The Washington times., 1926-04-24
Commissioner Jennings
Usefulness Destroyed

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Whatever the outcome of Congressional Investigations
activities of Commissioner FENNING as lunacy
lawyer and guardian unfortunate former service in
the Hospital for the Insane here it Is now clearly
apparent usefulness Of Mr. Fennng high official
of the District of Columbia has been destroyed
No future developments likely restore to him the
full confidence good will Of the public Nothing is going
to satisfy the people of the District that any chosen
Commissioner for the District should be entangled in private
or professional connections that prevent him giving the time
that belongs the people Public service is public trust
The whoehearted public all active professional
or business that take his time and which, above
all else may impossible for him to do his full duty
his position.
Included the population Of Washington Thousands of
former and their families No matter the law
hes implicitly authorized the making Of fortunes from the
misfortunes mentally incapacitated there most
bitter feeling among exservice that the law did not
contemplate should be such monopoly Of guardian
ship been shows wholesale business from which all
human feeling is practically removed. "
The District Of Columbia law lunacy guardianship
b founded upon the presumption that the guardian Of
lunatic shall and will be close relative who will only
protect the Of the afflicted person. but fire.
quenty him look after his human needs displaying
the human sympathy should have for those whose minds
are deranged .k.t.&f1. ~ .,....tsIs
Instead of there having been any sympathy this
professional guardianship business built up by Mr. Fennng
outstanding shame has been the cold busnesske col
lection of the highest possible commissions allowed by the
law Whether the lonely unf0rtunates needed friendly word
kindly touch has mattered nothing They in the
hospital for the apparently for other purpose than
that the little monies owing to them BY the Government
should enrich Others
The whole thing has an atmosphere about it, that viii not
forgotten This community composed of human beings
kindly feelings people viii accept the theory
exsodiers shall be the victims exploitation
under gue Of the law approval of officials Of the
Veterans Bureau who to be mainly interested in drawing
the largest salaries they possibly get.
President Coolidge is doubt making sharp inventory
Of the developments brought by Representative Blanton
He win undoubtedly sense the universal feeling Of
among service all the country to what has
been happening unfortunate former soldiers White
House spokesman days ago gave the information
before Commissioner Fennng named to his position
he told the President that he acting guardian in these
cases and that President did this
fct with Mr.. Jennings duties Commissioner Of the
District
Nobody in Washington believes Commissioner Fennng
before nomnated his present position told
necons the various personal and business raficaons
that inertwine in this whole thing Shifting responsibility
the President by friends Of the Commissioner is not likely
to sit well with the President
At any the President will eventually realize that Com
missioner Fennng is longer desired public servant
by the people Of Washington and that nothing happen
which will restore Mr. Fenning to the confidence he must
have to properly function District Commissioner
The President also find he desires that Mr. Fennng
has brought about friction in the District Building that is
causing reparable harm there His official attitude has
been such that he is minority Commissioner in all matters
coming before the Board Of Commissioners The other two
Commissioners who do have the and confidence of the
public do not work in harmony with their colleague and
not likely to do in the future under any circumstances
Mr. Fenning not be able to resign under fire The
President not wish to ask his resignation while he
under fire. but the cold fact stands that Mr. Fenning
highly unacceptable District people, who almost unan
IN the belief that his usefulness Commissioner