Evening star., 1926-04-29
REPORT FAVOR|NC
IMPEACHMENT FOR
FENNING GPRED|CTED
Graham Says Judiciary Com
mittee Must Act, in
His Opinion.
JOHNSON SEEKS ACTION
ON GUARDIANSHIP BILL
Will Ask Veterans Body to Report
Measure Tuesday-Probes
Continue.


dietary committee stated on the floor of
the House today that the presentation
OF impeachment charges against Com
missioner Fenning by Representative
Blanton, Democrat, of Texas. are
packed by so many facts that
should judge the judiciary committee
VIII nave to report To the House"
This statement forecasting early ac-
uon by the Judiciary committee was
MADE during a discussion as 10 the
right of the veterans committee to
force Mr.. Fenning to answer ques-
tons. Representative Rankin. Demo
crat, of Missouri. asked the Speaker
as parliamentary question what pro
cedure was necessary to cite Mr.. Fen
ming in contempt because ne had re
fused at the hearing this morning 10
answer certain questions. saying ne
had covered them in previous testi-
mony.
When Representative Cramton, Re
publican, of Michigan. made a point
of order. Mr.. Rankin insisted that he
was asking information IS to how the
members might proceed and whether
or not they had the right to force Mr..
Fenning TO reply.
NpHOiOS EeHIunS StdtIO.
Speaker Longworth ruled that il MIR
Fennfng is a voluntary witness the
committee cannot force him.
Mr.. Rankin asked what proceediuc
is necessary to get the proper order
to subpoena witnesses and force testi-
mony. The Speaker answered thai
the proper proceeding is for the com
mittee to pass some sort of g resolu-
ton requesting authority from the
House to subpoena such witnesses
Chairman Graham of the House ju-
dietary committee, before which the
blanton charges of Impeachment
against Commissioner Fenning nov
lie, made the following statement:
we had on the floor an impeach
ment of man in the government
of the District which is to be re
ported out of committee in d few
days. Meanwhile two other com
mittees are conducting an investiga
ton. No committee can proceed in
contempt proceedings unless au-
thorized by the House. If you take
into consideration the whole matter
here 1t may be found necessary thai
1T be merged into one committee.
presentation of impeachment
charges by Mr.. Blanton is backed by
so many facts that I should judge
report to the House."
Mr.. Rankin explained that tho veter-
ans committee finds 1t necessary "to
cure the most horrible conditions sur
rounding these unfortunate veterans"
Denies Right of Force.
Mr.. Graham said: There seems to be
some misapprehension regarding com.
pelling witness to waive immunity
before testifying. No immunity fol
lows man before any committee of
the House or Senate except in inter
state commerce and antitrust mat
ter-s.'
Representative Denison, Republi-
can of Illinois, then drew from Mr..
Graham the following statement:
No committee has a right to pro
ceed in contempt. 1t must be the
House itself and that action based on
81 prior subpoena of the House itself"
Representative Gilbert, Democrat.
of Kentucky. Il member of the Gibson
subcommittee which is pursuing All
investigation and which had Mr.. Fen
ming before it. stated that while this
inquiry by the Gibson subcommittee
is overlapping to some extent the in
quiry being made by the veterans
committee, its study is more regard
istration of the municipal corporation
to determine what remedial legislation
is necessary for proper administra-
ton in the District of Columbia and
that it does not usurp any function
of the judiciary committee in I'M
peachment proceedings.
MIR. Rankin then assured Mr.. Ora
ham that there Is no thought by the
veterans committee of usurping the
functions of the judiciary committee.
He emphasized that Mr.. Fenning had
sent a letter to the veterans commit
tee asking to be heard.
Mr.. Graham concluded the discus.
sion by repeating the statement.
There is no power to force him to
testify or cite him for contempt
VIII Push Bill.
In the interest of obtaining legisla-
ton at this session of Congress re-
lating to guardianships of World War
veterans, Chairman johnson, Repub-
lican, South Dakota, said today he
would hold an executive session of the
House veterans committee before
Tuesday and call for vote to report
out the bill he introduced April II.
This bill gives the. director of the
Veterans Bureau ''in his discretion
control and distribution of mentally
incompetent veterans estates and au
thority to fix the fees throughout the
country that now are being received
by committees. Chairman johnson
explained that it would not abolish
the present procedure of State courts
appointing private committees or
guardians, but the director could fix
the fees and commissions and ternii-
nate the guardianships whenever he
had reason to do so.
Fenning Again Heard.
Commissioner Fenning on the stand
at the veterans committee hear
ing today repeatedly refused to an
swer questions he had discussed
Yesterday or to repeat the tes-
timony given at that time. He was
upheld by Chairman johnson, who
declared that the committee had no
power or authority to force a witness
CONTINUED on Page 8. Column 81
Chinese Kidnap German.