Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-01
HINES FACES TASK
IN WARD D|SPOSALS
Bill Limiting Guardianships
Presents Real Problem in
Finding Men to Act.

With congressional approval late
Yesterday Of the general World War
veterans bill which includes pro-
vision generally interpreted IS de-
signed 10 limit Commissioner Fred
erick a FenuinS wards, interest
today centered around the Veterans
Bureau with the view Of determining
how the reduction would be made
The task of reducing wholesale
guardianships. as characterized by
Brig Cen Frank T. Hines. director
is squarelv up to him under the bill.
The general, While a witness before
the House World War veterans
legisla ton committee. testified the
maximum number of wards any
guardian should have is five and that
he did not think the compensation
for performing such service should
be in excess of per cent of the
veterans incomes
Final action on the bill was taken
with the concurrence by the House
in the Senate amendment empowering
Director Hines 70 limit the number
of wards in the District of Columbia,
and leaving the figure to his discre-
tion. The bill also gives him authority
and supervision over guardians
throughout the country, but any aC.
tion he contemplates must be through
the State courts The bill will he
placed before President Coolidge for
his signature in a few days.
Difficult Task Ahead.
In the absence of any official declara-
tion from Gen. Hines or his repre-
sentatives as to the procedure 10 he
when the bill becomes law.
speculation among persons deeply in
terested in the matter today was that
the director has a difficult task before
him in order to insure the best pos
Sible result to the wards person and
estate. The question of who would be
the guardians for the so or more vet
Grams that Gen. Hines could take
away from Mr.. Fenning seemed a
puzzle.
TO carry out the provision of linn
itation and his own idea as to the
number Gen. Hines, it is argued.
would not go into court. hold up the
list of Commissioner Frederick A.
Jennings wards and strike off all but
FIVE. In that event it would mean
turning around and handing out the
wards to trust companies for the es-
tate and some one else for the per
son. BY such procedure little would
be gained. for the veteran. it is
thought, over the present arrange
ment.
One solution, however. was ad-
vanced for the problem in the District
of Columbia, and this is merely CON
tinuation of a plan put into effect
several months agO-transfer of the
wards to their own territory. In order
to remove the stigma of insane"
from the veterans being hospitaliZed
at st. Elizabeth'S Hospital here Gen.
Hines is desirouS that all bureau ben
eficiaries he transferred to bureau
hospitals throughout the country.
BY this arrangement all wards in
Washington. eventually would be TAX
en- nearer to their homes, and where
relatives or close friends could not
act as guardians trust companies
would he selected Therefore. under
this plan. the number of guardian
ship cases here would be materially
reduced. Before a transfer is made,
however, the bureau must have the
consent of the parent or guardian.
Burean Cannot be Guardian.
The bureau, under no construction
of the law, it is emphasized, can act
as guardian. In cases where Director
Hines finds that guardian is mis-
managing the estate compensation
payments To that guardian can be
stopped until restoration is made or
he can he removed entirely.
The directors task outside, of the
District of Columbia is even more diff
ficult, as he is confronted with the
States rights" defense against a
Federal officer holding any jurisdic-
ton. He must appear, as friend Of
the court, and show cause why a
guardian should be removed or why
the number of wards should be re-
duced.. Then it is up to the courts to
act.
In the District of Columbia it is
believed much difficulty would be en-
countered in obtaining persons to act
as guardians for the wards here
limited at five to each person-for
5 per cent of the annual income. So
far it is confidently believed that only
relatives or close personal friends of
the unfortunate veterans would under
take the many duties that should be
performed for the small compensa-
ton involved.