Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-19
AMERICAN LEGION VOTES
TO SUPPORT BUTTERWoRTH

The American Leginn of Connecticut
by vote Of its. executive committee, al
a meeting held. in Hartford Saturday,
has decided to combat the forces that
have been criticizing the administration
of the state fund for the relief of ex-
service men, and that have brought an
injunction proceeding in an attempt 20
restrain the legion state treasurer,
Frank S. Butterworth. OF New Haven.
from drawing salary OF $500 month
for his services in connection with the
fund. The meeting was presided over
by State Commander Clarence W. Sey-
mour of Hartford, and. besides the exc
cutive committee, the financial commit
tee, consisting of Treasurer Butter
worth, Judge William ]. Malone OF Bris-
toll and Major Morgan G. Buckley, Jr.,
of Hartford, was present. 1t is this
committee that administers the fund for
the legion.
| The following resolution was unani-
| mously passed at the meeting Satur-
day;
| Whereas: The American legion, Con-
neoticut department, has been admins
tering the state fund as the agent OF
| the. state board of control and in ac-
cordance with its direction and vote, and
whereas the right and the manner of so
doing as voted by said board of con-
| troll has been attacked b. writ and COM
plant dated December So 1921, in which
James D. McKenna of New Britain and
| Charles z. Lockhart of New Haven are
parties plaintiff on which complaint q
| temporary injunction has been granted
| restraining the treasurer of the legion
Connecticut department, from carrying
out the order of the board of control and
the purposes Of the act creating said
state fund.
Now, be it Voted, That the state
commander. and two members to be
named by him, constitute a COMMITTEES
which is hereby authorized and directec
to employ counsel on behalf Of the Amer
lean legion Connecticut department, tC
cooperate with the attorney general o.
Connecticut, - senting the state
board OF controI. IN defense of said &C
creating said state fund for the aid o.
Connecticut soldiers sailors and ma
rines Of the World war, and the issue.
raised in said writ and complaint
The meeting OF the executive com
m1ttee was a long one and it is said tina
the efforts to dIscrcdit Treasurer l8ut
terworth in his handling of the relic
fund were roundly denounced. Men
bers OF the legion expressed themselve
as particularly incenseG over alleged
/
published in a Hartford paper and salt
to be fostered by state Comptroller Har
vey P. BisseH. Comptroller Bissen ia
vigorously opposed the granting of ;
salary to the legion treasurer by tn
state board Of control and has refuse.
to act on the advice of Attorney Gen
eral Frank Healy who is a member o
the board of control, and also has re
fused to obey vote of the board all
thorizing the payment Of the salary
Comptroller BisseIl voted against tn
other three members Of the board-Gov
ernor Lake, Treasurer Gilpatric and AT
torney General Heaiy-saying that h
would not pay out the salary money VI
less ordered to do so by court.
: Statement Issued.
! The American legion executive com
mittee also authorized the publication c
; a statement issued by Treasurer But
terworth, Judge William ]. Malone an
Morgan G. BuAeley, Jr., wherein tn
treasurer says that for nine months tn
administration of the fund was carrie
on with the use of his office and furn
. / ture rent free. The statemen: also dc
clared that at present the legion
handling between 500 and 500 case
weekly in this state and about twent
casts III Olner states. AS many as
500 cases have been handled in a sing
, week, says the statement There Is no
a central Office staff of four besides tt
treasurer and the work Is done in or
room and half Of another. For mir
months of last year, $500. 900 was distrii
uted to thousands Of former service me
at an expense of per cent ii
amount disoursed in spite of the nece!
sity for making an investigation Of eac
case. I'VE will be glad to have OF
record correctly presented to the public
says the committee in this statement.
Malone and Ellsworth.
Commander Seymour has appointe
Oliver Ellsworth Of Portland and jude
William j. Malone of Bristol to act wit
him as the committee to engage couns
in the legion's case against the temper
airy injunction restraining Treasure
Butterworth from collecting a salar
for his work In connection with II
fund.
At Comptroller Bissells direction, tn
state auditors are at present going ov,
the books of the legian office in Ne
Haven and on Saturday, Treasurer Blu
terworth said that he welcomed Il
fullest investigation into the ad7nin6!
tration Of the fund.