The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-04
Grocers Forced to Wait


Grocers. fuel dealers, are forced
to wait from five to six months for
payment of the township trustees
rs per cent portion of the direct
relief bill.
A S1.50 maximum tax levy law,
passed during the administration OF
Gov. McNutt to quiet the howlS
from tax reduction organizations,
forced merchants into the courts to
collect the Just bills due them for
providing county and township re-
lief.
1t is necessary.to declare an emer-
eency to levy taxes above the $l.5O
limit. The merchants band together
and sue in one mans name for
township judgment to collect their
bills.
The Judgment granted, they must
wait for a ready market and sale
of the poor relief bonds. Inability
to sell the bonds in Center Town.
ship. the city's major unit under the
trustee system, and other townships,
has resulted in relief bills being car
ried for as long as two years on
the books of grocers and coal deal
erS.
Taxpayer Will Pay
The archaic relief method under
the trustee and the maximum tax
law continues in its vicious circle by
forcing the wholesale grocer to car
nv the retailers bills until the judg-
ments are satisfied, and the bllls
paid by the trustee.
The grocer can offer to pay one
fourth of his bill out of the one
fourth paid by Government money,
but the wholesaler knows that
three-fourths OF the groceries issued
to the needy go into the retailers
ledger under the heading of credit
extended to the township trustee
alongside that of Mr.. Blank, who
will pay in the end, as taxpayer,
both bills.
In October, the direct relief's food
and fuel for the months of May,
June and July we're paid to mer-
chants. The bill totaled approx
mately S185,000. A new suit for the
months of August, September and
October will be filed for the town.
ship.
1882 Bills Unpaid
A typical lengthy wait for the
payment of relief bills is in $4,000
suit of Washington Township. The
bills date back to 1892. 1t was not
worth while going to court two
years ago. One fuel company is
owed s1100 and the bill is yellowed
with two years of waiting. Credi-
tors in this township must pay ap-
proximately $50. or l per cent, to
collect the $4,000 in groceries and
fuel that nouriShed and warmed the
townships poor months ago.
Placed in the hands of a trust
agency, as one township relief bill
was placed. and the collection
charge would be three times the
amount which creditors of Wash
ington Township will pay.
1T isn't worth the time and trou-
bic waiting for payment of the
bills" declares a prominent coal
dealer.
If it wasn't that it helps keep our
own men on the pay roll, commu-
nifty service, and our gambling that
the men we service with coal today
will trade with us when they get a
Job in private industry. we'd quit
today" he asserts vehemently.
Private Customers Wait
I'VE must make our private Gus
toners wait when the call for an
emergency relief coal order is
phoned TO us. Many days it costs
us overtime for our men TO service
relief families-and our proflt-well.
If we make cents a ton on the
hauling charge we're lucky" he
added.
Coal is one of the major relief
items and one Of the major savings
to taxpayers under the Governors
relief commission.
The coal is bought at the mine
at s19S a ton with Federal money.
The same coal purchased by a coal
dealer would cost $500. Freight