos
session of the mayors Office.
This left the situation as it was
before the council met.
Council President Otis E. Bar
tholomew issued the call for the
special meeting Monday morning,
after he repeatedly had refused to
do so. He learned that the other
five Republican councilmen had
threatened to call the meeting over
his head.
The usual parliamentary tangles
developed at the session, which be-
gan at 1880 in the afternoon and
lasted two hours.
The councilmen who engineered
the move were in touch with Rob-
ert F.. McNay, former Klan titan.
McNay was at the meeting.
Filler Held as Speeder