Evening star., 1926-05-05
VETERANS GROUP
W|THH0LDS ACTION
IN FENN|NG CASE.
Will Study Other Matters Un-
til Judiciary Move Is
Disposed Of.
WHITE SAYS PATIENTS
ARE "MENTALLY ILL"
Declares He Testified in b-Leo-s
pold Trial to Put Psychiatry
on Map

legislation committee will ignore that
phase Of its investigation into guard
ianships of mentally incompetent vet
erans in the District and throughout
the country which involve the name
of Commissioner Frederick A. Fen
ming until the House acts on the reso-
luton reported yesterday by the judi
ciary committee directing and giving
1t power to investigate charges
against Mr.. Fenning.
Chairman Johnson, Republican.
South Dakota. today made this an
nouncement following an executive
session of the committee of one hours
duration. The committees action
was unanimous, Chairman Johnson
said and the procedure agreed to was
to continue with DR.. William A.
White, superintendent of St. Eliza
beths Hospital, who occupied the
stand, and then call Gen. Frank T.
Hines, director of the Veterans Bu
reau. BY the time Gen. Hines has
been cross examined the committee
feels the F'enning matter will have
been disposed of one way or the
other by the House.
DR.. White OH Stand.
DR.. White, who took the stand yes
terday afternoon, was croSs-eXamlned
throughout the morning session by
Representative Rankin, Democrat.
Mississippi. Mr.. Rankin centered his
questioning around Mr.. Jennings
guardianship of veterans at the hos
pital and also the procedure for COM
mitting and discharging patients. Eir-
tually all of Dr. Whites testimony
had been covered by him during his
four appearances before the subcom-
mittee of the House District COM
mittee.
In the course of his ss-examina-
ton Or. White emphatically denied
that there were any persons at st.
EiiZabeth's Hospital who either were
not mentally i'll" or had not been
adjudged insane by courts of COM
petent jurisdiction. For the benefit
of the committee he declared in his
opinion that no person could be called
insane" unless so adjudged by court
and those persons under his care
without this denomination were classi-
fed as mentally ill.,
Aren't you supposed to give all
YOUR time to the institution?" asked
Mr.. Rankin.
Put Psychiatry on Map"
That is stated in the law" replied
the witness, but it also says that |
am to provide the highest type of
treatment for the insane. That means
| cannot spend all my time running
around the wards, but to develop an
organization to give this care"
How did it help St. Elizabeth's for
you to go to Chicago. and testify in
the Leopold and Loeb trial?" asked
Mr.. Rankin.
I'm the first place" said Dr. White.
1.-The Leopold and Loeb case wasn't
a trial--it was a hearing. Now we
fellows who testified felt it was a mag
nificent opportunity to put psychiatrv
on the map. That was the spirit with
which we went there" The witness
added he spent many hours with the
two youths, declared they were not
only mentally sick" but both were
serious social liabilities"
DR.. White denied emphatically that
he ever authorized Mr.. Fenning to
write petitions in which the st. Eliza.
beth's head recommended him as COM
mittee; that he ever had an under
standing with Mr.. Fenning in which
the latter would be appointed guard
ian. or that he ever authorized the
Commissioner to sign his name.
Cites Veterans Cases.
The witness explained that many
cases came to his attention where the
Veterans Bureau or War Risk In
surance Bureau had appointed Mr..
Fenning guardian of World War vet
erans. "There were many times where
Mr.. Fenning was appointed guardian
without our knowing it," said the
doctor.
When it appeared to the interest
of the patient to have guardian ap-
pointed, and when there was no one
else forthcoming to assume the re-
sponsibility, DR.. White declared he
recommended Mr.. Fenning "as afsuit-
able person, because he had served
excelently in the field"
Action on the Blanton resolution
reported to the House yesterday by
Chairman Graham of the judiciary
committee authorizing the judiciary
committee to investigate District Com
missioner Fenning to determine
whether he has been guilty of any
acts which in the contemplation OF
the Constitution, the statute laws and
the precedents of Congress are high
crimes and nisdemeanors requiring
the interposition of the constitutional
powers of the House." has been de-
ferred until tomorrow under the rules
of the House.
Luce Held up Action.
Action was prevented yesterday by
Representative Luce, Republican, of
Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Luce stated yesterday that he
might desire to speak upon this reso-
luton when there was a full attend
ance of the House and in order to
prevent roll call at late hour yes
terday action was postponed.
This is calendar Wednesday, with
the military affairs committee having
an opportunity to present measures,
and in order not to interfere with
the rights of the committee. the reso.
luton went over until tomorrow. This
was emphasized at the opening of
the session today when MIR. Rankin,
active in the Fenning investigation
as a member of the veterans com.
mittee, asked when vote would be
taken on 1t.
Representative Blanton, Democrat,
of Texas, author of the resolution, re-
ceived unanimous consent from the
House to extend his remarks in the
Congressional Record by printing a
certificate prepared by Chief Justice
Meow Of the SuDreme Court of the