Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-11
STEPHAN MOVES
TO END FUND ROW
Sets Machinery in Motion for
Return of Money to
Guard Units.

Machinery for expenditure of the So
called "disbanded unit fund" of the
National Guard of the District of Co
lumbia. a gift to units of the local Ma
tional Guard from the World War, has
been provided for in general order
Just issued by Mai. Gen. Anton Stephan.
The fund now amounts to $2,23406
and is made up of amounts varying
from S25 to 5000, paid by checks to
commanding officers of the units which
were designated as successor units 10
World War organizations, and which
49, ::---: ::sto a general fund, by or
ders from the local brigade headquar-
tiers.
When the war ended and National
Guard units dispersed, a number OF
them had much money in their COM
panv funds, contributed by the men.
The War Department issued orders that
this money would be distributed to units
designated as successors to the World
War units. The general fund was APP
portioned on the basis OF the amounts
which the World War units took into
service with them when called to the
colorS.
Opposition Was Expressed.
The finance officer of the Army made
GERS of units of the local Guard, but
instead of being allowed to put them in
their company funds, as apparently was
the intention of the War Department.
the local Guard officials required the
company officers to indorSe the checks
and the money was placed in general
fund. Some opposition was expressed by
some of the unit commanders at the
time. but they were required to obey the
orders.
The new order issued by Gen. Stephan
deSignates company, battery and detach-
ment commanders of the respective or
CARNATIONS having an equity in the tund
as council for its administration.
Expenditures from the fund now may be
made on a vote of this council, but
only after approval. in writing, by the
commanding general.
Previous attempts of one company to
use the fund to buy material Tor COM
pany use have been met with obstacles
from headquarters and, although the
property was purchased. the brigade
headquarters has consistently refused to
allow the expenditure of the money.
The commanding officer. Capt. George
w. johns. Company F. l2lst Engineers.
has been directed to pay the money
from the regular company fund, but
there is not enough, the bill Of the local
firm being $211.
Claimed Verbal Approval.
The money was used for the purchase
of dishes decorated with the Engineers
crest for the company. Those familiar
with the case say that Capt. Johns OBJ
tanned the verbal approval of the COM
manding general to use the fund for
this purpose and went ahead and made
the contract for the dishes. After The
purchase a formal, written request was
sent to headquarters, and it was dlsap-
proved. the papers stating that the COM
manding general did not recollect CIV
ing his approval for the purchase from
the disbanded unit fund.
Both Capt. Johns and his lieutenant,
John D. Powers, have both made state
ments that they took the matter up
with Gen. Stephan last January and
at that time, they say, the commanding
general gave his approval to the pur-
chase. verbally, but Gen. Stephan denies
this now in the official record
Capt. Johns has been directed to take
the matter up with the firm with a
view to settlement and it was stated
that employees of the firm who handled
the purchase said to them that Gen.
Stephan gave his approval at the time.
However, according to the record, there
is statement from an employe of the
firm that the general at that time only
approved the extension of credit. It
was pointed out that had not the ap-
proval been given for the, use of the
disbanded unit fund belonging to Com
pany F at that time the purchase would
not have been made, as there was not
enough money in the company treasury
To nav sO large bill
This case still is pending and it is
probable that the question of paying for
the dishes will be submitted to the
council just appointed.