New Britain herald., 1921-12-14

ous and entirely proper for the comp trollcr to ask of us any Information which he thought he did not possess, lt Is of course wholly unnecessary tu seek any powers of investigation to secure for your board any nforma- ton which is in our power to give. He has been on the boprl a year and should be well aware of how the fund was being administered and that the lawfulness of our administration had been passed upon as above indicated.
 Items Criticized
 In reference to some of the items criticized by the Comptroller, We would remind our board that l per sonally stated to the board that we had given subscription to the |, $, | r. II. <. Hospital No, 41. where hun dreds of cN-soldiers are being cared ror-most of them for tuberculosis Some of them are beyond the hope of recovery, and some of them last year faced their last Christmas. In behalf of the State Fund, joined with many others in giving to a fund which would purchase for the soldiers some little presents to bring such happi- ness as we could to them. You eX- pressed no disapprovah
 1 Expenses of the trip 10 Washington were incurred in our efforts 10 secure quicker action for communications l addressed to the |. $. Bureau on cases which we believe are properly govern ment cases, but which our fund is car rying. It is obvious that the sooner the government acts on such cases, the earlier occurs release of our funds, | involved therein. You have approved of this policy as an economic and et- ficient one from the standpoint of our fund.
 The conference expense alluded to was incidental to meeting of the Chairmen of our many committee from all over the state; a conference which was deemed helpful in bringing about an exchange of ideas, methods and suggestions for a more efficient and better administration of the fund through a detailing of various expert ences It is safe to say in connection with this conference that each individ- ual. or his Post, paid more as a whole than the state toward the expenses of the conference. Again an instance of the Legion more than spending dollar for dollar with the state,
 About the Fund
 The general items of expense of the administration are shown in my re ports and about them | would say this as a whole. Pursuing usual methods, il would not be possible for the state even with an expenditure of $50,- 000.0O per year to secure as wide spread and as efficient an administra ton of this fund. It would not be pos sible for the state to secure by usua method twenty five per cent of tho present efficiency with an eNpenditur, of S25,0OO.00 We have utilized, anc do utilize the services of from siXt, to two hundred men, in from sixty tt seventy five different localities in th' state. They make use of their Leglol | Headouarters and other rooms to car " on this work, saving the fund man! rentals, furniture bills and expense ac counts. and many incidental expenses to this work are borne by posts ant individuals. In a very high percent ; age of instances the work is done free , land without any charge, because 1t l considered a duty owed by one com rade to another, and to the state. Sucl a body makes at once a sympathet ; and yet critical organization of ad ministration which could not, in m , judgment be bettefed by any othe } method l can conceive, but whic . could not endure the injection of poll . tics as was attempted and defeate at the last legislative session.
 My office force is small and work overtime My office rent and equip ment is the barest possible to get alon
 with. When you consider we hay handled from three hundred and fit to twenty five hundred cases in a weel week in and week out, covering iron fifty to seventy five different localities keeping all the record, etc, you or an, one else who carefully looks into thi matter will pay tribute to the Amer icau Legion for it's work.
 I further call your attention to tn fact that instead of the situation be ling as represented by the Comptroller