The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-21
VIOLATION OF
ACE PENSION
LAW CHARGED
Chamber of Commerce Lays
Report Before County
Tax AdiuSterS.

a revamping of the entire neld OF
activities Of the workings OF the law
under county authorities, was de-
manded today by the indianapolis
/ Chamber of Commerce in a survey
submitted to the county tax ADJUST
ment board and county commission
erS.
The report, prepared by the
Chambers bureau Of governmental
research, and approved by Chamber
directors, summarizes its findings
| thus:
/. In violation Of the law many
aged persons are receiving pensions
who also are receiving relief from
the townships.
Investigators Criticized
2. Investigators employed by coun-
ty commissioners have had no train
ing in social service work and they
are unable to determine eligibility
for need under the law
3. That the proportional number
Of old-age pensions in Marion coun-
| ty is greater than in other populous
counties of the middle west.
4. There is lack of coordination
between the pension Office. township
relief Offices and private welfare
agencies, making for a duplication
of efforts and tending to promote
| waste.
Nine Proposals Made
The chambers governmental bu-
reau in making recommendations
for corrections of the alleged evils
in the operation of the law in Mar
ion county proposes:
/. That a qualified social service
worker supervise the administration
of old-age pensions in the county
before any money is spent in 1885
on pensioners.
| 2. That the county commissioners
| remove from service as investiga-
tors any of the present workers
whom the supervisor finds incapable
of training to properly perform the
duties of his position.
Trained Workers Asked
3. That only persons trained in
social welfare work be hired in the
future as Investigators.
4. That standards of eligibility for
pensions be set up.
5. A thorough reinvestigation OF
every pensioner after a competent
supervisor is named.
6. That the county commissioners
remove from the pension rolls all
persons receiving relief from town
ship relief rolls in violation Of old
age pension Jaw.
Merit System Suggested
7. That pensions be sufficient
within limitation of law so that PEN
sioner shall not be forced to seek
public charity. except for medical
and hospital attention.
g. Give to the state welfare de-
partment complete control or partial
control over administration Of old
age pensions.
8. Establish merit system and pro-
fessional qualifications for investi-
gators employed.
1t is pointed out in the report that
the pension rolls in the county in
August showed 1,677 receiving aid
with 202 others eligible as soon as
money is available and $40 applica-
tons not yet investigated.
Amount Insufficient
The average pension was between
SO and $3.50 monthly. The report
declares that this amount is as
serted by county officials as insuffi-
cient and says that $3.50 monthly
would care for 1900 persons on an
appropriation of $350000. The coun-
ty council has budgeted 100000.
One-half of the old-age pension
funds is paid by the state.
Pension investigators are named
on the basis of one for each five
hundred pension applicants. SAL
aries under the law shall not ex-
coed $1,000 a year.
| Violation Not Implied
1.-THE four investigators now en-
ployed have had no training in So
cial work" declares the report, and
with probably one exception, no edu-
cational background to qualify them
for the position. We say this in nj
criticism of the investigators, perG
sonally. Also we do not desire u
imply that the county commissioners
have violated the law in hiring the
men now employed The law pro-
vides that an investigator must be
Is years of age and of good moral
character. With trained and COM
petent supervision some Of them
investigators might become good
pension workers"
The bureau suggests the old PEN
sion statute be amended so as to
leave no doubt that pensions are to
be paid to person unable to sup
port himself or who has no one to
support him.
Other Counties Cited
1T is suggested" the report COM
| menus, LnaC the names OF all PEN
sioners be cleared through the So
cial service exchange of the Family
Welfare Society to ascertain if GER
tain pensioners are receiving relief
from charitable organizations with
out knowledge Of investigators.
The chambers survey points out
that it has not been customary in
the past to secure this information
on pension applicants.
The report cites numerous coun-
ties in other states with larger pop
ulations that have smaller old-age
pension rolls.