Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-02

|
ment or misconception of what his
duty as committee required of him.
80. While the evidence submitted
| discloSes the fact that Mr.. Fenning
| took care of the estates of his wards,
nevertheless by reason of the great
number of his wards his guardian
ship became imperSonal, and he could
not and did not give to his wards
| that personal care and supervision
| which after all is the more important
| function Of a guardian or committee
| and which service was doubtless con-
Sidered by the court as an element in
allowing his compensation. We be-
| lieVe Legislation should be promptly
enacted which would in the future
preclude any one person or corpora
ton from acting as committee for
more than q limited number of pa
tents lin order that the committee
may give to the ward that super
vision so essential to his welfare. We
further believe that in the first in
stance a near relative should be Sc
lected for this service, if a suitable
person can be found, but, if not, then
provision should be made for a COM
mlttee to be selected by the court.
Relations With Hospital Hit.
%. While there was no evidence
submitted of any fraud, or conspiracy
between Mr.. Fenning and certain en-
ployes of st. Elizabeth's Hospital.
nevertheless the business relation of
Mr.. Fenning with these officials was
or such a close nature and extended
over so many years as to suggest
that Mr.. Fenning was given the
preference in seeking clientage among
the patients confined in that insti.
tuition
THE practice which seems to have
grown up in this district, extending
over period of some % years,
whereby Mr.. Fenning was able to
become the committee Of hundreds of
insane patients, many of them vet
Grams of wars, to whom the Govern
ment was making liberal allowances,
and from which allowances Mr.. Fen
ming was enabled to collect commits
sions, which commissions during the
high tide Of his committeeship
amounted to approximately $4,000
per year, is practice which cannot
be too severely criticized and con-
demned and Congress should forth
with and without delay enact legisla-
ton which will forever correct this
evil and prevent any one in the flu
ture from protiting from the misfor-
tunes of others who in times of dis
tress sacrificed in behalf of our coun-
try.
81. There was evidence submitted
upon the question of Mr.. Jennings
connection with certain banking in
stitution and with a certain under
taking establishment. While this evil
dence does not indicate any wrong act
in that respect, but taken in connec-
: Ton, lo o{; t.,
pursued in becoming committee for a
large number of patients. the large
amount of money coming into his
hands because of such activities,
points to the building up of a system
through which all the profits accruing
might go to Mr.. Fenning, or to some
corporation, and is a further argu-
ment against one person acting as
committee for SO many unfortunates.
Points Out Remedy.
IS. Where insane ex-soldiers, sailors
and marines are concerned, the United
States Government should have Of
ficialS designated to look after, with
out charge. the estates Of such per
sons. and that no part of said estates
should be expended in commissions
or fees, but that the whole Of the
estates should be for the sole benefit
of the veterans and their dependents.
&c. The committee should not ac-
cept pay, directly or indirectly, while
occupying fiduciary relation. other
than by direct allowance by the court,
and even then, we think that in no
case should the allowance exceed 10
per cent of the estate Of the ward.
u. 1t appears from the evidence
that officials Of the District of Column
bia transact business with the District
through corporations in which they
are directly or indirectly interested.
This is a practice which is subject to
severe criticism and condemnation
and if continued necessarily leads to
favoritiSm and officials who follow
this practice cannot give impartial
service to the District of Columbia.
The practice should not be allowed.
''8. 1t is our recommendation that
the proper committees of Congress
should give early consideration to the
facts that have been brought out in
this investigation and recommend
remedial legislation"