Evening star., 1926-03-30
Declares He Is Ready to
Answer Every Criticism
or Accusation.
HOUSE D. c. COMMITTEE
TO DECIDE TOMORROW
Zihlman to Bring Up Question OF
Observation-Disclosures
Explains His Silence.

Commissioner Frederick A. Fenning
announced today that he would vel
come a congressional investigation Of
his legal activities before and since
becoming Commissioner. as we'll as an
investigation to his administration of
the affairs of the District, and went
SO far as to urge that such an IN
vestigation he made
Throughout the severe attack that
has been made upon him in Congress.
notably by Representative Blanton,
Democrat, Texas, Commissioner Fen
ming has maintained a silence. other
than TO deny any wrongdoing, but he
has arrived at the conclusion that the
time has come now when these
charges against him. based on his
guardianship of insane veterans,
should be Investigated and that he
should be given an opportunity TO
defend himself
In making known his decision to
insist upon an investigation. Mr..
Fenning said today that he is per
fectly confident of the outcome and
that in justice to himself and to the
citizens of this city. as we'll as TO
PfeSldenJ IOoI4uBt. WIZ appOAIIIcN
him, the whole matter should be stfted
to the bottom.
Says He Can Answer Charges.
Commissioner Fenning added that
he is in a position TO fully and com
pletelv answer satisfactorily every
possible charge and criticism and that
he shall be glad to go before any
board of inquiry of the House or
Senate and answer any and all Ques-
tions He explained that considerable
importance has been attached by
those Representatives who have been
attacking him to his guardianship in
the case of Fred c. Hall. World War
veteran.
Mr.. Fenning stated that the papers
in the Hall case have been examined
by more than one member of Congress,
and that Representative Hammer.
Democrat of North Carolina. who in
troduced one of the two resolutions in
the House calling for a congressional
investigation, stated on the floor that
after examining the Hall records he
was satisfied in his own mind that
everything was regular and proper.
Mr.. Fenning intimated that when
other cases which have been men
toned have been examined or ex-
planned. they too. will be found to be
satisfactory.
When asked today regarding his
views upon an investigation Of his
activities Mr.. Fenning said that it
was natural for any public officer to
ponder a long time over the pOssibil-
ity of an investigation, and that he
had not discussed his case in print be
cause he deemed it wiser. to remain
silent and TO save his defense until
o n
Wants Further Data.
Chairman Smell of the rules com
mittee said today that he would like
TO have further information regard
ing complaints about the official con-
duct of Commissioner Fenning or
against the alleged mispraCtice in any
District institution before taking
action upon the Blanton and Ham
mer resolution for an investigation
now pending before his committee.
This same disposition was expressed
bv other members of the rules com
n1ittee. intimatinE that they thought
a preliminary investigation 10 es-
tahlish the grounds which would
Justify a real thorough compulsory
Investigation should he made either
by the House District committee or
Il subcommittee of the House District
committee.
Chairman Zihlman. Representative
Reed. Republican of Illinois, and other
members of the District committee in
diCated today that this matter might
he taken up in the House District
committee tomorrow and an attempt
made to authorize a subcommittee To
make a preliminary investigation. 10
see how much ground there was FOR
criticism which has come to many
members of Congress that there is
something wrong in the administration
of the District government.
Representative Blanton declared em-
pha tically today that he will oppose
any effort to have any investigation
of Commissioner Fenning or the ad-
ninistration of District institutions
made by the House District commit
tee. He will demand that any investi-
CATION shall be made by a committee
with authority to subpoena witnesses
and documents. to administer oaths
and to compel witnesses to answer any
and all questions incident to the sub
ject matter of the investigation.
Authority Is Questioned.
This raised the question whether
the District committee has sufficient
authority to pursue an investigation
of this kln0. CHAIRMAN amman. rep
resentative Reed and former members
of the District committee expressed
confidence that the District commit
tee has sufficient authority and that it
would want 10 summon no witnesses,
but would be willing to testify. In
other words they expressed certainty
that no officials would refuse TO tes-
tify fully if invited before the COM
mttee.
This raised the question whether the
District committee ought not to be
given broader and more positive au-
thoritv so that it could compel wit
nesses and make exhaustive and re-
liable investigation of any subject af
fecting the conduct of District bust
ness which is believed should be look
ed into.
Personal friends of Commissioner
Fenning who have resented what
they described as the viciousness of
some of the attacks that have been
made upon the Commissioner on the
floor of Congress, when they learned
today that the Commissioner had
sent word to friends of his at the
Capitol that he wanted the House TO
go ahead and investigate him, express.
ed themselves as being highly pleased
with this step and stated that there
was no doubt in their minds about
the outcome of the inquiry.
e Nft fri