Putnam patriot., 1919-07-25
STATE IS READY
 TO AID SOLDIERS
C. Harold Gilpatric, Treasurer, Makes Announcement For
 His Department
American Legion May Disburse
 s12o, ,0oo Fund

State Treasurer c. Harold Gilpat- ric of Putnam on Tuesday authorized the statement that his department was prepared to advance the funds required to support the act of the Legislature of 1919 providing fnan- cial assistance for discharged soldiers, sailors and marines in Connecticut. ''The finances of the department are so arranged" he said, that the mon- ey for the ex-service men will be available for distribution by their own organization the minute it is formed, as required by the statute, and demand Is made upon the board of control in the prescribed manner There need be absolutely no doubt in the minds of the boys about getting the money"
 The assurance of the treasurer quickly shattered an attempt to make political capital of the inadvertent omission of a clause in the act mak- ing a specific appropriation of s2,- 800, ,000 for the purposes outlined. Democrats had seized upon the occa- sion to stir up an agitation among sol diers for a special session of the Leg isIature to insert such an appropriat- ing clause.
 Upon being informed of the treas urer's statement, Captain James 5. Moody, Jr., member of the state ex- ecutive committee of the American Legion, announced that plans would be laid before the August meeting of the committee to request that the American Legion be authorized to disburse the fund. That organization already has thirty-one posts organiz- ed in the state and nineteen in pro- cess of organization, putting It ahead of any other service mems organiza- tion in Connecticut. He believed that the legion would be prepared in October to ask the administration of the fund.
 Inasmuch as the statute provides | that the interest accumulations of | S2. 50O .000 fund be allowed for assist ing needy former service men, it is estimated that about $120,000 year will be available The state board of control will act as a board of trustees l of the fund, turning the entire amount over to the treasurer of an organization of soldiers, sailors and marines who entered any branch of said service of the United States dur ] ing the period of sand war and who were accredited to the quota from this state and who were citizens or resident aliens of this state on the sixth day of April, 1917, and since said date have been engaged in any of said branches of service, and were honorably discharged therefrom, or were engaged in the military or naval service of the allies of the United States in said war and have been hon.
 
 orably discharged therefrom, The soldiers organization that is to dis purse the fund will have to be organ ized before May 21, 1920.
 Captain Moody said that eX-service. men were particularly pleased with that feature of the act giving the ad ministration of the fund to an organ ization of their own men, thereby re- moving the feeling on the part of an applicant for assistance that he IS seeking charity from the public. The ! treasurer of the organization will be required to account to the board of control during the months of Janu- ary, March, June and September for the three months next preceding. Assistance will be given to the needy men in the way of furnishing food. clothes, medical or surgical aid or in bearing funeral expenses. Wi dows of such men, or their dependent children under 16 years old, also, will be entitled to such assistance. The attention of the American Legion has been called to a number of needy cases. considered to be worthy under | : Ia,