The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-24
TRADE BOARD
DEMANDS CUT
IN CITY WAGES
Insists Salaries of All
County Public Officials
Be Reduced.
CALLED AN MNJUSTICE"
Pay Must Be Sliced, EdiCt
Says in Citing Slash
in Living Costs.

depression, the Indianapolis Board
of Trade today demanded public Of
ficials' and employees wages be
sliced, and taxes reduced.
The demands were set out in a
letter to county, school and city de-.
partment heads by w. Hathaway
simmons, president of the Board of
Trade. He said the facts were those
uncovered in an investigation into
the tax situation in INDIANAPOLIS
ana Marion county by the Board of
Trades board of governors.
purpose of the trade group is to
nave public employees wages reduced
TO the lower level that it saws has
been established by INDIANAPOLIS
manufacturers and store owners.
"WilI Do Injustice
Pointing out that wages have
been reduced by majority of Indi.
annapolis manufacturers, stores and
offices, the letter stated "the public
employe has not had his working
time reduced an hour or his salary
reduced a penny"
we can not but believe that
those officials in control of the new
tax budget are going to do the
teachers, policemen and firemen
and other public employees great
injustice if they do not fix their SAL
aries at least in keeping with the
reduced cost of living" the letter
continued.
Even then their reduction will
not IN any way approximate the re-
duced earnings of the people who
are paying these salaries.
How is the teacher going to
feel next winter, drawing a salary
equivalent to third more than
IN 1920, when many of the children
are going to come to school half
led, under-clothed and with the
knowledge that the father prob
ably is walking the streets for
work?
Should Share Suffering
How are the policemen and
firemen and other city and county
employees going to feel, drawing a
salary equivalent to one-third
more than that paid in 1920, when
their neighbours home has been
sold for taxes, their savings ex-
hausted, with probably two days a
week in work?
I'VE believe the highest type
teacher, policeman and fireman
and other public employe is not
actuated by such purely COM
mercial instinct. For every one
that would permit their efficiency
to be reduced, there are at least
five equally competent persons
who gladly would have their
place.
Certainly there is nothing sacred
about the public employees salary
that they should not share with
their neighbors the difficulties of
this trying period, and, at least,
take a reduction equivalent to the
reduced cost Of living.
when times get better and COM
modify prices increase. their salaries
again can be increased, as they were
in the past"
The figures in the letter set out
the reduction in living costs. and
quoted figures in support from the
United States department of labor,
Letter Causes Furore
Affecting hundreds of city and
/ county employees, the word that the
Board Of Trade was demanding a
cut in their wages brought a furore
in the city and county buildings.
At the courthouse political OBJ
servers said they believed the &C
ton was prompted by the dethroned
Republican organization in an at
tempt TO get even"
Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan was
congratulated by the boards letter
for move to slice the city's utility
costs.
1t also was set out that since the
bonded indebtedness interest rates
could not be cut, reduction in taxes
must depend on salary slashes.
The letter said the organization
recognized the efforts of the school
board to maintain in the CITY
schools on a high plane" but this
is time when ideals must be faced
with existing facts"
Includes Many Examples
When taxes are the greatest det-
riment to the restoration of busi-
ness, certainly it would be better. if
tnat be necessary, to have some of
the efficiency postponed that some
OF the mouths be fed" Simmons
stated. "The highest quality of
learning is going to suffer when pre-
sented to an undernourished chilli"
The letter included the following
examples Of the hardships bad busi-
ness has caused in Marion county.
Charity supporting $4,000 people
In Indianapolis; taxes delinquent on
thousands Of parcels of property.
thousands unable to pay personal
taxes and facing removal of furni.
ture; workers in local manufacture
ing plants employed only one-third
time; construction laborers without
work; businesses in the city fight
ing for their lives for existence
merchants with surplus funds ex-
hausted, due to losses, and only
limited borrowing power available
TO business men.
The public official who permits
politics, friendship or any other
consideration from doing all within
his power to reduce the fearful bur-
den OF taxes is derelict in his pub
lie trust Simmons said