Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-30
PROBE Of DISTRICT
GOVERNMENT GIVEN
COMMITTEES 0. \.
Gibson Joint Resolution for
"Thorough" Inquiry Backed
by House Members.
NEW GROUP FAVORED
FREE OF FENNING CASE
Would Avoid Indication of Plan to
Get Any Official-Could
Subpoena Witnesses.

The House District committee agreed
today that there should be a complete
and thorough investigation of the
system of municipal government in
the District of Columbia and that the
Gibson joint resolution now pending
in the House should be passed.
AS a stop-gap measure. with the
Gibson subcommittee, which for seven
weeks investigated Commissioner Fen
ming and the administration of the
municipal government, automatically
expiring at the close of the present
session. new subcommittee of seven
members was authorized to continue
an investigation of the system of gov
ernment I'm the District. 1t was un-
derstood that this new subcommittee
would nat function if the joint COM
mittee of House and Senate proposed
in the Gibson resolution is organ
lied.
The new subcommittee of the House
District committee was authorized In
stead of continuing the life of the
Gibson subcommittee to remove from
the minds of Congress and the people
of the District any feeling that the
subcommittee was set up III OTOer 10
get" any District officials.
1t was thought that the Gibson
subcommittee, as it at present exists.
was branded too conspicuously with
the Fenning case and that new COM
mittee would appear to approach the
subject with more open minds.
Motion Carefully Worded.
Tho ,,o+ior for tho oppo;pt,nep+ of
this new subcommittee was carefully
worded to avoid the use of the word
investigation" but on motion of
Representative Hammer. Democrat. of
North Carolina, an amendment was
adopted carrying these wordS-"and
to make such investigation as they
deem necessary"
The Gibson motion for the new sub
committee of seven was ito make a
study of the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia and all its agencies
for the purpose of ascertaining any
needed changes in existing law and
the administration thereof. and to re-
port its findings to the full District
committee with such recommenda-
tions as it deems necessary to improve
the municipal administration at the
first meeting of the committee in
The motion also provided that this
subcommittee should have full author
ity to subpoena witnesses and force
the production OF documents.
Complete Study Favored.
During discussion as to how the
committee should proceed in its ef-
forts to have a more complete study
made of the municipal administration.
Mr.. Hammer expressed the opinion
that it would be calamity if this
work were not continued. While not
condoninS the way in which Repre-
sentatives Blanton of Texas and Ran
kin of Mississippi. both Democrats.
conducted the recent prosecution Of
the Fenning case before the judiciary
committee. Mr.. Hammer vigorously
censored the attitude of the chief at
torney for Mr. Fenning.
He declared that Mr.. Fenning had
been "commercializing the soldiers
not robbing them under the letter of
the law. but taking every cent he
could in a way that no one of pro-
fessional reputability could approve"
He said his conduct was so repre-
hensible, so out of type with the fit
ness of a man for public office. that
he ought not to be allowed to con-
tinue in Office" and that his conduct
has been reprehensible. and II the
President does not remove him he is
making serious mistake"
History OF ID. c. System.
Representative Reid, Republican. of
Illinois, advised the committee that
preparatory to introducing bill for
home.rule for the District, he Is max
ing a careful study of the history and
administration of the District gov
ernment. He said he is very anxious
to have all the information that
subcommittee can produce. especially
on the question of taxation. the work
of the auditors office. etc. Mr.. Reid
reminded the committee that the Dis
trict Of Columbia Is not being treated
right by Congress. is being treated
as step-child. and that it is hard to
get serious consideration for District
measures in the House.
II do not want to get any official:
! want to get the system" said Mr..
Reid. Half the time we do not know
what we are legislating about"
Mrs. Mary T. Norton, Democrat, Of
New Jersey. agreed that a survey
should be made and stated that many
matters had been called to her at
tention which should be studied.