Evening star., 1926-03-23
Wants Joint Committee to
Inquire Into Seven Insti-
tuti0nS in DC.
SENATOR KING PROPOSES
WIDE INVESTIGATION HERE
Would Have Another Body Look
Into Functioinng Of District
Departments.

Two Investigations into various Dis
trict affairs were proposed today in
Congress.
Senator King, in the Senate, an
nounced his intention to introduce a
resolution for a joint inquiry in the
activities of various District depart
ments.
Representative Blanton Of Texas. in
the House, introduced concurrent
resolution which he said was designed
to bring out all facts in connection
with Commissioner Jennings guar
dianship of insane beneficiaries of the
Veterans Bureau at St. Elizabeth s
Hospital.
Asks Joint Committee.
Mr.. Blanton's resolution calls for
appointment of a special joint COM
mittee to investigate certain institu-
tions in and connected with the Dis
trict of Columbia. He also put in the
record today a report he has received
from Robert L. Davis. auditor Of the
District Supreme Court, containing a
list of 1872 cases In which Frederick
A. Fenning was acting as guardian
on May 16, 1925, when the last audit
of such cases was made. Mr.. Blanton
called attention to the fact that the
last number on this list Is more than
500 less than the number of Mr.. Fen
ning's most recent cases on the dock
ct of the court.
The Blanton resolution introduced
today proposes a special joint COM
mittee of eight members. five to be
appointed by the Speaker Of the
House, to be selected from the House
District committee, and three to be
appointed by the President of the
Senate. to be selected from the Senate
District committee, which joint com.
mittee would have authority to sit
during the recess and after the ad-
journment of Congress.
He provides that this joint COM
mittee shall have power and author
ity to swear witnesses and require
the production of papers, books. rec
ords. and documentary evidence con-
cerning the institutions to be investi-
gated.
Seven Institutions on List.
These institutions are Gallinger
Municipal Hospital, the House Of De-
tention, st. Elizabeth's Hospital. the
Juvenile Court. the Supreme Court of
the District. the National Training
School for Boys. the National Train
ing School for Girls.
The resolution provides also for an
investigation of the custom and
practice of committing persons alleged
to be of unsound mind to insane
asylums pursued by the Metropolitan
sod
ers of the District Of Columbia, the
ment and the Department Of Justice.
The proposed joint committee would
report its findings to Congress at the
earliest date practicable. It's expenses
would be paid half and half out of the
contingent fund of the Senate and
the contingent fund of the House.
In announcing his intentions today
Senator King declared that he had in
mind an inquiry by a joint subcom-
mittee of the Senate and House that
would study the municipal conditions
'in a friendly and constructive way.
and not with a view to tearing down."
Many Complaints Made.
Your streets are in bad condition, :,
Senator King went on. THE traffic
situation has been criticized and de-
Tended, and there may be arguments
on both sides. 1 have had a number
of complaints about the method Of
committing children as wards of the
Juvenile Court, and 1 also hear COM
plants about. members Of the police
department getting into trouble.
II think that If Congress plans to
adjourn at an early date, a subcom-
mittee Of the Senate and House should
remain here for two or three weeks
and look into these various activities
of the municipal government. to see
what can be DONE"