Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-20
COMMISSIONER FENNING RESIGNS
AT REQUEST OF THE PRESIDENT
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from the Attorney General. whose
department followed the fleming
hearings and who advised the Presi.
dent afterward regarding the technical
points involved. Whether or not the
Department Of Justice viewed the
legal points differently from the ma
j0rity Of the House judiciary com
mittee and advised the President &C
cordingly is not known. It Is thought,
however, II the Attorney General
deemed from the evidence In the case
that Mr.. Fenntng had violated any
laws In his guard anship and commit
tee practice he probably would have
started action against the Commits
sioner.
AS for the moral issue involved,
the President has made 1t plain that
he needed no prompting. He ID under
stood to have been advised that the
morale In the Police and Fire De-
partments, over which Commissioner
Fenning had personal supervision,
and in the District Building Office
force in general had suffered as O.
result of the impeachment charges
and the subsequent investigations and
hearings.
Made Up Mind Quickly.
1t has been learned from a re.
liable authority that the Presidents
mind was made up almost immediate
" after the House Judiciary COM
mittee's report on the case was made
public. As means of showing all
possible courtesy and consideration
the President sent for prominent
citizen Of Washington with whom he
frequently confers about District mat.
tiers, and after explaining his posi-
ton to him appointed him as the
medium through which to convey his
wishes to Mr.. Fenning.
It has been learned since that the
President expected an announce
ment would shortly follow from Mr..
Fenning that he was going to retire.
It Is known also that during his CON
ference with his intermediary he dis
cussed with him the selection Of q
successor. ..
II was said at the Presidents Office
here today that every name sug-
gested in connection with the APP
pointment of a successor to fleming
has been submitted to the President
for his consideration. It Is known,
too, that even though he has gone
over quite q number of these can
didates for the place he has before
him only q very few for further con-
sideration. The remainder have been
put into the discard.
With Mr.. Jennings career as Dis
trict Commissioner virtually q closed
incident so far as President Coolidge
is concerned, 1t is now only matter
OF the President getting the type Of
individual he wants for this impor.
tant post.
Position Highly Important.
On more than one occasion while
discussing the District Commissioner.
ship Pregident Coolidge has made II
evident that he looks upon the posi-.
ton as o highly important one one
that should be filled by a man Of
more than ordinary ability. He real.
ICES that the duties are varied and
many and that Commissioners Of the
District has little time for anything
else but work. Having been city
clerk and mayor Of Northampton,
Mass, the President has q good idea
Of what is expected of a city head,
and because of his experience while
holding Office under a city govern.
ment he has taken more than an or.
binary interest in the< Administered ton
of the affairs of the National Capital
since becoming President.