The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-25

Trustees Lawyer Declares
Plan Would Increase
Poor Aid Cost.
LEGAL AID EMPLOYED
Attorneys for City, County
and Schools to Give
Budget Advice.

Assistance OF city, county ana
school board legal advisers was in
voked today by the county tax adj
justment board as it sought solu-
ton to the problems created by 1884
budgets
The conference was arranged to
obtain for the board, which has no
attorney of its own, legal advice on
its actions. Edward H. Knight, city
corporation counsel; City Attorney
James E. Deery, County Attorney
Charles Clarke and Albert Baker
and Joseph Daniels, school board at
torneys, were invited to attend.
Real estate men, who have been
the most active leaders in the tax
reduction movement, were put under
fire today by Walter Clarke, attOr-
ney for Miss Hannah Noone, Center
township trustee.
Poor Relief Slashed
Mr.. Clarke appeared for Miss
Noone before the board with the OPP
timistic declaration that poor relief
expenditures have been reduced in
recent weeks.
Families receiving trustee baskets
now number only $500, the lowest
figure in more than a year, Mr..
Clarke said. He said that reduc-
ton to 1900 could be expected with
return of normal times.
"One of our major expenditures
is payment of rent for poor fami-
lies Clarke said. We pay the taxes
on property used by us. Lawrence
Holmes, OF the real estate board,
has been after us to increase our
payments by placing them on the
basis of so cents a room monthly.
His idea would increase poor relief
costs about $4,000"
Landlord Carries Load"
Forrest NJ. Knight, realtOr and
adjustment board member, followed
Mr.. Clarke'S charge with the
declaration that the poor relief
burden is being thrown on the in
dividual landlord"
Wei, you snow the property
owners don't have to allow their
houses to be used" retorted A. Q.
Schrader. another board member.
Although no statement was made
regarding specific questions to be
submitted to attorneys, there are
several points in doubt, as revealed
by the boards attitude during pre-
vious hearings.
One is mandatory items, repre-
senting those appropriations whose
levy is required by law and includ-
ing a $4,000 request by the school
board for free kindergartens.
Increase Pace
Pace of the board vii be accel-
Grated today and Tuesday in order
that it may be familiar with all
budgets by Wednesday. the day set
for the boards second public SEES
sion.
Night sessions will be held, if
necessary, John Newhouse, presl-
dent. announced, and delegations to
the public hearing will be limited to
three persons, to conserve time.
REQUIRED by law to have finished
its deliberations by midnight Satur-
day. the board has ahead the most
strenuous part of its work, the
slashing of budgets to conform to
the 81 so law, or explaining in detail
what emergency exists to justify
proposed levieS.
Votes of Five Needed
Under 1888 statute, votes of at
least five members are required to de-
clare an emergency and the reasons
for the action and the nature OF
the emergency must be set out in
the record of proceedings.
Last year. it was necessary only
for the board TO state an emergency
existed. without further explana
ton. with the burden Of proof
placed on tax reduction groups to
show the board erred.
Under the new system. the proof
rests with the board to justify its
actions. The state FAX board will
be required to pass on the county
boards actions. and any flaw in the
records may result in a reversal of
the decision.
Appeal Is Threatened
The indianapolis Real Estate
Board has announced publicly that
unless the $3.50 law is observed by
county and state boards. an appeal
will be taken TO the courts. Thus.
the proceedings of the county board
probably will have TO be sufficiently
alright to withstand litigation and
judicial scrutiny.
Only one possible slash has been
emphasized so far in the boards
elaboration. Saturday. it appeared
that a majority vote had been won
for cutting the old age pension fund
in half to 100000 from the 5000 900
annrouriated by the county council