Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-02
Appropriation Bill Opened Inquiry@
Into Fenning, History of Case Shows

World War veterans in the District,
and as Mr.. Fenning was the largest
private guardian, If not the only one.
he Immediately became the center Of
the inquiry
The following day the House Dis
trict committee adopted a resolution
presented to it by Mr.. Gibson, pro-
viding for an investigation Of Mr..
Jennings acts and also a survey of
District institutions. At the same time
Mr.. fleming sent a lengthy letter to
Mr.. Madden in reply to Mr.. Blanton's
charges, and when the appropriations
committee chairman attempted to
place it in the record Representative
Garrett of Texas, objected, precluding
its insertion.
In this letter to Mr. Madden. the
Commissioner set forth that on March
6 Mr.. Blanton threatened to impeach
him because Sergt. Robert e. Lee of
the Metropolitan Police Department,
who had been retired for physical dis
ability, had not been reinstated as the
Texan had requested. After Mr.. Fen
ming had written that the case could
not be reopened, Mr.. Blanton replied
that many members Of Congress are
in a warm frame of mind to impeach
YOU" He also stated that Il don't
want to file any impeachment against
you unless I am forced to do So"
and further declared. The next time
I discuss this case on the floor 1 shall
surprise you" The entire CORE
spondence on the Lee case consisting
of four letters, was included in Mr..
Jennings letter. After these had
been quoted Mr.. FenninG wrote. Il
refused to be coerced by the threat
of impeachment" His counsel sub
sequently held that the Lee case was
the origin of the Impeachment.
The veterans committee by this
time had begun it's investigation,
technically speaking, but actual con
sideration of the case before it was
delayed for two days by Representa-
tive Luce, Republican, Massachusetts,
who made points of no quorum.
BIanton Charges Crimes.
On April 10 Mr. Blanton impeacheA
the Commissioner on the floor of the
House, charging high crimes and
misdemeanors" and filing "a specifiCa-
tions. The impeachment speech was
accompanied by the following resolu.
ton, which was referred to the com
mittee on the judiciary:
Resolved, That the committee on
the judiciary be, and it is hereby. di-
rected to inquire and report whether
the action of this House is necessary
concerning the alleged official mis-
conduct of Frederick A. Fenning, a
Commissioner of the District of Co
lumbia, and said committee on the
judiciary is In all things hereby fully
authorized and empowered TO investi-
gate all acts Of misconduct and re-
port to the House whether in their
opinion the said Frederick a. Fen
ming has been guilty of any acts
which in the contemplation of the
Constitution, the statute laws and the
presidents Of Congress are high
crimes and misdemeanorS requiring
the interposition of the constitutional
powers of this House and for which
he should be impeached." The re-
naming two paragraphs concerned
the power of subpoena and the eX-
penses of the investigation.
The House District subcommittee,
appointed under the Gibson resolution
and denominated the Gibson subcom-
mittee, held it's first meeting the fol-
lowing day, and, without tranSacting
any business, adjourned until 7:30
o'clock that night, when. in executive
session, Mr.. Blanton examined DIR.
William A. White, superintendent of
st. Elizabeth's Hospital. on his pri-
vate and official relations with Mr.
Fenning.
Protests "Secret" Inquiry.
The Commissioner protested against
the secret character of the Gibson
procedure the follow
ing day, and, in a letter to the chair