Evening star., 1926-04-16
JENNINGS LETTER TO MADDEN.
REPLYING TO BLANTON CHARGES
Commissioners Makes Public Correspondence With
Texas Representative in Detailed Answers
to All Accusations.

time that | am one who cannot be dis.
missed with mere wave OF the ha nd
IT | hadn't had some authority to
do So | would not have requested you
TO reconsider Your unwarranted and
unjust action in retiring Sergt. Robert
E. Lee.
Il did not seek the position nor the
responsibility of helping to legislate
for the District Of Columbia 1t was
placed on me. And | am trying to do
my duty.
Il have tried in every way possible
to cooperate with you amica bly,. (.
When you we're first appointed and
the people and press began to hound
you, was the only Congressman here
who defended you. and asked that you
be given square deal. When the
press and people rose ZIP in arms
against You because YOU denoted In
spector Headley. requested them to
withhold their censure until YOU could
get back from the Maine woods and
explain your action.
Defended Against Criticism.
When every one was bemea ming
you for proposing to force %, 900 auto
owners either TO sell their cars or
procure garages I again defended
gOds THCii IhdbN WCI0 tdthlHk
having you impesched and put out OF
Office
Yet. you have never apprecia ted
any of it. and when / call your at
tentiOn TO a great injustice. and an
unlawful act, you tell me that Sergt.
Lees case is closed and you have put
another In his place.
You may see Al to decree Sergt.
Lees case closed, but your case is not
closed When the Commissioners de-
NOTED Staples ! went to Mai Dono-
van and told him that the law would
not stand for K. and that / did not
want to embsrrass either him Or the
Commissioners and urged him to do
the right thing AEithout being made
to do it. but he1forced me to make
him and the Commissioners do the
right thing by an appeal to the
controller. 1t would have been so
much better IL he hadn't bowed his
neck and had done the right thing
voluntarily.
Now this Lee case ia not merely
one where a great injustice has been
unla wfully done a good man, but it
is one that affects the policy of this
Government, for retiring an able bod
led giant who 10 only So yeare old
and then paying another to take his
place. cost the taxpayers not only of
Washington, but OF the Nation az
well. for we are paying 5000, 900 an
nually on the expenses here. There.
fore ! have a double right to insist
that this man be placed back in his
position.
Impeachment Threatened"
You may not know it. but many
members of Congress are already in
warm frame Of mind to impeach
you, many because Of the way you
treated poor Headley and many be.
cause you tried to put little Ford own
ers out Of business, and many for
other rea sons, and I don't want to file
any impeachment against you unless
/ am forced to do SO. want you to
read carefully the record Of this Lee
case, and believe that you will agree
with me that under the circumsta noes
1t IL your duty to reinstate him in his
position. and annul his retirement. ]
have proof showing that the physi
clans evidence against him was preju
diced. and the next time discuss
this case on the floor I shall surprise
you. ! would rather work with you
than against you. in safeguarding the
peoples rights here, but II you won't
let me, 1t Ia not my fault but yours. ]
never take an unrea sonable position
MY position now Is reasonable. 1t il
up to you. Very sincerely yours,
THOMAS l.. BLANTOE."
March s, 1925.
MY Dear Congressman BIanton:
II have your letter Of the 9Th in
stant as to the case Of Sergt. Robert
r. Lee. metropolitan Police Depa rt
ment. retired. and in reply beg to refer
you to my letter Of February rs, 1925.
Yours very truly.
r.. A. FENNING.
'.Commissioner. d. c.
Hon. Thomas l.. Blanton,
House Of Representatives,
Washington, D. c.
Refused to Be COerced.
refused to be coerced by the threat
Of impeachment. as II indicated by
my final letter of March s, 1895.
One month later, on April 8, 1926
the gentleman from Texas made a
speech and extended his remarks in
the Record. the great buIk ~ the "evi.
dence" read by him on that occasion
having reference to the investiga ton
tCcntinued on Fourth R&sAa