The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-20
DEADLOCK ON
POOR relief
FUND LOOMS
Advisory Board Members
BaIk at Giving Free Run
to Mrs. Noone.
BUDGET is HELD UP
WrangIing Over Coal Prices
Leads to Break at
Meeting.

Deadlock loomed today between
township advisory board members
and Mrs. Hanna Noone, Center
township trustee, over fixing Of the
April budget for poor relief.
At a conference Thursday after
noon, advisory board members
baked at giving Mrs. Noone free
rein in naming relief supply firms,
and indicated they will refuse to
meet next week to fix the April
poor budget.
AS result of this, Mrs. Noone may
be forced to mandate advisory
board members to fix the budget.
After wrangling over coal prices
for hours, during which advisory
board members charged political in
reference in management of the
trustees office. a resolution fixing
the price of coal at $3.50. was
adopted. The present price is $3.50.
Asks Grand Jury Probe
In stormy discussion which fol-
lowed, recommendation was made
by Ernest Marker. advisory board
member. for grand jury probe Of
expenditures in the trustees poor
relief program under Mrs. Amelia
Harding, former trustee.
Taxpayers ought to know how
she spent the money and where It
went" Marker declared.
Marker was answered by Charles
Reasoner, another advisory board
member with: Were not here to
start grand jury Investigations, but
to fix the price of coal"
Signal for the break between Mrs.
Noone and the board flared when
Reasoner tried to name John
George of the Indianapolis. Coal
Company, as one of the eight coal
supply firms over objection of Wal
ter Clarke, attorney for Mrs. Noone.
Two of Board Bolt
Il want you advisory board men,
bers to get this straight. Mrs.
Noone will spend the money that
you appropriate for her. Your duty
ends there. You might as we'll I'M
derstand now that Mrs. Noone will
pick the firm with which the trus-
tees office will do business"
Reasoner bolted for the door, de-
claring he was through"
He was followed by Charles Holt
man, another member of the board.
Both declared they will take no part
in next weeks meeting to AK the
April budget.
Near-f1ght was precipitated be-
tween Reasoner and John Barrett,
one Of seven coal dealers present,
in an argument over coal prices.
Mrs. Noone, Clarke and Barrett ar
gued against giving the poor i'm
ferior" coal at $3.50.
Hints at Coffin Link
Goal at that price is good enough
for anybody" Reasoner argued.
Barrett answered with we are
Just as anxious to help the poor
as you are, and we want to give
them the right grade of coal"
Then you intend to drop out as
a bidder for this contract" Reason
or asked Barrett"
You have nothing to do with.
deciding whether I'll drop out or
not" Barrett retorted hotly. Mrs.
Noone will say as TO that"
Mrs. Noone was an eInploye of
the Barrett company for eighteen
years before she took Office.
Marker then charged that George
publican political boss has a hand
in this coal affair.""
May Have No Poor Fund
4 may be the minority member
of this advisory board, but there
isn't Republican in the county
who can tell me what to do" Mark
er declared.
Reasoner stood up. I'm not 60
ing to waste my time here" he said.
Unless advisory board members
return to fix the April poor budget.
Mrs. Noone will have no poor fund
until suit is filed to mandate men,
bers to meet.
The recently enacted Bates law
gives to advisory board members the
power to fl the budget, limiting the
trustees expenditures. It was point
ed out, however, that Mrs. Noone
repeatedly may mandate the ad-
visory board if at any time in the
month her fund is exhausted.
I'll DO the Spending"
In 1880. coal contracts aggregated
$4,000, at the S5.5o-per-ton price.
In the first two months of this
year, Mrs. Noone spent S35, 600 for
coal at the $3.50 rate.
Closing the conference, Mrs.
Noone warned members: THE ad-
visory board will appropriate the
money; III do the spending" she
declared.