Evening star., 1926-05-13

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that by virtue of that ONCE he was
prohibited from practifing before
Government departments, having
been officially so notified by Winfield
Scott. Commissioner of Pensions. was
empha sized in direct testimony and
cross-eXan;ination when Representa-
tive Schafer. Republican. OF Wiscon-
sin. WAS the first witness last night
! before the Gibson subcommittee Of the
! House District committee when 1t re-
/ simed it's hearing in the caucus
room of the House ONCE Building
/ Both Mr.. Schafer. who Ia himself a
World War Veteran. and Representa-. q.
tive Rlanton. author OF the charges
against Commissioner Fennins and
member Of the Gibson subcommittee.
had received identical letters from the
Pension Bureau. which stated that:
THE records of this bureau show
! that Frederick A. Fenning of this city
was admitted TO practice before this
bureau November s. 1909. as an at
torney. The records furthe show
that he was prohibited from prosecut-
ing claims before the bureau under
section 109 of the Penal Code from
July >, 1917, to March is, 1919. by
reason OF the fact that he had &C.
cepted Office under the United States
as captain. =. NJ. Department. u. =.
r.. from which he was honorably dis
charged az jor on March l5. 1919.
Barred on Assuming Once.
THE record further shows that July
s. 1928, Mr. Fenning Informed this bu.
reau that June ,. l9025, he took the
oath of office as Commissioner of the
District of Columbia and requested to
be advised whether that fact barred
ft,, bAr 81 oIo
before the bureau. i'm response 10
which he was advised. July 10. 1925.
that his appointment as Commissioner
Of the District of Columbia did pro.
hibit him from prosecuting any claims
for pension under section 1a9 OF the
United States Penal Code. whereupon
the records Of the bureau were noted
TO the effect that he was under said
section l09. from June ;, 1925. pro
hibited from prosecuting claims for
pension
Mr.. Schafer asked to be heard by
the committee. and urged that legisls.
ZION he promptly presented to the
House TO limit the number Of wards
one person can represent In the Dis
trict of Columbia. assuring the com.
mittee that such a measure would he
una nimously passed hy the House. He
vigorously protested against allowing
a MONOPOLY of this kind to continue.
protested that Mr.. F'enning continues
TO reap rich harvest from those who
bore the brunt in the Nations wars"
said that Mr.. Fenning is qua rdian
for one hoy in his district whom Mr..
FenninG has not seen for six wears.
and that the checks MIR Fennng for.
wards are far less than he receives as
fees.
Charges Illegal Practice.
Questioned by Mr.. Blan regard.
ing the letter from the Pension Blu.
reau. Mr.. Schafer stressed the fact
that Mr.. Fenning had practiced for
month and day Illegally and that
while an Army officer he prosecuted
claims against Government depart.
ments contrary to law and knowingly
MIR. Blanton called attention that this
letter shows that notice was brought
to him July s, month after he as
sumed Office, that this practice was
contrary to law and that whatever he
did after July 6. 1928, was knowingly
and willfully done and cases filed
after that date were pursued with fun
knowledge unla wfully."
When Mr.. Schafer insisted that Mr..
Fenning was not giving his wards the
sort Of service a guardian should give.
pointing out that each needs personal
attention and some one to whom he
can tell his troubles. he said: If l
had relative incomretent I'd rather
have an officer in the German army
for his guardian than this man. based
on the testimony that have heard at
these hearings
1T Is my opinion. based not on
pre- ejudice. but on the testimony I have
heard. that Mr.. Fenning is unQuali.
ned To act rs Commissioner. either
legally or morally. and 1t is sad
state Of affairs in the National Capital
that this should he permitted to con-
tinue."
Limit Agreed Upon.
Chairman Gibson assured him that
the veterans committee, of which he
Is also a member. is pressing legisla.
ton to take care OF ali of these lunacy
cases for veterans In the District
without any expense whatever to
them. The Gibson subcommittee, he
said. must keep in step with the vet
Grams committee In guardia nship mat
ters. and there is a general agree
ment that the limit Of one person
10 FIVE wards is entirely satisfactory.
Mr. Gibson said that Gen. Hines.
director OF the Veterans Bureau. has
agreed to withdraw all guardianships
from Mr.. Fenning and that Gen.
Hines approved placing a limit OF Ave
wards TO any one guardian.
When Mr.. Schafer asked. How
about those who are not World War
Veterans" Mr.. Gibson answered that
the subcommittee intends to produce
legislation TO care for them. Mr..
RIanton decla red, THE burden il not
on any committee but on all 43S mem
hers of the House and 96 members of
the Senate" Mr.. Schafer insisted
that Congress must not adjourn un-
til tbs mess is cleaned up"
At the opening Of the meeting last
night MIR. Gibson made statement
resenting published statements that
the committee "fiays the court" He
said }the committee lis not engaged
in any assault on the judiciary. 1t re-
CARDS the judges as men of integrity.
One member did express his opinion
"a an individual, but that Is not the
voice Of the committee. There Is no
disposition to criticize sharply the
judiciary on any testimony thus far"
Blanton Charges Carelessness.
Mr.. Blanton added this statement:
There is no question about the in
teRrltE or the court, put l. 40 tnlnk
from the chief justice down all six
Of them have been careless and neg.
ligent, and there Is quite a good deal
OF room for Improvement" Mr.. Glib
son commented: THAT is an individ
ual opinion"
Mr.. Blanton called as next witness
Morris j. Sullivan, who worked as a
guard at the Lorton Reformatory
about four months while M. NJ. Bar
naId, now in charge Of all of the
penal institutions, was superintend-
ent at Lorton. At the request Of Mr..
Blanton Mr.. Sullivan produced q,
skull which he said had been found
about a mile from the Lorton build
u h o. hA h.d