The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-19
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press stan Correspondent

tCopyrlght. 1881, by United Pressl
DETROIT, Nov. 19.-Frank Muir
ply, Detroit's 3s-year-old, red
haired mayor, expects to fight for
his ideas for Saving people from
starvation and eviction" during the
congressional battle over unempIoy-
ment relief this winter.
He plans to go to Washington
early in December to urge that the
Detroit welfare plan be accepted
as a national model for unemploy-
ment relief. That plan, as he ex-
plains it in brief, is:
1--WE accept the situation as a
government responsibility, not one
for private charity"
AS proof that Detroit accepted its
responsibility, figures are cited
showing that $4,000 families were
fed and clothed at the peak of the
unemployment crisis last winter.
Murphy doesn't like being called
the "dole mayor" 1t gives an un-
fair picture, he said.
No Dole About IL
eff you want to call saving peo-
pie from starvation and eviction
a dole, that's what it is. But there
isn't any dole about it. The dole is
a fiction of those who are against
doing anything and who do not
want the government to take any
responsibility. They say private
charity isn't dole. They call my
plan dole simply because the gov
eminent is doing it."
This city rises and falls with the
automobile business. If people out
in the country will buy, Detroit soon
will have better times.
But until that buying gets into
food-tide, Detroit must care for a
large army of industrial casualties.
That is the job Mayor Murphy has
dropped practically everything else
to do.
"Our city government has given
help to the little man faced with
starvation and eviction said
Murphy. 1.-THE trouble is that the
burden is not being carried equi-
tably.
1--WE have 100000 taxpayers. Who
are they? Mostly property owners,
small home owners. Great wealth
has moved into the suburbs, outside
of the city, and pay federal taxes.
But they pay little or no city taxes.
The poor, as usual, carry most OF
it,"
$4,000 Received Help
Free beds were given 10000 men
last winter. Three million free
meals were served. School lunches
were given 10000 school children
Murphy is not depending on city
funds alone. 1 talked with him just
after he had returned from meet
ing of all civic groups preparing for
a unified drive to raise $3,500,000
for the unemployed. He is trying to
get money wherever he can.
Last year, Murphy said the city
spent $14,OO0OOO on unemployment
relief. About $25O,000 additional,
he said, was raised from private
sources. This year the city's share
has been cut to 100000. Another
sum, half as large, is being sought
from private sources.
At the peak last winter $1,000
families we're receiving city aid.
After investigation they were given
order slips for groceries, fuel, and
other necessaries. Loose manage
ment crept in. An employe MIXED
the fund for about 100000, most of
which was recovered. Fifteen thou
sand families were cut off after
many we're discovered to have other
support. Murphy is attempting a
tighter organization with more ex-
pert administrators this year.
Murphy'S critics said he was like
the ancient Romans, giving the
people free bread. His friends re-
elected him this month by the
largest majority ever given a mayor
in Detroit