The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-26
POOR TRUSTEE
Wastes FUNDS.
SAYS HOFFMAN
Member of Township Board
Scores Mrs. Noone for
Playing Politics.
CLAIMS EXTRAVAGANCE
Too High Prices Paid for
Needy'S Food, Soft Jobs
Given, Is Claim.

Abandoning plans to establish a
poor relief commissary in Center
township, a committee composed Of
county officials, tax experts and
civic heads today concentrated on
revamping the trustees poor relief
system.
With a 100000 relief debt loom
ing for 1881, members Of the COM
mittee met Wednesday afternoon in
the Chamber OF Commerce to hear
copiouS recommendations for
changes in the relief program.
The committee heard Charles
Hoffman, member of the Center
township advisory board. charge
Mrs. Hannah Noone, township trus-
tee, with extravaganza and with
playing politics" with relief supply
firms.
The session paved the way for the
meeting probably Friday of advisory
board members and Mrs. Noone to
fix the April poor relief budget.
Police Aid Sought
Signifying at least one change in
the present system, Walter Clarke.
attorney for Mrs. Noone, told con-
ferees he will meet this afternoon
with Police Chief Jerry E. Kinney to
ask the aid of patrolmen in investi-
eating applicants for poor aid.
Addition to police to the trustees
investigating staff would halt. to q.
large extent, the distribution of
thousands of dollars worth of food
monthly to families undeserving of
aid, Clarke told the committee.
Fight between Mrs. Noone and adj
visory board members over the nam
ing Of poor supply firms, fared
again before the committee when
Hoffman charged Mrs. Noone with
hiring employees who have no
right in the Office"
Gust Political Jobs"
These are nothing but political
jobs, and you can be sure it doesn't
set well with the taxpayers" Holt
man told the committee. after
charging that many of the employees
receive full-time pay for part-time
work.
Hoffman criticised Mrs. Noone for
refusing to extend the list of bust
ness houses selling poor relief
supplies, and declared vehementlv
that the trustee is paying at least
10 per cent too much for groceries.
Politics or no politics, this adj
visory board will not conhne this
business to a few firms" hoffman
declared, adding, ''I can name anv
number of grocers who will sell this
food for at least Is per cent less
than what Mrs. Noone is paying her
grocers.''
Clarke and Mrs. Noone last week
Informed Hoffman and two other
members of the advisory board that
the trustees Office would do the
selecting in grocers."
Wants 1t Understood
It want this understood" MIRA
Noone declared at that time. that
l will pick the supply firms and
spend the money of this office"
Advisory board members had
sought to give everybody a chance
at the business" Hoffman said. The
April budget will be pared dras-
tically, Hoffman declared.
Clarke revealed to the commit
tee that for the month ending
March 20, the trustee spent S1O7. 400
for relief work Of this amount
$4,000 was spent for groceries.
$4,000 for coal and ST, 300 for milk.
William H. Book, civic affairs di-
rector, recommended that the
trustee inaugurate the plan Of
forcing recipients of poor aid to
work for the county in return for
the basket of food.
Book pointed out that the trustee
should follow the policy of the
made-Work committee, by which the
city puts poor aid applicants 70
work to earn the weekly basket Of
food.
Cry 1t This Summer
Clarke indicated the trustee
favored the plan and would try it
out" this summer. Any drastic
change this spring would disrupt
the trustees office, Clarke said
Walter Boetcher, county council
man; Herman Lieber, chairman Of
the committee. and other conferees
approved Books plan.
Boetcher criticised the contents
of poor relief baskets, declaring that
Quantity should be substituted for
the variety" recommended BY dieti-
ticians.
I see this poor relief situation as
a means Of keeping people alive in
an emergency. These 'nick-nacks'
in the baskets don't do the work.
Quantity rather than variety should
be the aim Of poor -elief," he de-
clared
Lieber Assails Politics
Lieber deplored politics as an ele-
ment in the award Of contracts to
supply firms.
Il nave the firm opinion that
there should be an increase in the
number Of grocers, not based on
politics" he said.
The committee will name a groun
OF public accountants who will STUDY
records Of the trustees Office with
the view Of increasing efficiency of
the index and bookkeeping system
used to check 1900 families now re-
ceiving aid