Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-07
HINES OFFERS PLAN
TO LIMIT GUARDIANS
TO FIVE VETERANS
fContinued from First PsgeD


had a right to audit the accounts be
fore they are passed, we feel We could
do ething.
What do vou think of making The
Veterans bureau the guardian Of e.
tales Of war veterans asked Mr..
Rankin.
1T could be handled" said Gen.
Hines.
III 81 hadn't been for the institu-
tional awards made to the veterans
in hospitals by the bur eau. whereby
the bureau managed the wards AZ
fairs Mr.. F'enning would be getting
$50 900 q year out OF these estates.
sal Id Mr.. Rankin. He sdmiis he sees
them only once in two weeks and that
he writes to the hospital twice 8 wear
when they want clothes. II seems to
me that the Veterans Bureau could
attend to the duties just as well ana
save these boys the expense.
Could Save Estates.
only IN the District of columbia F."
added Gen. Hines. We have sn en-
tirelv separate problem heTe. see
" here the bureau could save these
estates with minimum cost 10 the
IL Congress 80 desires.
Mr.. Luce questioned the accuracy
OF any move that would supplant the
present system of g1ardla nships IN
The District He pointed to the abil'
itv OF Auditor Herbert l.. Davis OF the
District Supreme Court. whose duties
he added. would he taken over bv
subordinate emplove OF the veterans
Bureau.
Without presuming TO criticize
- ARA
Gen. Hines at this point emphs sized
that there can be no divided resp"n-
sibilltv as there now exists. III must
he decided definitely hat either the
courts or the bureau VIII he respon-
sibIe entirely. | have suggested that
as test OF this proposition In the
District of Columbia ! ne gwen dls-
erection in these eases where sIaru-
ians do not function. stop payments
of checks aud put up machinery I"
take over the case altogether.
Would Limit Expense.
The witness explained that the
auditor of the court Is rot able !"
investigate the personal con'ac'
maintained by the guardian with his
ward. hut is concerned only with the
financial side we have no criti-
cism Of the court or the auditor. he
81 i'd. but matters are presented 70
them in way know no'hirG about.
n IT IL the desire Of Congress further
TO conserve the estates ny limiting
expenses. then the bureau is wiling
to undertake that task. Here is the
best place to make the real test.
Il want YOU to understand. Mr..
.uce said. getting back TO the nuts-
tion OF present management Of es-
tates by private guardians. that ]
balk at cutting down the estates by
one-f fourth through Government, con-
troll"
They would earn just az much at
Az per cent investment on bonds
where there ~ 10 tax or commission
fees" replied Mr.. Browning.
Mr.. BuIwinkle wanted to know the
bureaus position on sutopsieS on
veterans and the witness declared
such post norton examinations could
not he held without the con
sent of relatives. The matter should
he very carefully guarded and ]
think 1t is" The general added that
any request to the bureau for exit
bition of insane veterans before
medical classes would be disap-
proved
Housed With Violently Insane.
ITS my contention that Mr.. Fen
ming is not maintaining the SUM-
cient personal touch by visiting his
wards once every two weeks. said
Mr.. Rankin. And they are housed
In the same places with violently in
sane persons.
Il agree with YOU said the direc-
tor. Starting last October the bU-
reau made efforts to place all Its
Veterans in bureau institutions.
feel they should be put with ex-
service men and il is not a good
thing TO mix them with civilian In
sane. In our own hospitals they can
get more care. too-the best that
money can buy
Now Mr.. Fenning IL guardian for
a man in Wisconsin. another in Tus
koeee and another in Denmark. and
7 don't think ne Is maintaining the
proper personal contact" said Mr..
Rankin.
He wont he very long" aid the
general. because it is our policy to
get guardians appointed near them
Gen. Hines ia II your idea that
the Veterans Bureau should be the
guardian In the District of Column
bia?'
"Only in cases where We are able
to see that the guardian does not
take proper care of the wards and
expenditures are not In keeping with
what we believe to be proper the
witness replied At this point he
was asked to submit n draft of legls-
alton to cover the guardianship mat
ter In the District.
Judiciary Body Meets Tuesday.
The House Judiciary committee,
which yesterday was authorized by
the House to make an investiga ton
of the administration of Commits
sioner E'enn1ng. with broad powers.
will meet next Tuesday to reach an
agreement on procedure.
Members OF the judiciary commit
toe said today that in their opinion
these hearings will result in bros der
investigation to determine the gen
eraI attitude and tempers mental At
ness of Frederick A. F'enning for the
Office of District Commissioner and
questions Of ethical or unprofessional
practice. as we'll az any overt acts
contrary TO the letter of the law.