Evening star., 1926-05-08

ness tell his total income from COM
missions on all lunacy cases In which
he is guardian, but Col. Fenning said
he did not have the figures. The
auditor ruled, at the suggestion of
Mr.. MILAN, that the inquiry was IT.
relevant, and that he was dealing only
with the Adler case under the refer
ence of the court.
Thinks Charge Is Light.
Mr.. Cans wanted to know If Mr.
Fenning did not consider $500 charged
as his compensation for the past year
in the Adler case excessive. To this
Fenning replied that If any other
reputable member Of the bar had only
the Adler case he would not accept
5000 for the amount of work per-
formed, and II was only because ne
had a large number of lunacy cases
that the fee could be made so little
Cans then wanted to inquire into the
previous accounts in the Adler case,
which had been approved and passed
by the District Supreme Court, put
the auditor held that he had only pc
fore him the present and final account
and could not reopen the closed ac'
counts except by direct order OF the
court.
Mai. Arnold explained the position
of the Veterans Bureau, which had
only called to the attention OF the
courts incidents of embeZZlement or
ma of fiduciaries or
cases in which the court or auditor
had exceeded the law. He remarked
that the auditor had extended an III
vitation to Walter X. Gould. regional
officer Of the Veterans Bureau. to be
present. Mr.. Gould was on hand, he
said, and Maj. Arnold appeared as
representative of the director of the
bureau.
Case Sets Precedent.
This Is the first time" said Maj.
Arnold, that any Veterans Bureau
official has been asked to attend such
hearings. In the future we would
like to take part in hearings involv-
ing Veterans Bureau cases.
Mr.. Davis explained that 1t has not
heen customary to notify relatives
and friends OF the insane persons
when a hearing was on, to determine
the accounts Of f1duciaries, as 1t was
not considered they were interested
in adjusting an account between the
court and its officer. Mr.. Davis said
he always had the full cooperation
Of the Veterans Bureau When matters
arose in which he sought aid or in
formation from them and told of how
he labored to keep down the costs and
often dispensed with a stenographic
report because its cost could not be
regulated. The auditors own fees, he
explained. rarely go above SIS. and i'll
small estates he often requests leave
Of court to dispense with his fee.
Maj. Arnold asked Mr.. Fenning If
he made any special consideration in
Veterans Bureau cases.
Commissioner Fenning answered.:
Every case has received the best
consideration that l or any one else
could give
Would you have asked 10 per cent
in the Adler case if he were not
World War veteran?" inquired Maj.
Arnold.
II did not differentiate it from any
other case. Always | gave the best
services possible and at reasonable
compensation" said Mr.. Fenning.
Asks Court Practice.
Maj. Arnold then asked if it had not
been the practice of the District Su-
preme Court to allow 10 per cent in
every veteran case. The auditor inter
posed and stated that the record was
against that, since less than that fig
ure often was awarded as fees. The
court gave only what it considered
fair. the auditor stated. In some cases
when Fenning asked 10 per cent it
was not allowed, Auditor Davis said.
Maj. Arnold wanted to place in the
record the testimony of the auditor
before the veterans committee of the
House of Representatives, but the
auditor declined to permit the record
to be so ilcumbered. Maj. Arnold
then ELECTED from the witness that he
had been appointed guardian of
Adolph Adler June 16. 1919. Mr.. Fen