New Britain herald., 1925-11-19
D. A. Y. HEAD HITS
At CITY PARS|MONY
McKenna Refers to "Niggardly
Attitude' in Common Council
NOTHING FOR EX-WARRIORS

lect by Local Goyernment--Coun-
Gil Tosses Letter In Waste Basket.
Criticising the common council for
Its attitude to the rebatement Of car
nlval fees for the Veterans OF For
eign Wars and claiming that they
did not have the slightest consider
alton for the men who fought, bled
and died for their country, James
ID. McKenna, state commander of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in a
letter to the council last night,
brought out several facts which he
cd before the council members took
"niggardly attitude" on the mat
ter. He wrote as member Of the
council of administration. Veterans
Of Foreign Wars.
Immediately after the reading Of
the letter by the city clerk, Council
man Edward II. Christ moved to
have the letter rejected, and not
printed In the records of the meet
ing. His motion passed by a large
vote.
This was the result Of a decision
by the board of aldermen at a meet
ing held about month ago that the
license fees Of the Y. NJ. T. A. & B..
society. the kosciusko post and the
Veterans OF Foreign Wars should not
he rebated. OF the six aldermen only
three voted. Aldermen Judd and
Johnson voting against the rebate
Nent. and Alderman Maerz voting
lor it. Aldermen Dehm and Falk did
not vote, and Alderman Karpinski
. vas not present.
Commander McKenna's communi-
cation TO the council follows:
| The Mayor and Common Council,
city Of New Britain,
New Britain, Connecticut.
Gentlemen:
The niggardly attitude assumed
by certain members of the Common
Council, when the question of re
hitting the fee in connection with 1
carnival held under the auspices o,
he local post of the Veterans oI
Foreign Wars last summer was
brought up, has up to the present
time gone unchallenged.
The writer is of the opinion that
il these men had the slightest con.
sideration for the men who fought
bled, and died, they could not have
acted as they did in refusing this pc.
tition. l am referring in particular
to the committee members who sub.
mitted the recommendation to the
Common Council. For the present
however, l do not propose TO rub j
in but merely 10 present a few
facts that even they may be able tC
understand.
First, what has the City OF New
Britain done for the wounded an(
disabled veterans?
with the exception Of maintain
ing a bureau for the purpose Of as
sisting the veterans in making
claims against the government
NOTHING. In fact, they spent 1
great deal more on the Spaniard
who were unloaded onto the city
The cost Of maintaining and deport
ing will be found In the Municipa
Record in I922-2S-24, should yo
care TO compare.
What has the Veterans OF Foreig
Wars done for the city? Through it
)iaison service. 1t has secured the ad
judication OF numerous claim
against the government, most G
them of a bloblem type that wer
referred TO them after every othe
agency had failed. The money re
ccivcd by claimants as direct re
suit of the liaison activities totalle
thousands Of dollars, and in n grea
many cases the veterans were dest
tute. The receipt of this money re
lievcd the city Of the expense
caring for these men. During III
four months ending October 5
1925, alone, the Veterans OF Foreig
, Wars have secured for local veteran
= in excess of fifteen thousand dollar
in awards, after every other agenc
had failed.
In order that even the aforemer
! toned committee may understand,
/ will cite a typical case, referring
S the soldier as Comrade Y.
( "Comrade Y was stationed in
= southern camp, and was discharge
' after the armistice, returning TO h
s home in New Britain. About thre
$ years ago he was committed to III
Norwich state hospital for insan
and has to date cost the city direc
Z ly about four hundred dollars, fC
his care in that institution. Tt
i, Municipal Home Service bureau an
! other agencies attempted to conne'
, his disability with his service, an
! failed. The case was denied by II
, Central Board OF Appeals of II
United States Veterans bureau.
THE claim was finally referred
, the liaison representative of the We
Grams of Foreign Wars and as a r.
. suit, the man received cash settl'
ment OF twenty-five hundred dollar
and eighty dollars per month Gu
rent award. The government hi
assumed responsibility for his car
and in this manner the city Of Ne
Britain will save S156.4s each yea
and in addition can secure a refuT
1 of the four hundred dollars he h
cost them since he has been at No
wich. Also, the mans father W
4 be refunded the money he has HI
TO pay in addition.
t THE net result OF the Veterans
Foreign Wars interest in this ca