The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-10
COUNTY WAGES
WITHHELD; ASK
POOR BASKETS
100 Truck Drivers and
Laborers Suffer Through
Mann Custer Fight.
HALT 200 MADE JOBS
Road Equipment Is Tied Up
Because of Failure to
Buy Auto Licenses.

Their families without food and
coal, with temperatures near zero,
approximately 100 truck drivers and
laborerS in the county highway de-
partment, without wages since Jan.
l, today appealed to charity for aid.
This emergency has arisen be-
cause pay rolls have been withheld
by county commissioners, Charles
Mann, highway superintendent, re-
VeaIed.
While the regular employees sought
relief, approximately 200 made
work" employees on county roads
were joblesS because commissioners
have failed to buy 1882 license
plates so highway trucks can be
operated.
Involved in Courts
Involved in a court fight in their
attempt to GUST Mann, a Repub-
lican, commissioners have refused,
since Jan. /, to approve pay roll
vouchers or recognize Mann as sup
erintendent.
A suit now is pending in circuit
court by which Mann hopes to man.
date payment of about $4,000 due
highway workers for January. A
few have wages due, since Deem
Der.
These men and their families
are not going to starve, if 1 have to
go to the trustee for them" Mann
said.
Its an outrage with this zero
weather. But my hands are tied;
1 can't get a cent from commits
sioners. My own salary also is due. y
Plead Hands Tied"
Besieged by pleas for help and
feeling the pressure of county
Democratic leaders, the commits
sioners this afternoon pleaded their
hands are tied"
Commissioners Dow VorhieS said
the truck drivers can not be put
back to work until the Mann cues
ton is settled Although, I realize
it is bad situation he said, I'VE
must wait for the courts to rule
George Snider, minority meFsber
of the commission, turned on the
others today, asserting they should
admit they are whipped"
Forget the pickering" Snider
urged. Put those men to work.
Kept Force Working
Mann has kept his force working
despite ousting orders from Com
misSionerS VorhieS and Thorn
as Ellis, Democrats. Mann con-
tends he has served only two years
of four-year term.
Mann told of one truck driver
who appealed for aid. The family
has sick baby and no coal.
Il predict that two-thirds of my
men will be forced to get poor relief
baskets before long, unless they are
paid wages past due" Mann said
This means the county will be pay
ing increased poor relief bills"
The county truck license situation
has resulted in investigation by
/ Harry B. DyneS, federal labor con-
ciliator.
Offers to Buy EN-
TITS a shame to deprive these
men of work because of the license
situation" Dynes said. He offered
to purchase licenses.
Highway equipment, including
trucks used to haul made work
employees to their jobs, have been
useless since March l.
Commissioners said only hope for
solving the problem will rest with
the council Monday when members
will be asked to appropriate funds
for plate purchases.
First arrest of a Marion county
car for failure to display a 1892
license plate was made Wednesday.
Roy Hendershott, deputy sheriff,
was arrested in Bartholomew coun-
ty. Fine of 81 and costs levied
! against HenderShott, was paid.