Evening star., 1952-02-20
Evils Laid to Open Relief Rolls
Fail to Develop in Indiana Case
Survey Shows No PubIicizing Of Names
After Months With Records Open to Public

ueSSmen ana p0llClclanS.
Authors Of the Indiana measure
inserted a clause that authorities
say, will safeguard against such
practices. They ALSO say it will
prevent wholesale publication o1
names.
About the last, there is some
disagreement. but it is mild fol
the very reason that newspaper.
have seen no reason to print
names of relief clients.
Oscar Crawford. deputy at.
torney general in the Welfare De.
partment, is convinced the pro.
tective clause will work. He il
sure it forbids wholesale publica-
tion or voicing of clients names
He is not sure whether a news
paper, for instance, might legally
publish one or more names OF
persons believed to be fraudently
on the relief rolls, presuming that
later investigation would bear out
the charge. Such a newspaper
practice, however, would be high
ly improbable.
The law imposes fines of from
$25 to 81 900 and up to 60 days ir
jail for "any person, body, associ.
alton, firm, corporation or any
other agency to solicit, disclose
receive, make us of, or to authorize
knowingly permit. participate in
or acquiesce in the use of the lists
or names for commercial or politi-
cal purposes of any nature,s OF
for any purpose not directly con.
nected with the administration o1
public assistance"
Tips Curb Fraud.
Carl F. King, Marion County
welfare administrator Gncluding
IndianapoilS). says the act has
been valuable in that newsmen
and citizens have furnished tips
which have eliminated unqualified
rellefers. Newspapers. in turn
have praised Mr.. King, who as
sumed Office about the time rolls
were opened, for his cooperation.
In Indiana, the relief rolls are
displayed in bound volumes in the
county auditors Office.
Until January /, the Welfare
Department had supplied the 80
Indiana county auditors with
forms called Statement of pur-
pose" OF each person asking to
see the rolls, auditors were asked
to demand his name and purpose
for the inspection.
Under heat of some recalcitrant
auditors. who couldn't see why
such requirements we're written
into the law. State Welfare Ad-
miniStrator Maurice o. Hunt re-
scinded the standard form idea
and told auditors that henceforth
responsibility was exclusively
theirs.
Results Of Trial Run.
Today this reporter made a trial
run to the Office of Marion Auditor
Roy T. Combs to see what opposi-
ton, If any, would devolve from a
to see the relief rolls.
Directed to a woman clerk, the
query drew a quick-inspection
glance, and the information that,
since the books were in the safe
it would be necessary to await the
arrival of Mr.. Combs secretary
due in IS minutes.
The return trip was more sue
cessful. Going to a huge safe ano
straining at the weighty doors
the secretary pulled out the two
volumes. She handed them over
with a smile and no questions
asked and returned to her Office
1t may have beef possible to have
copied the entire list (about $1,000
but such activity finally would
have raised some suspicion.
Who had asked to see the rolls
before this? Before they aban-
doned asking questions and taking
names. the clerks had entered five
names in the Statement Of pur-
pose" book.
Two were newSpapermen who
stated investigation" as theil
reason for peeking. Two said they
were there for personal reasons.
The other said he was there fol
professional reason, re: Admins
tration of the estate of Ralph
Miller, deceased"
Newspapermen have paid fire.
quent visits to the rolls to check
leads, but the clerks could remem-
ber only five other visitors whose
names they did not take.
Questioning Recommended.
Mr.. Crawford is of the opinion
that auditors should inquire OF
the business of each visitor, ano
take his name, as a protective
measure. For, in case of violation
of the confldentiality clause, the
auditor may be equally guilty.
However, others say violations
will be almost impossible on q
large scale. since to exploit the re.
lief rollers it would be necessary te
take the entire list of names
or at least a large bloc of them
Any unscrupulous business firms
(See INDIANA, Page A-3.)