Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-06


when citizens visit their Capital
City ii is my hope that they will find
clean. well kept streets, safe to
pedestrians and to vehicles; parks IN
which the beauties Of nature can
5e enjoyed; police force courteous
and helpful and every attention given
to the preservation OF the public
health and the protection Of prop-
erty.
A short time after he took over
the affairs of Commissioners. Mr..
Fenning presented to the Board OF
Commissioners an order for the re-
ley, chief of the Traffic Bureau. and
the recommendation that Capt. =.
W. Brown, commanding the first
precinct. be appointed his successor.
The board acted unanimously and
Immediately a storm Of disapprovat
arose from many quarters. The Dis
trict Building was silent on the rea-
son for the change other than to
say It was in the interest of good
police administration. Subsequently
the Commissioner revealed before
congressional Investigations that In
spector Headley was mot the man
for the detaiP and that Traffic Di-
rector M. o. Eldridge had complained
tween the two offices.
appointment Was Confirmed.
Mr.. Fenning then left the city for a
vacation in Maine, and when he re-
turned the Headley incident had be-
come more or less dormant. AS he
was appointed to succeed Capt. James
r. Oyster, deceased, and his selection
made during the congressional recess,
Mr.. Fenning had to be confirmed by
the Senate. When Congress met in
December he. was confirmed.
While serving as Commissioner Mr..
Fenning also continued his legal du.
ties, for which he maintained an office
in the Evans Building. His law prac-
tice consisted almost entirely of act
ing as committee or guardian for the
person and estate of mentally incom-
petent individuals, OF whom more
than so were veterans Of the World
War. The total number Of wards he
possessed in his closing days as Com
missioner was upward Of 12O.
Although appointed by the District
Supreme Court to act in this nduciary
capacity, and although he was grant
ed compensation from the incomes Of
the wards estates by that tribunal,
this practice became the subject Of
congressional criticism and later
brought condemnation from the ma.
jority report OF the House judiciary
committee. which investigated inn
peachment charges brought against
him by Representative BIantor, Dem.
ocrat, Texas. In this investigation he
was exonerated Of any legal guilt, al
though the committee emphasized the
finding OF Justice Frederick i. Sid.
dons OF the District Supreme Court
that a self.bonding practice was con-
trary to law. In this practice Mr..
Fenning as agent for bonding com.
pany received 25 per cent OF the
premiums paid for his bond by the
wards estates. Since the opinion of
Justice Siddons, Mr.. Fenning has
taken steps to refund to the wards
these commissions.
Was Educated Here.
Mr.. Fenning was born October 23.
1874, and Is 81 years of age. He re.
cefved his education in the public
schools Of the District and was grad
uatad In law at the National Univer-
sity Law School, receiving the LII D.
degree In 1900. The following year
he was given the degree or LII. M.
At the time Of his attendance at the
law school he was employed in the
Pension once and In 1902 resigned
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