Evening star., 1926-04-15
House Veterans COMMITTEES {
Votes to Begin Inquiry in
D. c. Tomorrow.
LOCAL CONDITIONS FIRST
TOBE INVESTIGATED
Representative Luce Warns
Against Delay in Studying Past.
Urges Remedial Legislation,

OF guardianshipS for mentally incom-
petent beneficiaries of the Veterans
Bureau will start tomorrow before the
House committee on World War vet
Grams legislation.
The committee .at a meeting today,
adopted two resolutions for investi-
cation of guardianship matters to de-
termine what recommendations the
committee will make for legislation
to correct any evils found to exist.
one of these resolutions covered an
investigation of conditions in the Dis.
trict of Columbia, which have re-
ceived publicity because of Represen-
tative BlantOn's attack on Commits
sioner Frederick A. Fenning, and one
covered guardianship matters all over
the country. The investigation III
the District of Columbia is to be made
first, with hearings starting tomorrow
morning.
1t was declared at the meeting today
that about 100000 a year that
should go to mentally incompetent
veterans of the World Wa through
out the country is being squandered.
representative Bullwinkle of North
Carolina moved that Chairman John
rected to introduce a resolution for
investigation Of all matters of guar
dianShip affecting the wards of the
veterans Bureau who have guar
dians or COMMITTEES in the United
States. This re solution provides that
q report should be made TO the COM
mlttee for the purpose of pa ssing legs-
lation that may be found necessary
TO correct conditions.
Motions Are Made.
He emphasized that the first duty
is 20 put the fear of Cod into any
who have violated their trusts He
said that it is the duty of the commit
tee If any crimes have been commit
ed to bring them to the attention of
the House
The vote for the investigation OF
conditions in the District of Columbia
was taken following a statement by
Representative Gibson, Republican. OF
vermont. who is member of the
House District committee and who
himself has resolution pending seek.
ing general investigation of admins
tration Of District institutions and
agencies, designed primarily to clean
up the Fenning matter.
Mr.. Gibson said: IAN investigation
has been made by the gentleman from
Texas (Nir. Blanton). which shows that
the condition lis very bad. 1t shows
that Mr.. Fenning has received SIS, 900
from the Veterans Bureau alone and
$1,000 from all cases in which he
has been acting as guardian"
He contended that this is condi-
ton which should be investigated, and
said that members of the veterans
committee owe ii to Congress TO pre-
sent the facts.
The motion to hold hearings on
guardianships in the District of Co
lumbia with a view to remedying con-
ditions was made by Representative
Johnson of South Dakota. chairman
Of the committee. and was carried.
The motion for a general inve3tiga-
ton of conditions throughout the
country was made by Representative
Milligan. Democrat, of Missouri, and
was carried.
Warns of Lack of Time.
Representative Rankin. Democrat. uf
Mississippi, said that if the matter in
volved is a subject for impeachment.
it is our duty to report the matter
to Congress" He said that unless
some things are not explained and if
the information is brought to our at
tention that indicates officials should
be impeached, it is our duty to bring
it to the attention of the House"
Representative Luce, Republican. of
Massachusetts, warned the committee
against biting off more than we can
chew" He said that no matter how
fragrant the deeds have been by guar
dians, it is more important to close
the door against further happenings
than to investigate what has already
occurred. He advised the committee
to devote it's attention to the more i'm
porant duty of corrective legislation
in view of the coming adjournment.
Mr.. Luce pointed out that 1t would be
almost out of the question to work in
the afternoon and in the morning both
while the members of the committee
are crowded by other activities. He
argued that anything like an adequate
investigation cannot be made and
anything attempted in q short time
before adjournment would make it I'M
possible to submit a corrective
measure before the end Of thu session.
Says Criticism Demands Probe.
Mr.. Bulwinkle insisted that there
should be an investigation in view Of
the persistent criticism. The commit
tee. he said, should find out If men
acting as guardians have done
things like Mr.. Fenning did in the
District of Columbia. which is wrong.
He declared that the Veterans b.
reau did know what fees were beinG
paid to Mr.. Fenning. He urged thtt
there should be a Federal admin'stra
tor for the District Of Columbia guar.
dianship cases.
Mr.. Rankin said that If charges
against Commissioner Fenning made
in the resolutions now pending before
the rules committee are true, then
there should be impeachment pro-
ceedings.
Mr.. Johnson explained the situation
that exists throughout the country.
He counseled the committee that I'VE
should not waste precious time in III
vestigations which would imperil leg
islation" He made 1t clear. however,
that he is not opposed to the investi-
CATION He said that the investigation
might disclose insufficient bonds being
required for corrupt guardians
throughout the United States.
Discusses Local Furor."
Mr.. Johnson also discussed the 10
cal furor," expressing the opinion that
the investigation will show no vast
ing of funds in the District Of Column
bia but he expressed the opinion that
it might show high fees have been
charged. lie emphasiZe.t t'at a SINH
IContinued on Psags =. ColuAAA a