The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-13
POOR FARM
STILL WATTS
FOR relief
Democrat Campaign Prom
iSes Not Carried Out,
Probe Shows.
SEEK TO SAVE MONEY
1t Was Good Sob Stuff
Is FiShbaCk'S Retort
to Queries.
SEEK TO SAVE MONEY

Campaign pledge of the Demo-
cratic party to cure the Marion
county poor farms inadequacy and
unfltneSS has proved to be a wash
out" reports emerging from Repub-
lican StrongholAi charge today.
Following up the investigation
made shortly before the November
election, The Times Monday made a
second probe at the infrmary.
In the opinion of Byron Carter,
superintendent, the population Of
the institution has reached the sat-
uration point.
Against, 400 inmates living there
in October, 512 INDECENT poor Mon
day were existing in space which ten
years ago was found to be over
crowded by half that number.
In the fifty-year-old mems quar-
tiers, Railways still are used to
sleep" more than thirty aged men.
The straw "ticks" which were found
in October to have been used as
beds on barren floors have been
replaced by metal coCS.
Few improvements Made
Aside from few safety improve
ments, including the installation of
red exit lights, no effort has been
made to give the aged unfortunates
more than the barest necessities Of
existence.
Lacking an auditorium large
enough to accommodate the entire
male population, scores of men are
compelled to pass the hours of day
on their narrow cots, with no al
Tentative except sleep.
A small, poorly equipped 'recrea-
ton ROOM" providing a few tattered
books and two checker boards, rep
resents the winter recreation for
the aged men.
1t was shortly after noon when
the investigation was made. At least
fifteen old men were abed with only
bare walls at which to stare. The
recreation room had been filled to
capacity.
RenewS Attack on Food
"We have just 100 too many men
here" Carter stated, adding, 'but
what can we do about it. I give
them food, keep the building warm,
but can't go any further than
that"
Garter renewed his attack on the
lack Of food variety.
THAT is this institutions greatest
evil" he said. cit is impossible to
feed these people anything but
dishes which can be cooked in huge
quantities. It presents health
problem which demands attention, y
he said.
Members of the new Democratic
county council, elecaed in a cam
paign in which the poor farm was
a bone of contention, said today that
their economy program will relegate
to 'the distant future" any in
Urinary relief.
TT Was Good Sob Stuff"
Frank S. Fishback, council pres
ident, termed the poor farm sit
uation abnormal"
AS to campaign promises, Fish
back stated he didn't know any
thing about that"
II was too busy with my own
affairs to know what was going on
in politics." he declared. IF the
poor farm was made an election is
sue that isn't my fault"
1T was good sob stuff" Fishback
explained. II guess the public likes
that sort of thing"
Dow w. Vorhies, Democratic
county commissioner, offered no
panacea for ills which grand juries
for fourteen years have found are
a blot on decency."
Accused of Backing Down"
Something will have to be done
about it, Vorhies admitted, "but I
don't know how it will work out.
Any plans to move the poor farm to
operate jointly with the Julietta
hospital for the insane is not feas-
ible. Julietta is purely state in
Stitution, and Marion county is the
only county in the middle-west that
supports on insane institution" he
said.
Commissioner John E. Shearer
who in the election campaign bore
the brunt of criticism for the poor
farms condition, publicly has &C
cused the Democrats of backing
down"
Let them stand on their own
promises" Shearer said today.
Their problems are not mine" re
added.
Shortly after they entered the
Office the new Democratic council
unexplainedly quashed a $4,000
bond ordinance which would have
provided funds for rehabilitation OF
tho inf1rmary.
Regardless Of campaign prom
iSeS, the poor farm will havo to
remain as it is. MY interest solely
is to cut down government ex-
penses. That's of first Importance"
Fishhack stated.
pIDATEc@ ATTANK LINED