Evening star., 1926-04-18
House Veterans Committee
to Tackle Former-Zihlman
to Select Other InquirerS.
LEADERS, CONFERENCE
REACHES NO DECISION
Fenning Unlikely to Be Called as
Witness in Ward Cases, Says
Chairman Johnson.


can House leaders, Chairman Johnson
ui the committee ON World War vet
Grams legislation stated positively last
night that his committee will start
hearings tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock on guardianships of any and
all beneficial'ieS under the Veterans
Bureau.
Chairmau Xihlman of the House
District committee said last night that
tomorrow le will appoint a subeom-
lnittec of five members to conduct
the Investigation ordered by the full
committee in adopting the Gibson
resolution last Friday, which provides
for an investigation of the District
government, and said he hoped the
investigation might start Immediately.
Assurance that there will be a
proper investigation in Congress-,
coupled with warning to the Repub-
lican leaders not to dare to block 1t,
was made by Representative Blanton,
Democrat, of Texas, leader OF the
tight for a Congressional lnveStlga-
ton of Commissioner Frederick A.
Jennings administration as guardian
In lunaCy cases.
Chairman Smell of the rules COM
IlttlCc CdHllOI sup IL, oeIlN -AA' DAeAAA
ton, Republicans on the veterans
committee can't stop it. Chairman
Zihlman and his committee can't stop
1t. A way will be found under the
rules to force it. And let him or they
who try to block it beware of the
wrath of the people Of the United
States"
Hopes for Quorum.
Chairman johnson of the veterans
committee introduced yesterday the
Veterans Bureau bill giving to the
director, in his discretion, authority
TO take over the affairs of any ward
of the bureau. The hearings are to
start on this bill tomorrow morning,
Mr.. Johnson said. He feels confident
of getting a quorum, in spite Of the
fact that both Friday and yesterday
there were points of no quorum
raised, due to the absence of eight
Republican members. He sent out a
number of kilograms yesterday calling
back the absentees.
The hearing will first consider the
status of guardianships in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr.. Johnson was asked IL Mr.. Blan-
ton, because of his charges against
Mr.. Fenning, will be asked to testify
before the committee.
81 don't know" Mr.. Johnson re-
piled.
He explained that the first two wit
nesses he will seek to have heard are
Davis G.. Arnold, national guardian
ship officer of the Veterans Bureau,
and ]. O'C. Roberts, legislative rep
resentative Of the director, who pre-
pares his legal opinions.
Mr.. Johnson also said he did not
think Commissioner Fenning would be
called as a witness.
Says Probe Will be Thorough.
Pressed for a statement of what was
agreed upon in the conference of Re
publican leaders yesterday, Mr.. John
son said: 1T was agreed that we
should go into everything affecting the
guardians and wards"
At that conference We're House
Leader TilSon, Chairman Smell of the
rules committee, Representative Luce
of Massachusetts, who made the points
or no quorum in the veterans com
mittee. and others, including Repre-
sentative Montgomery of Oklahoma
From other sources it was learned
that the Republican leadership, IN
Guiding members Of the steering COM
mittee and the rules committee, are
making a close study of the Fenning
charges to see what will be done.
Chairman Smell said he has had a
r
ming made ''by three of the most COM
petent lawyers in the House."
Mr.. Johnson said that he would
himself put in the record Of the hear
ings starting tomorrow the complete
guardianship record, including that of
all guardianships in the District OF
Columbia with which Mr.. Fenning has
been connected. Mr.. Johnson said
that this would be done regardless
Sd
that members of the veterans com
mittee may ask detailed questions
concerning guardianships.
No Conclusions Reached.
Both House Leader Tilson and
Chairman Smell Of the rules commit
tee said that no conclusions had been
reached at the conference of House
leaders, but that the veterans com
mittee will start it's investigation with
a view to bringing out remedial legis-
lation to correct any errors in admin
ietration that may be found to exist
inimical to the best interests of the
veterans who are beneficiarieS of the
Veterans Bureau.
Chairman Zihlman of the District
COMMITTEES said that he has been Civ
ing very thoughtful consideration to
the membership of the subcommittee
sulting with the membership of the
full committee. Mr. Gibson, author
OF the resolution OF investigation
4 adopted on Friday by the committee,
has asked not to be placed on this
subcommittee. Mr.. Zihlman stated
also that he himself would probably
not be d member in view of the
charges made by Mr.. Blanton that he,
in conference with local Republican
leaders. had agreed that Commis-
sioner FenninG should ask for a hear
ing.
Vt became known last night that
Representative Reid, Republican, of
Illinois, is being very seriously con-
sidered as the probable chairman Of
The investigating committee.
Renews Attack On Smith.
Mr.. Blanton last night reiterated his
Willingness that Mr.. Jennings de-
fense, contained in a statement which
Representative Madden sought to
place in the Congressional Record,
should be printed in the Record. In
statement last night he expressed
his views regarding Mr.. Jennings
statement, which he characterized as
80 odd pa%es of irrelevant assert
lions and generalities."
The remainder of the Blanton state
Continued OH Page s, Column s.