Evening star., 1926-04-16
JENNINGS LETTER TO MADDEN, j..
REPLYING TO BLANTON CHARGES
Commissioner Makes Public Correspondence With
Texas Representative i'm Detailed Answers
to All Accusations.

DIR. White do not know that L
| recall any case where the patients
wishes have governed the situation,
but there have been a number OF cases
where the wishes of relatives have.
| We never make any objection to any
one whom the relatives desire to have
designated.
The Chairman-Doctor, when this
petition is prepared is there nomina.
ton OF some particular person for
guardian?
DR.. White--In the petition?
The Chairman-YeS.
DR.. White-Yes, sir; Mr.. Fenning
has usually been mentioned in the Pc
tition.
Mr.. Smyser-Why? Why is he
usually mentioned?
DR.. White-I will tell you, sir. Be.
fore 1 came to the hospital the Ques'
ton of the appointment Of guardians
was taken up by DR.. Richardson with
the Interior Department, and was
gone over at great length, and subse.
quently when ] came took II UP
with the Interior Department, and, the
necessity for a guardian being evident
in considerable number of cases and
the undesirability Of having the super
intendent act as guardian, OF course,
made it necessary.
The chairman-Let me interrupt
you right there. Had the superintend-
ent. often acted as guardian in other
cases before you came there?
Worked for Nothing.
DIR. White-I think DR.. Richardson
objected very seriously to acting as
guardian, and should object, too.
would not want to do II. I not only
would not want the additional work.
but l do not think II would hardly
be proper function for me to as
sumo. 1t was suggested then by the
department, and concurred in by DIR.
Richardson then and by myself after
ward. that some responsible and prop
er legal man in the District might be
generally designated to do that work.
The reason for designating one man
rather than designating a different
person each time is that there are
great many people who have very
small amounts of money. and if a
guardian was appointed who was very
stringent in getting his portion Of the
money allowed him under the faw the
patient oftentimes would not have
practically anything left. Mr.. Fenning
has acted in number Of cases, and
In considerable number of cases he
has charged the minimum fees, and he
has often done work for nothing. He
can afford TO do that if he gets a con-
siderable number of cases, but if a sin.
gle case Of that sort were given to a
man who had not perhaps the advan.
tage OF having the pay from some
other cases that amounted to some
thing he maybe would not do it.
The chairman-Did you know Mr..
Fenning before you came here?
DR.. White-No, sir.
The chairman-Had he been ap.
pointed guardian in several cases?
Or. White-Before I came?
The chairman-Yes.
DR.. White-Yes, sir. He was act.
ing in that CAPACITY. as guardian, in
a number of cases.
Accounts Are Praised.
Not only does the foregoing show
that 1t was with the approval of the
Interior Department, but my integrity
with respect to these cases and my
standing at the bar was In evidence
before the committee 20 years ago in
the testimony of Col. James G. Payne,
then and for 20 years preceding the
auditor of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia. From Col
Payne's testimony this excerpt is
made:
The acting chairman-Up to this
time, in the discharge of his duty
as committee, what have you discov-
cred by way Of irregularity II any
thing?
Mr.. Payne-Not anything At all.
Mr.. Jennings accounts are very well
kept. All Of his claims Of credit for
expenditures are accounted for by
vouchers in proper form, and his
care for the lunatic. and attention
to his wants and providing him with
q necessary outfit and clothing. He