Evening star., 1926-04-14
ACTION ON FENN|NG
SET FOR FRIDAY
Rules Committee Given Until
Then to Consider Charges
Made by BIanton.
The House rules committee today

The House rules committee today
was given until Friday to act on
pending resolutions calling for an in
Vestigation of the administration of
Commissioner Fenning as guardian
for mentally incompetent beneficiaries
of the Veterans Bureau and other ir-
regularities in the administration of
District institutions.
BY a vote of to 8, the House Dis
trict committee voted to postpone un-
til a special meeting on Friday it's pro-
posed consideration of five resolutions
offered by Representatives Blanton of
Texas, Hammer of North Carolina,
Bibson of Vermont. Mcleod of Mich
igan and Reid of Illinois.
Representative Blanton said he con-
templated filing impeachment charges
against Commissioner Fenning and
the prospect and procedure for inn
parchment was discussed generally by
the committee today. Mr.. Blanton
stated that if the District committee
acted today in ordering an investiga-
ton, as several members urged, it
would precipitate his filing impeach-
ment charges. Representative Ham
mer, Democrat, North Carolina, de-
clared: Il want to impeach him and
everyone connected with him, and If
the rules committee does not act, this
committee should"
Hammer Says He Has Proof.
Mr. Hammer added that he had
proofs that Mr. Fenning violated both
the legal and moral code and said, Il
make the charge here and now that
this man Fenning has in a number
sNf he
chase of notes."
Representative Gibson, Republican.
of Vermont advised the District
committee today of the action by the
veterans committee yesterday in or
dering a survey of guardianship
cases all over the country. explaining
that this has no bearing on the prob
able action by the rules committee on
the Blanton and Hammer resolutions
for an investigation of Commissioner
Jennings activities as guardian in
more tan 100 cases.
Mr.. Blanton asked if this action was
not predicated on the thought that
If an investigation of Mr.. Fenning was
started there would be no time for
anything else, declaring that 1t would
be "a good six months work to in
Vestigate."
Representative Houston, Republican,
of Delaware, expressed the opinion
that an investigation by the veterans
committee. or the District committee
or the rules committee or by a special
committee of the House would not cure
the evils complained of. He pointed out
that Mr.. Fenning was appointed
guardian by the court and claimed
that the right way to correct the sit
uation is to apply to the court to set
aside the appointment and to remove
Mr.. Fenning from guardianship.
Cites Alleged Admission.
Mr.. Blanton said that DR.. White.
superintendent of St. Elizabeth's Hos
pital, had admitted that he had made
more than 200 applications asking for
appointment of Mr.. Fenning as guard
ian. He, said that not very enthu.
siastic action by the court to ouSt Mr..
Fenning from guardianships could be
expected because Mr.. Fenning waited
on the chief justice during the Sum-
mer sin Maine"
Representative Reid. Republican, of
Illinois asked what action, if any, had
been taken by the rules committee.
Mr.. Blanton replied that the chair
man of the rules committee said he
was waiting for evidence. II have al
ready given MIN tne CdpltOl 1uil or
evidence and 1 don't know how much
more he demands" said Mr.. Blanton.
Mr.. Reid then questioned Chairman
Zihlman as to whether there has been
any action by the District committee
seeking an investigation. Mr.. Zihl-
man replied that the District COM
mittee has been waiting to allow Mr.,
Blanton to get action. if possible, from
the rules committee. Mr.. Blanton
stated that if the District committee
had power to force recalcitrant wit
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