The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-06-14
TRUSTEES FIND
HOME WORKING
IS PROFITABLE
Accounts Examiners Scan
Records, Learn of Some
New Features.
BY DANIEL NJ. KIDNEY
Times stan Writer

ElOlltdDIe IlOIiIe WOIh, WIN your
wife or other relatives on the pay
roll, apparently is the attractive
feature Of the office of township
trustee in the outlying Marion
county townships.
This was disclosed today through
reports of field examiners for the
state accounts board. Examination
Of the nine township trustee offices
has been completed with reports
submitted to William P. Crosgrove,
chief examiner.
One of the leaders in the "home
work" field is j. Malcolm Dunn,
Wayne township trustee, who re-
Gently promoted himself to the office
of county superintendent of schools
by procuring six votes from his
fellow trustees.
Examination of Dunn's Office by
the board of accounts disclosed that
he kept the telephone line hot dur
ing the months in which he was
promoting his SUPPLEMENTARY
Phone Bill Is S521
Durig the year 1882, which the
examination covers, his phone bill
was $521.65. Examiners Frank Hes
Ter and Thad L. Major, who made
the report, pointed out that he had
one phone in his home office" and
an extension in the living quarters
of the house.
Dunn explained this by saying he
handled the poor relief one place
and township business at the other.
Since not more than $400 is allowed
for such expense in one year, he
personally had to return the excess
payments.
At the other extreme is Harry L.
Maze, Acton, Franklin township
trustee, who is reported by the tele-
phone company to have had his
phone discontinued.
500 for Decorations
One of the unique items disclosed
in examination of Mazes books was
500 for decorations.
Overpayment of two township
teachers was charged against Harry
T. VanCleave of Lawrence town.
ship. The money was returned by
the teachers, it having been paid
through an error in bookkeeping,
VanCeave explained.
He also has his office at home and
his wife is clerk" Rent was
charged at $3.50 for the year. Due
to litigation, growing out of letting
of school bus contracts, the attor-
ney fees for the township mounted
to $3.50 during the period.
Mrs. Maggie G.. Maxwell, Wash
ington township trustee, has her
Office at her home on the Millers-
vile road. However, she varies the
formula by employing her sons wife
as clerk"
Charges S24O Rent
Rent charged the township for her
home Office was $240.
She explained that Mrs. Helen
Maxwell, who was paid $720 as
clerk, did much of the poor relief
investigation, although an inveSti-
gator was employed for several
months at 500 a month.
Failure to procure dog taxes from
the township assessor resulted in
settlement being made with exam
liners for $2,364 for 1882 dog taxes
due the township. This represented
SIS interest, the report shows.
Mrs. Maxwell explained that
Charles Daley, the township as
SCISSOR, had not paid the taxes when
the examination was being made
and since the money was due it was
collected at that time.
Office of Omer Green, Perry town
ship trustee, is listed at his home
on the Green Stone road. His
salary, clerk hire and Office rent to-
tailed 1920, the examiners report
shows.
Here a $27 overpayment of dog
tax was returned to the township
assessor.
Cashier of the Bank
Robert E. Hoffman is cashier OF
the New Augusta state bank, as we'll
as Pike township trustee. His clerk
also is in the bank and the Office
rent was charged at $120 for the
year.
Offices of Miss Hannah A. NOone,
Center township trustee at 214
North Senate avenue, are the most
extensive, due to the millions of
dollars Of poor relief handled.
Miscellaneous items are listed in
the report of her office at $1,849. so.
In Decatur township, John Rou-
ton. whose office is at Candy, de-
posted $3.50 in excess of receipts
in the township fund. This was re-
turned to him by the examiners.
No rent or clerk hire was listed
by him and his salary was 1910
Charles M. Walker has an office
at Irvington, salary, clerk hire and
rent totaling $2,240, expense $453.5O
and miscellaneous $70550, the report
shows.