Evening star., 1926-04-22
All Members Present, But
Few Republicans, Rise to
Express Approval of Wide
Probe of Fenning Work.
DR.. WHITE INCLUDED
IN HOUR-lONG ATTACK
Representative Replies to Denun-
citation by Northwest Citizens for
His Action in Asking Impeach-
ment of Commissioner-Denies
Cowardliness in Drastic Step.

The House pledged itself today to
full and fair investigation of the
guardianship charges against District
Commissioner Frederick A. Fenning
in remarkable demonstration.
Alter Representative Blanton,
Democrat, of Texas. who has led the
offensive against Mr.. Fenning, had
vigorously discussed this subject for
more than an hour in the House, in
cluding in his attack DR.. William A.
White. director of St. Elizabeth's, he
appealed to the House as follows:
Il want all of you who are back
ing me in a proper investigation OF
this matter to stand up"
All Stand but About 20.
Promptly all of the Democratic
side arose, applauding. and most OF
those on the Republican side, not
mere than 20 Republican members
remaining in their seats. 1t was a
. very unusual procedure, and never
for more than 10 years has there
been a similar demonstration in the
House. Mr.. Blanton was vigorously
applauded r from both sides of the
chamber during his address
Mr.. Blanton gained the privilege
of the floor on a question of personal
privilege. He first offered headlines
from the Washington Post on a news.
paper article containing Edward F.
Colladay's denial of a statement made
in the House Non Monday by Mr..
Blanton. Chairman Smell of the rules
committee made point of order.
Says Headlines Accused.
Mr.. Blanton pointed out that the
headlines said his statement was false
and called the attention of the
Speaker to where the charge Is made
that my statement made here in the
House of Representatives in my repre-
sentative capacity was false. Then
I call the chairs attention to the
following, which appeared in The
Star:
When Mr.. Smell renewed his OBJ
lection Mr.. Blanton said, 1T has been
held by a uniform line of precedents
that where a member of the House is
charged with making a false state
ment in his representative capacity
it is privileged.
The Speaker sustained the point of
order. saying that:
The only thing that appears of
record is that this gentleman says
that the statement that he was in :
dicted is false and the statement that
he was in Jail is equally false. That
does not impute to the gentleman
from TeXas) some dishonorable
motive or purpose"
Quotes Star Article.
Judgment of the court here in the
District of Columbia to show that my
statement was absolutely true in every
particular"
The Speaker replied: THAT is a ques-
tion of fact. The only question for the
House TO decide is whether this state
ment in the newspapers affected the
gentleman in his capacity as a mem
her of the House or imputed motives
to him which were improper"
Mr.. Blanton then renewed his re-
quest for recognition under personal
privilege on another tack. He said:
''In The Washington Star of Tues
day. April 20 1926, appeared: 'Citi-
Zens denounce attack on Fenning;
Northwest group brands accuser un-
American and cowardly.' Then 1t
says: We deplore and denounce as
un.American, unpatriOtic and op-
!oSeQ 10 all tnS IdWS VI lnc
Impeachment l made of Mr.. Fen
ming
II submit it is not required that the
article mention my narNe, but under
the precedents of the House any state
ment which singles out some one with
out mentioning him by innuendo or
otherwise, which imputes motives that
affect a person in his standing or af-
feet his integrity is question Of priv
ilege. 1t is we'll known to every one
in this House and to every one in this
city that / am the one who preferred
impeachment charges in this matter
and this paper states that was un-
American, unpatriotic and cowardly.
"It imputes this motive to the one
who preferred impea chment charges
against Mr.. Fenning. When a mem.
her in his representative capacity
presents impeachment charges he
certainly cannot be charged with being
unpatriotic or with doing a cowardly
act"
The Speaker read the article in
question. stating: This is a part of a
resolution adopted by the Northwest
suburban Citizens Association The
chair thinks that, while the gentleman
from Texas Is not mentioned specifi-
cally. 1t is the plain intention to
charge that any member of the House
who made these charges, whether
they are true in fact or not. was un-
patriotic and insulted the dignity of
the House. The chair thinks that
founds question or privilege
BlantOn Begins Attack.
Mr.. Blanton took the floor amid
vigorous applause. Opening his at
tack on Commissioner Fenning and
Dir. White, he said:
II have shown that for % years
continuously DR.. William A. White,
who is the superintendent of st.
k;lizabeth's Hospital for the Insane,
has confederated with Frederick A.
Fenning and has named him com.
mittee in every single petition he has
tiled. He was not able to name one
other person whom he had ever
named as committee or recommended
* committee other than Mr.. Fenning
in % long years