Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-20

announcement NO surprise.
Announcement here today of Mr..
Jennings resignation came az no
surprise to those of the Presidents
party. Since his arrival here Presi-
dent Coolidge has made it plain that
Commissioner Fenning would shortly
retire. Just before leaving Washing
ton he announced this belief The
stories from Washington to the effect
that Commissioner Fenning showed
no disposition to retire did not dis
turb the President in the least. In
answer to questions regarding the
Washington reports he merely would
say Commissioner Fenning is going to
retire.
1t is now recalled that the President
always used the word retire in his
answers regarding Mr.. Fenning.
Never once did he say. after knowing
the Commissioner had rendered his
resignation, that he expected the
latter to resign. The President indi-
Gated today that it was not his in
tention to- be misleading, but to be
as gracious as possible in the matter.
He was anxious to have the Commits
sioner retire without being forced out.
Besides this, the President was an
xious to have the Commissioner com
plete certain important work he is
now engaged in. He also wanted to
give the Commissioner ample time to
wind up other affairs in his office.
Moreover, President Coolidge saw no
need for great haste in the matter As
was stated in The Star Of last Satur-
day, the President had made up his
mind that there was to be another
Commissioner and that the F'enning
case, so far as he was personally con-
cerned, was closed incident.
DispIeased with Attitude.
Although the President made no
mention of Il through his spokesman
today, 1T is known from an authorita-
tive source that he was thoroughly
displeased with the attitude assumed
by Commissioner Fenning, not only
since he sent his resignation at the
request Of the President to the Attor-
ney General, but between that time
and the publication previously OF the
findings of the House judiciary COM
mittee that investigated the many
charges against him.
1t was limited last Saturday that the
President would wait only little long
er before closing this incident.
There is q belief here that the formal
acceptance of Commissioner Fen
ning's resignation may be announced
from the Attorney Generals Office II
other than to let it be known that
Commissioner Fenning had at his re-
quest rendered his resignation. the
President today through his spokes.
man gave. no reason for his requesting
the Commissioner to retire, nor did he
explain why he considered 1t best for
the District government and the citi-
zens of Washington that Mr.. Fen
ming should be replaced.
Influenced by Report,
Although the President was silent
on these points, 1t lis known that aside
from his own personal feelings in the
matter and his estimation Of Commis-
sioner Fenning after the several con
gressional Investigations into his prac-
tice as guardian and committee for
mentally deficient war veterans, the
President was influenced by the ma
jority report made by the House III.
dietary committee after the hearings
It conducted. Associates OF the Presi-
dent explained today that 1t was ap-
parent that the committee. while It
did not find Fenning guilty Of any
law violations, was anxious to zee
him removed as Commissioner.
Another contributing influence was
the report received by the President
Continued on Page 2. Column -