The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-10
PAY SLASHES
DENOUNCED BY
LABOR CHIEFS
Strong Protests Voiced by
Delegation Before
County Council.
LIVING WAGE WANTED
Board Still Is Far From
Decision on Tax Rate
for Coming Year.

Fifty representatives Of organ
lied labor, led by Adolph Fritz, sec
rotary of the State Federation of
Labor, marched on the county
council today and in vitriolic terms
demanded it rescind its action
slashing 10 per cent from wages of
all county employees.
Fritz declared his delegation rep
resented every org' . zed working
class, including the indianapolis
Central Labor Union, the Marion
County Building and Trades Asso-
citation, Allied Printing Trades
Council, Building Trades Council
and state labor federation.
Protests of the working trades
were added to law suit threats and
political retaliation plans already
aroused by the councils wage cuts.
The council recessed at noon to-
day, long way from final decision
on the county's tax rate, which may
be "a cents on each 500 taxable
property, or y cent below the pres
ent levy.
Labor Protest Heard
G. G. Hammond of the Marion
County Building and Trades Asso-
citation fired first protests at wage
reductions, in these terms:
I'VE represent the common people
and we don't think that lesSening
office efficiency by wage cuts is
going to help the taxpayer.
Consider seriously, councilmen,
what your wage policy will do. Il
will create trouble for working men
this winter"
Fritz reminded the council that
the city council had needed their
protests against salary pruning.
When he Said "It seems the
council has decided 81 a dav is
enough for the working man."
Frank Fishback replied: THAT was
a mis-statement in the newspaper
we are cutting no salaries under
$1,000 year."
Blamed on Conditions
Fishback further objected: AThis
wage cutting program was not
started by us, it is the result of con-
ditionS."
I'VE laborers favor an income
tax" Fritz proclaimed, "and your
wage cutting policy was recon-
mended by the very persons who
opposed the income tax in the last
legislature"
With an opinion from County
Attorney Harvey Grabill that low
erlng of certain court and prosecu-
tor office salaries is unlawful. the
councils $4,000 wage economy
program was disrupted.
Councilmen are fighting des-
perately to keep the tax rate down
and, simultaneously, provide for
S270,0OO that must be appropriated
to meet deficits in this years budget.
wage reduction is the only wav to
do this, they contend.
Provide for DOrmitOry
At its session today. the council
adopted ordinances providing S23. 600
for a temporary dormitory to re-
ieve overcrowded conditions at the
county poor farm, another $35O.OOO
loan to tide over the county treas
ury until spring taxes are paid, and
one for $250,000 temporarily for the
sinking fund.
Councilmen ordered the interest
rates on these loans be not more
than 31z per cent.
They conferred with Walter
Clark, attorney for the Center
township trustee, before providing
for a 100000 loan for poor relief.
This poor relief fund will be dis
tributed among the nine townships,
S91, 1875 going to Center.
Clark informed the council that
baskets now being given the poor
are not adequate" He stated $500
baskets are being distributed weekly.
How many grocerymen do YOU
have?' Roy Sahm, councilman, in
quired.
When Clark answered flfty-five.
Sahm demanded: Cant that num-
Der be increased?"
Wants Costs Lowered
1--WE must find some way to lower
poor relief COSTS" Fishback told
Clark.
Fred Barrett, attorney, represent
ing the county coroner, again plead
cd for the council to allow the coro-
ner a clerk in his Office.
His petition that "the coroner
can't run his Office without that
that clerk which you cut off in
your budget appropriation" aroused
chuckles and a grin from one
councilman.
The council slashed 1920 from
the $84, 200 appropriation requested
for operating the county tubercu-
losis hospital at Julietta, fixing the
hospital levy at cents.
Demands of Lyndhurst citizens
for new road was allowed when
the council approved transferring
$1,000 from the unexpended road
fund to put ~blacktop" on Lyndhurst
drive from Minnesota street to
Southern avenue and across to High
School road, leading to the Munich
pal airport.