Evening star., 1926-05-26
Baldwin Testifies Regarding
Commissioners Attitude
Toward Insurance Bill.
BLANTON'S QUESTIONING
DRAWS HOGAN'S FIRE
Witness Says He Was Told to
Wait Until Differences on
Measure Were Ended.


ings on Impeachment charges brought
by Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Texas, against Commissioner Frede.
rick A. Fenning. the special subcom-
mittee Of the House judiciary com
mittee today heard three witnesses
only one of whom gave direct evidence
against the Commissioner
Thomas NJ Baldwin, jr. superin.
tendent of insurance of the District
Government, under direct examination
by Mr.. Blanton. declared insurance
companies had opposed a bill now in
the Senate District committee and
that the Insurance Club had obtained
a hearing before Mr.. Fenning. Mr..
Baldwin said he endorsed and sup
ported the bill and had appeared be-
fore both the Senate and House Dis
trict committees. After the audience
with the club, Mr.. Baldwin testified,
Commissioner Fenning told me had
better not appear before the Senate
committee until some differences had
been ironed out and 1 obeyed orders"
Hogan Raises Objections.
Mr.. Blanton experienced some diff
ficulty in leading the witness up t.
this declaration. owing to the objec-
tions to his method Of questioning by
Frank J. Hogan, chief counsel for
Mr.. Fenning.
After recalling that since Mr.. Fen
ming took the oath Of office Com
missioner there has been pending n
insurance measure Ito protect the
people from improper practices by In
surance compa nies,' Mr.. RIanton
asked the witness:
State whether Mr.. Fenning has
retarded the bill" This was objected
to by Mr.. Hogan.
state whether instructions were
given you to cease interest in the
bill" Again Mr.. Hogan objected.
We'll, then. If the Commissioner
gave you any instructions about the
bill. state what he told you," said
Mr.. Blanton.
IT don't like to give this testi-
mony." said Mr.. Baldwin.
But this IL a time when you've
got to give 1t. whether it's against
your superior or not"
Fenning Attorney Concurs.
Chairman Dyer Of the subcom-
mittee. Republican. Missouri. as
sured the witness he need not be
reluctant and Mr.. Hogan said.
Please go ahead. Mr.. Baldwin"
The witness. rising from his chair.
stated there had been some objec-
ton to the bill as drawn by Mr..
Blanton, on the part of stock. fire
and surety companies. A man from
New York named Doyle, he added,
objected to all the provisions of il
and he got the Insurance Club here
to appear before Mr.. Fenning.
col Fenning then told me l had
better not appear before the commit
tee until some differences had been
ironed out, and I obeyed orders" de-
clared Mr.. Baldwin.
Mr.. Blanton stated that the minority
and majority members Of the COM
mittee had ironed out the differences
and asked the witness:
Has Fenning ever withdrawn the
instructions he gave you?"
No" replied Mr.. Baldwin
Asks About Later Steps.
Has he done anything to get
Congress and the companies to-
gether on the bill?"
Mr.. Hogan objected, explaining
Its a little hard for lawyer trained
in law to sit here and listen to those
questions
Mr.. Blanton said he had been in
Congress nine years and had for
gotten a little about the procedure
in courts.
In reframing his question Mr..
Blanton said: After Fenning said
you'd better not go before"
There was no such statement as
better not co." insisted Mr.. Hogan,
and when Mr.. Blanton wanted to turn
back in the record the committee as
sured him 1t wasn't necessary.
At the outset of his testimony Mr..
Baldwin stated that Mr.. Fenning had
held licenses as solicitor in several
bonding companies, but that all of
them had expired May l of this year
and had not been renewed.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Hogan
Mr.. Baldwin said the Board of Com
missioners in session had approved
the insurance bill and had given him
a copy of the letter on the matter
asked: WAS that letter dated before
Fenning had that conversation with
you?"
YES" replied the witness.
There has been no approval OF
the bill by the Board of Commission
ers since then?"
mo"
Retired Attorney Heard.
H. P. Fellows, ~ years old. a re-
tired attorney of Boston, was called
by Mr. Blanton, who explained to the
witness there had been placed in evi-
dence letters written by Mr.. Fenning
to Miss E. S. Kelly Offering to Sc
cure $1,S00 due her husband and ac-
cepting no fee until payment by the
Government.
Mr.. Fellows was Miss Kelly's coun-
sci. Mr.. Blanton also referred to other
letters he presented several days ago.
in which Mr.. Fenning offered to pay
Mr.. Fellows one.third of the 20 per
cent contingent fee as associate coun-
sci. This correspondence was dated in
1911 and the witness declared that
since that time he never received a
report from Mr.. Fenning, never heard
whether the claim was collected and
imagined it still is pending.
Mr.. Hogan developed that Mr.. Eel
lows wrote Mr.. Fenning that there
should be a division of fees and that
the latter agreed.
Clarkson Greer Of the Veterans Bu-
reau gave testimony concerning his
Identification of a body taken from
the Tidal Basin early this year, as be-
ing that of Bernard Mertie, a Bureau