Evening star., 1926-10-26
.FENN|NG OFFERS
TO GIVE Up WARDS
Veterans Bureau Considers
His Proposal to ReIinquiSh
All Guardianships.

While the Veterans Bureau steadily
has been moving ahead on program
which eventually would have deprived
former District Commissioner Freder-
ick A. Fenning of his guardianslhps
over World War veterans, incompetent
World War veterans and minors, MIR.
Fenning, it was learned today. has
aDproached the bureau with proposal
under which he would relinquish his
entire veteran guardianship practice.
Mr.. Jennings plan has not been
finally accepted, as it is understood to
involve certain phases which have not
as yet been agreed to by the bureau.
But negotiations between the former
Commissioner, who resigned follow
ing a House investigation into his
guardianship practice, and the Vet
erans' Bureau are we'll under way, ac-
cording to present prospects.
Under the procedure followed the
Veterans Bureau would ask the court
for permission to remove the ward to
another jurisdiction. When removed
the ward would there be placed under
a new guardian. The bureau would
then request the court here for REIN
uuishment of the Fenning guardian
ship. In some instances 1t is known
that Mr.. Fenning himself has ap-
peared to ask the court to take this
final step, relieving him of the guard
ianship.
1t is altogether likely that before
long Mr.. Fenning w. have given up
his last Government ward.
s46 Removals Approved.
Developments in the Fenning case
We're disclosed today while the legal
advisory council of eminent lawyers
was about to wind up it's first meet
ing at the Veterans Bureau for the
purpose of assisting Government Of
ficials in a program to clean up the
guardianship situation throughout the
Nation.
Already, it was learned today, the
local courts. at the instance of the
Veterans Bureau, have approved the
removal from st. EliZabeth's Hospital
of 46 wards, formerly under the guard
ianship of Mr.. Fenning. The bureau
has on file also requests for the re-
moval of five more. Providing the
court approves in the case of the last
five, it is understood that Mr.. Fenning
would then have relinquished all of
his wards at ST. Elizabeth's. Accord
ing to the records. Mr.. Fenning at one
time had about IS wards. 1t is under
stood that the negotiations between
the former Commissioner and the bu-
reau concerns the remainder of Mr..
Jennings wards One of Jennings
wards was released on habeas corpus,
one was discharged from the hospital
and third died.
New Program Favored.
Perhaps the most important act of
the Legal Advisory Council. at it's
first session here, took place this
morning, when it approved in prin-
ciple the new program laid down by
the bureau for control of guardianship
affairs throughout the country and
under authority of legislation passed
by Congress.
The council unanimously voted,
upon motion of George B. Young of
Montpelier, Vt, to approve the manual
drawn up by the bureau for control
of guardianships.
Mr.. Young is president Of the Con-
feresce on Uniform Laws. which
meets in connection with the Ameri
can Bar Association.
One of the policies of the Govern
ment laid down in the manual and
discussed at some length this morn
ing by the council concerns the prose
cution of guardians who have vio-
lated their trusts. Where a guardian
could be prosecuted under either State
or Federal law, 1t was developed, the
Government will attempt to prosecute
first by means of the Federal law.
Full Reports to Be Made.
Regional attorneys Of the Vet
erans' Bureau will be instructed to
make full reports Of such cases to the
general counsel of the Veterans Ru.
reau, which, after consideration, will
refer them, if found advisab able, to the
Department Of Justice for prosecution.
1t was learned from records at the
bureau today that some of the guard
ians have been convicted. One report
from st. Louis. Mo, this morning, an
nounced that not only had S4.500 been
recovered from a guardian, but that
he had pleaded guilty of misappro-
priating funds and had been convicted
and sentenced to two years in the
penitentiary.
Detail of other policies and pro-
grams of the Government. as out
lined in the manual, We're not dis
closed today, but the council approved
a manual in principle and then re-
ferred it for further study to its sub
ON the construction of law,