Evening star., 1925-04-24
VETERAN CLUB SUIT:
ARGUMENTS HEARD
National Legion Auxiliary
Seeks to Close District
Body's Establishment.

Justice HitZ OF the District Suprems
Court today heard arguments of couns
sci on the disa greement between the
national and District auxiliaries Of the
American Legion over continuing the
service club at 21S Third street. Mrs
Irene Arnold, president Of the national
auxiliary, brought suit against Mrs.
Marguerite G. Peckham and four
others. who are continuing to run the
service club after a resolution by the
national body for its discontinuance.
Mrs. Peckham and her associates cons
tend the club was approved at the
convention of the national auxiliary
last September, and that the plaintiffs
have no right to interfere in its mans
agement. The court took the matter
under advisement and will announce
decision later.
Through Attorney John S. Barbour
Mrs. Peckham, her husband, Frank La
Peckham; Maj. Charles D. Barrett,
United States Marine Corps; Roberta
Fawcett and Margaret Franklin. the
defendants, filed an answer with corr
roborating affidavits filing so types
written pages in which the organizas
ton of the service club, its manage
ment and objects are set out in greah
detail Mr.. Barbour asserted that ire
reparable injury would be done to a
laudable enterprise for the benefit of
ex-service men If the court granted
the injunction asked by Attorneys
Chamberlin. Smith & Bennett on be.
half of Mrs. Arnold and her associates
of the national body.
Extravaganza is Charged.
Attorney John Lewis Smith. for the
national auxiliary. claimed that the
club has been extrava gantly operated
and that a resolution had been passed
to close it. There is no longer any
authority, he asserted for the dee
PENDANTS to continue the club and rud
up debts in the name of the legion or
the national auxiliary.
Combating this claim. Attorney
Barbour, for the defendants. pointed
out that since last June only about
81, 100 had been expended in running
the club, of which $500 had been EXP
pended for coal, of which enough rAs
mains to run well into next Winteh
In the interval gifts have been rec
ceived totaling $4S1, he said. leaving
an expenditure of less than $50 of
the funds donated by the National
Auxiliary. There is now on hand
$3.50, the lawyer said.
Tells of Benefits.
Mr.. Barbour told the court of the
splendid work being done for the
veterans. He said they maintained
rooms for their accommodationsS
| meeting places for posts of the AmerS
| lean Legion and for the auxiliary. al
well as parlors and lounges Off visius
| ors. Those benefiting from the clu9
include men seeking claims againsS
| the Veterans Bureau, those disc
charged from hospitals and awaiting
transportation to hospitals or chanss
| ing hospitals. An average of p mep
are accommodated each night, the
lawyer said.
The club now has three dormitoriesS
containing 10 free beds; 5 rooms ah
nominal rates for those able TO pays
and expects soon to increase aCCons
| modations to 80 free beds and 20 pa y
! beds, and to have two open air aparts
ments for tubercular or sassed paa
| tents, it was explained.
| Attorney Smith insisted. in replya
that nearly $1,000 has been collected
1 for the service club, and only $1,000
remains unexpended, since last Junes
He claimed the question before thA
court was the simple one of a legal
right of the national body to conduct
| its own affairs. and said II II had
decided to close the service club ID
has the right to do so.