Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-24
AMERICAN LEGION FUNDS
PAID FOR TWO BANQUETs

Two banauets at the Hotel Taft, New
Haven, at which Treasurer Frank S.
Butterworth Of the American Legion act
ed as host to local distributors Of the
state fund for needy ex-service men
were paid out Of the state fund. An
examination Of Butterworth's accounts
made by State Auditors William P. Bail
ey and Lewis w. Phelps by direction OF
Comptroller Bissell brought to light the
vouchers showing that S233.2o was taken
fgroGn the state fund proceeds to pay
for these two affairs, according to their
report to the comptroller.
Four local distributes in different sec
tons Of the state who were present at
the banquets, or buffet luncheons. ex-
pressed surprise when informed by
Hartford newspaper that the bias were
charged up TO the state fund. Two Of
| them said they were under the. impress
sion at the time that they ware the
| guests of Butterworth personally and the
third said he gave no thought to where
the money was coming from to pay for
It, and had no idea that the expense
was to be charged UP to the fund.
Nothing was said in any of the quar-
terly reports made by Butterworth to
the comptroner's office about including
! banouets In the expense Of operation. but
/ a careful examination Wednesday. Of all
the reports made to date showed that
charges were made during the second
and third quarters Of last year for Con
ferences OF Chairnen." One Of these
conferences" cost the state fund
s12415 and the other s1os.o5. The mora
expensive one occurred during the quar-
: ter ended June 30 at about the time
Treasurer Butterwsorth was appealing
tothe legislature for prompt emergency
appropriations to relieve suffering among
r hundreds of needy ex-serv1ce men, be-
cause the regular income Of the state
g fund was being rapidly depleted.
The second one came during the STATE
: convention Of the American Legion las
a September About IS were present a.
a each affair. The vouchers showed tina
s21s20 was paid to the New Haven Ho
n tel Co. owner Of the Hotel Taft. ans
a that SIS additional was paid for dec
t orations at the hotel.
The audit OF Butterworth's books GOV
$ cred the period from February. 1920, Il
December 81, 1921. 1t showed tina
1901, 906O7 was paid out to benehciar
n les during that period and that tota
g operating expenses were S14.so6.07, in
7 Guiding the $500 withheld by Butter
Il worth as salary, without authority. &C
cording to Judge Msltbie's memorandum
n of decision denying a motion to dis
solve restraining Butterworth from tax
q ing $500 month salary out Of tn
"a fund.
"a The auditors did not 20 into the legal
ity of the different expenditures mad
:. by Butterworth. being concerned chief
), in the method OF bookkeeping and dis
bursements employed In Butterworth'
/ office. They reported that the bookkeer
10 ing methods were excellent and the Al
- ing system very good, and made n
- criticism Of the banking of the none!
:, I've have 'endeavored to show clesrl
all expenditures from the fund under III
). separate headings In order that you ma
- be able to Judge for yourself the lega'
ity Of any or all Of them" says the n
port.
Accompanying figures reveM tina
Clarence Guinan," presumably the pre-
Il ent state adjutant Of the legion, r
or ceived SS25 from the state fund. So;
ne throtwgh Butterworths office direct an
ne 5000 through the New Haven local o
ell fee
o. Buttedworth's regular office force con
w sists of himself, a bookkeeper and a
ch sistant. fling clark and stenogrspl
ns er. The auditors report shows that Il
o. following have been paid the amour
r indicated to total of s6,s43.2s for won
In In Butterworth's office: F. S. Butte
ny cry s77o.17, H. NJ. Reynolds s1,o24.5o.
Bartini s287.50, Ruth Lynch 1854. Do
sci othy Somers SIS - Kinney. $es2
or Mrs. ]. Dyer s4s.2s. Anna ]. Doyle sc
r. Genevieve Adams ss.54. z. Bloombe
C. So, G. Hitler $40 - Bradley ses.e
'r- Harrite True 5000. NJ E. Frey s45
is, - Westerfeit 1855, F. S. Pitkin 5:
ay Lillian Stanley s31.1s. C. L. Turbe
he s35.25, Allen Barber $3.50, Clarent
Guinan 1925, stenographers' payr'
nd S935.5s, A C. Mix Sss
w. The New Haven Hotel Co. item I
'ut the buffet luncheons is listed under I
W heading OF general expense" the 9th
ad item of which are s2445s for tips
in Butterworth to Hartford and New Yo
-o- and one trip to Washington $40 paid
lc- stenographer, Benson; 81 to a stenc
eel rapher James NJ. Quinn; 81 to one Chi
Williams and $11.2o to W. P. Seely 1
lon travel.
nd Garage rent Of s3s.o5 was charr
mt up to the state fund as a part of 1
ING Hartford expense. The money was D;
to the Chapel street garage, but