The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-12
BY RAY BLACK,
United Press Stan Correspondent
lCnnvrinht. 1922 hv TTnifed prcssl


Copyright. 1892. by United Press
CHICAGO, Jan. 12.-Seyen thou
sand Chicago school teachers went
without lunch today.
That is half the $4,000 men and
women who teach in the city
schools. The estimate is by board
of education officials. They base
1t on answers to a QUESTIONABLE and
knowledge of bitter facts that re-
quire no QUESTIONABLE.
The teachers went hungry at
lunch time because they could not
afford even soup and a roll. They
have been paid for only six weeks
in the last seven months they have
taught.
Many of them will have scanty
dinners tonight.
City Rich, But Can't Pay Salaries
Thousands of policemen, hremen,
Librarians, truck drivers, inspectors,
clerks and other munipical employees
are in equally precarious plight. All
work for the fourth largest, prob
ably the third richest city in the
world. 1t can not afford to pay
their salaries.
Why?
For a week, United Press writer
Ahas been on the trail of the answer
ITO that question. The quest led
through bulky municipal records,
through interviews with officials,
through conferences with bankers,
through talks with bewildered
school ma'ams and slow-speaking
policemen, fathers of large families.
All agree there has been grave
error somewhere. None knows Just
where.
Explain Reasons
It's the taxes" explained a school
teacher, graduate of the University
OF Illinois, who mace an A in an
economics course there. The city
can not collect taxes and there is
no money to pay US"
1t was because of the greed of
them that sat in the saddle be-
fore, as should never have been
there" said a ruddy-cheeked gray
haired traffic policeman whose five
children probably know to whom he
refers.
There are mary reasons. Per-
haps there has been executive mis-
management, waste, inefficiency. It
is hard to say" continued a banker.
And there the problem rests, with
$4,000, 100000 of assessed valuation,
with $200O0o,O00,O0O of tangible
wealth, Chicago is penniless.
Mayor Predicts Anarchy
Mayor Anton j. Cermak predicts
anarchy" martial law" "chaos"
unless relief is immediate.
The special session of the state
legislature, convened to solve Chi
Cages money problem, divides into
Chicago and "downstate" groups.
Unless Cook county legislators agree
to the state income tax that the
DOWNSTAIRS want, it looks dark for
Chicago relief bills.
Meantime misery reigns in Chi
cago. Here are listed actual cases.
initials stand for names of those
whose pride survives adversity. their
names are on board of education
records:
Mrs. j. B. is an elderly eighth
grade teacher, eligible to retire in
four years. Her husband has been
an invalid five years. Mrs. B. has
paid off half of $4,000 she owed on
their home when salary checks
stopped. She borrowed money from
loan office, at AZ per cent, to meet
the payments Later she had TO
borrow from two other loan sharks.
Now she owes all three. All the
money she has is SO. She probably
will lose her home.
Unable to Keep Going
Mrs. A. L. is a widow. Her hus-
band died of tuberculosis, leaving
her three children to support. The
Youngest is 2 months old. She has
70 care Tor niece, who is i'll. She
has kept on teaching, but she has
had to accept charity to feed and
clothe her children.
Mrs. S. M, a high school teacher.
supported her mother and father.
ana contributed to support of her
unemployed brothers family of five.
her savings were lost in a bank