The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-26
GROSSART TO
PAY TAXES, He
TELLS CLAUER
Makes Statement Following
Linder'S Ruling His Pay
Can Be Held Up.
TREASURER IS SILENT
School Fund Loan Repaid
by Mark Gray, Auditors
Office Says.


that Indiana laws require him to
withhold the salaries of county
officials who have not paid their
taxes.
In a written opinion. County At
torney John Under cited the In
diana statute, recently referred to
by The Indianapolis Times. after
official records disclosed that the
delinquent properties of County
Auditor Charles A. Grossart did not
appear on the published 1882 tax
sale lists.
Informed of the opinion, Auditor
Grossart said:
i will not permit my delinquency
to embarrass any county official.
I will pay my current taxes and take
tax moratorium on the taxes I'M
paid of other years"
Authorized by Assembly
Extension of the moratorium was
authorized by the last General AS
sembly
When he received the opinion
shortly before noon. County Treas
urer Clauer declined to permit news
paper men to examine it until
have consulted with Mr.. Grossart.
II was learned. however, that Mr.
Linder's opinion recitts the 1919 In
diana statute which requires treas
urers to withhold public salaries on
account of nOn-payment of taxes by
public officials,
The same statute provides penal
ties for violation Of the law.
The statute applies to all officials
or other persons having sums due
from the county treasury.
will Pay S433.24
County checks have for some time
had the words Subject to Deiin-
uuent Taxes" printed on them.
The Auditors tax delinquency was
discovered by The Times during an
investigation to discover the reasons
why his properties had not been
listed on published advertising for
the 1882 tax sale, as had hundreds
of others.
Mr.. Grossart said he will pay
$433.24 current taxes. and that ne
has taken the Reinstatement mora
forum authorized by the 1885 acts
Since the 1882 tax sale, at which
Mr.. Grossarts properties were not
offered for sale. Mr.. GrosSart decided
nine lots to Mark R. Gray, presi-
dent Of the Indianapolis CONNER
cial Publishing Co.
AS disclosed by The Indianapolis
Times. IT days after the lots has
been decided to Mr.. Gray. Auditor
Grossart approved a school fund
loan on them for $3.50. taking a
school fund mortgage as security
Repaid Loan Yesterday
At the auditors Office it was said
Mr. Gray had repaid the loan yes
terday. The Times had disclosed
the loan exceeded the limit of one
half the assessed value of the lots
In a letter accompanying his reI
mittance. Mr.. Gray told Auditor
GrosSart:
The fact that the assessed valua
ton did not allow for the loan in
Grafton" Mr.. Gray wrote. as I hao
noticed a much higher valuation or
these lots not very long ago. There
must have been a lowered valuation
lately and believe if YOU would
look into this phase there would be
a different face on the matter.
1T seems inconceivable that any
one. knowing either of us. would be-
lieve we would ieopardize our stand
ing m the community by making a
false claim for any amount OF
money and especially not for two OF
three hundred dollars as suggested
in the newspaper stories"
The Indianapolis Times has not
suggested presentation of a false
claim
Not Notified. Under Says
County Attorney Under said yes
terday he has not been instructed
bv the Marion County Commission
ers to take action to collect $4251.60
or the major portion of the sum
alleged to be due the county from
The indianapolis Commercial for
1885 legal advertising overpayment
Jan u. Mark r. Gray. president
of The Indianapolis Commercial
Publishing Co.. submitted claim
for publishing 14172 tax sale items
at 80 cents each.
Commissioner John NewhouSe
said he could find but 10670 items
on proofs submitted Mr.. Gray later
offered the county a check for
sl06080. which was declined.
The Indiana law provides 80
cents an item for the three-time
publication OF each tax sale item
LEGATION Of each tax sale item.
The General Assembly this veal
extended the tax sale moratorium
and prohibited sales this year. The
items charged for had been set in
type in preparation for publication
but never were published.
At the time Mr.. Newhouse in
Structed Mr.. Linder to sue Mr.. Gray
the commissioners were undecided
whether to seek the full amount
s4251 go. or to seek that amount les,
actual costs of composition at unior
lob printing shop rates.
Mr.. Linder was reminded that
Commissioner Newhouse had in
structed him 10 collect the sum due
the county. The attorney said he
had been so instructed by but one
member OF the board.
Commissioners Ernest K. Marker
and Dow Vorhies did not concur in
Commissioner Newhouse's instruc-
ttonS.