Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-05-21
Naging An EaerRefic Fight.

Democratic members Of the World War
Veterans Committee Of the House Of Rep
resentstives are wasine an energetic fight
70 force thorough Investigation into the
alleged missrestment Of insane World War
Veterans 10 government institutions 10 the
District Of Columbia. They have centered
their attack upon Frederick A. Fennins.
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbis,
charging him with wholesale irregularities
in guardianship cases Of which be is said to
have virtual monopoly.
Whether he earns the fees legally OF
Illegally. Democratic members Of the clm-
mittee contend il is not right fos a gov
eminent ofhcisl TO have side-line netting
him between 1000 and $40. 900 a year
What makes the situation worse. they
charge, Is that he is in collision with the
head Of the institution TO which most Of
the insane veterans are committed. is a
stakeholder in the undertaking establish
ment which buries all Of these unfostunates
who die at St Elizabeth's. the govern
ment hospital to which the Veterans
Bureau commits all its insane patients.
Besides the investigation being urged by
the Democrats on the Veterans Committee.
another inquiry into Commissioner Fen
nine's activities is being conducted by the
House Committee Of the District OF Column
bia. Sensational charges have been brought
against him in both committees. His i'm
peschment has been demanded.
First blood in the fight against fleming
was drawn by the Democrats last week when
the House Judiciary Committee brought up
Q resolution. subsequently, passed by the
House. authorizing the beginning of i'm
peschment proceedings.
There was much opposition to Commits
sionef Jennings appointment before and
after he was nominated by President
Coolidge. Democrats opposed his con-
hrmation on the grounds that under the
law il should be a Democratic appointment.
Others charged that he was nothing but
"one-horse lawyer" anyhow and there
fore unfit to hold down the position Of one
Of the Board Of Governors" of the District
Of Columbia.
Demands for Mr.. Jennings impeach-
ment finally have attracted nation wide
attention. kilograms from veterans and
American Legion Posts in all sections Of
the country are being received by the
Democrats. who started ths ;Hs-stieation
and Others asking that an exhaustive in.
quiry be ordered. These messages eener
ally express agreement with the position
taken by the Democrats that there /.
something "fshy" about one man havin,
q monopoly Of all the insane veterans guar
dianship cases coming from the veterani
Bureau. as well as most OF the other un
fortunates committed to St Elizabeth's.
When the investigation first started
Commissioner Fennine asked permission
70 testify before both the Veterans ans
District Committees. This permission wa,
granted. Finally, however. when thing
began getting too warm for him. he with
drew to his office at the District Building
shut the door. or rather left II shut, anC
refused to come out and answer the bar
rage Of questions he knew were waitin,
for him.
Not much publicity was given to III,
Fennine investigation throughout the coun
try until the impeachment resolution wal
passed. Even then it received very littl,
space 10 most Of the newspapers. Il /,
hard to understand how charges Of mis-
treatment Of wards Of the Veterans Bureau
coming from all parts Of the country. coulc
escape nationwide attention.
But lots Of things happen in Washington
that the country never hears about. Maybt
h 10 the result Of the silence fad inaueu
rated by President Coolidge. or il might bt
due 70 other reasons. In any event the
couatry will hear much Of Mr.. Fennins and
his handling Of the guardianship OF insane
veterans from every State In the Union.
Romance OF Mail System.-One Of the
bie romaDces Of the United States Gov.
eminent 10 that Of the pos al service.
Reed the complete. illustrated article on
shis fascinating subject in the Magazine
OF The Washington Star for Sunday. May
2Ssd Order your copy Of next Sundays
Star from your newsdesIer today.