Evening star., 1926-03-19
MADDEN TO AWAIT
REPORT ON FENN|NC
Says Veterans Bureau Probe
Now Being Made of All
Phases of Case.

1T looks to me as if Mr.. Fen
ning's duties as District Commits
sioner would be more effective if he
confined his activities to the COM
missionership." Chairman Madden of
the House appropriations committee
said today, when asked what he pro-
posed to do following the statement
he made in the House yesterday that
he would investigate the charges
that Commissioner Fenning has been
receiving a considerable income from
acting as guardian for insane in
digent patients committed to St.
Elizabeth's Hospital while exercising
executive authority as a District
Commissioner.
Commissioner Fenning in the
meantime confined his comments on
the charges to the statement that Il
make it a policy never TO discuss
newspaper stories.
Veterans Report Delayed.
Mr.. Madden states that an inves-
tigation of this subject by the Vet
Grams Bureau has been concluded.
and that announcement will be made
very soon of the findings. The an
nouncement has been delayed by the
illness of Director Hines, it was
stated.
Until that report has been made.
and until facts are established, Mr.
Madden does not wish to take any
action which might appear IS criti
cism or attack upon Commissioner
Fenning.
MIR. Madden emphasized the fact
that he does not want to do an In
justice to any one. even while taking
whatever action he thinks is neces-
sary lin order that the integrity of
the public service shall be upheld"
Scope of Inquiry.
MIR. Madden said that the investi-
CATION by the Veterans Bureau is on
the question of the propriety and
Justice of Commissioner Jennings
acting as guardian and receiving
compensation, whether the compen.
sation is excessive, and whether 1t is
entirely proper for a District Com
missioner TO have this business. and
also whether he has any right to draw
funds from the Treasury other than
the funds he draws as District Com
missioner. In view of this investiga-
tion, Mr.. Madden said today that
any statement he might make would
be premature.
Mr.. Madden pointed out that the
other charge made in the House by
Representative Green. Democrat. of
Florida, that Commissioner Fenning
had refused to surrender guardian
shin of an insane man at the request
of member of Congress. has no
bearing on the case at all. He in
sisted that having been named as
guardian. il is Commissioner Fen
ninS's duty to perform that Office
and he should not surrender 1t at the
request of member of Congress and
that such charges should not be ex-
plotted.
Must Present All Facts.
He explained that he defended Com
missioner Jennings position yester-
day during the debate in the House,
because he thought those making the
attack were going out of their way.
but declared emphatically that this
ought not to stop presentation of all
the facts.
"If the Veterans Bureau investiga
tion is comprehensive. and l suppose it
goes into the question of the legal
right of Mr.. Fenning to perform the
functions of guardian for these in
sane patients" said Mr.. Madden, land
if it establishes that he has legal
right so to act, we have no right to
say that he shall not do this"
Mr.. Madden. with still more empha-
sis. declared his conviction that when
man accepts one of these positions
he should accept it with the knowledge
that he is assuming a great public
! duty and determination to serve the
public. If he has any other purpose
than service to the public, he should
not accept the office. The only reason
for accepting such a public Office
should be because it gives him wider
opportunity to be of service to the pub
lie. 1t should never, under any cir
cumstances, be with the thought or
purpose to add to his income. even if
he has the right to do So"
Fenning Is Attacked.
The attack on Mr.. Fenning started
| during consideration of the District
bill in the House yesterday. when a
| protest against Commissioner Fenning
acting as guardian i'm lunacy commit
! ments to ST. Elizabeth's Hospital, the
claim being made that he is receiving
! Continued on Page =, Column ~