Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-16

carried on by a committee Of Congress
representing the American people.
DIR. Eldridge replied, Yes, and the
American people are getting full serv-
ice for every dollar they pay me"
Mr. Blanton remarked, "Oh, you think
you are worth all you get. Wen, l
don't think I'm worth all l am getting;
in fact, ] was willing to continue
working for $780," When DIR. Ed.
ridge said, IT agree with YOU" Mr..
Blanton declared. II am going to find
out all about you"
Mr.. Blanton declared, IF Walconls
died from being in a pack too long,
then this is a false statement In the
record as to the cause Of death. .
The witness answered, but that is
not a fact" initiating Mr.. Blanton.
Mr.. Gibson assured DR.. Eldridge,
who sought to insert statements In
the record, that DR.. White would be
given an opportunity to make state
ment in reply to any charges. He
and Mr.. Blanton both said they
wanted the record in regard to the
death Of Walconis testified to by the
doctor who made the record. Dr.
Eldridge was allowed to insert the
report of the autopsy, at which he was
present.
District Support Opposed.
Mr.: Gibson then put into the record
the report of Auditor Donovan on
letter from Jesse G. Suter, represent
ing the Citizens Advisory Council in
which complaint was lodged with the
Gibson subcommittee against the Dis
trict being obliged to pay Sl.l60,0Oo
last year for support of insane at ST.
EliZabeth's and 81 900. 600 i'll the APP
preparation bill for the next fiscal
year. Mr.. Suter had expressed doubt
as TO the legality Of charging the DIS
trict for the support of many INDECENT
insane patients sent to st. Elizabeth s:
Auditor Donovan in his report stated
that the District did not permit IT
to raise the question of indigency in
any case of a commitment TO the hos
pital by the District Commissioners.
He also reported that the District is
required to compensate the hospital
whether indigency is OF is not pres
ent.
1t was at this point that Mr.. Gibson
said that the controller general ought
to make an investigation Of St Eliza
beth's to determine equities in th!s
matter. He insisted that the District
should be responsible only for bona
fide residents of the District sent 10
the institution and the suocommlt
tee was agreed that there was no rea
son why the District should be
charged for INDECENT insane except
such as where bona,fide residents.
Col. Bell agreed with the subcom
mittee and said that the appropria-
tons made for this purpose are ex-
cessively large. being almost one
thirtieth of the total appropriation Tor
all purposes in the District; that many
of these insane people come here TO
see Congress or the President ana
that many times they were critters.
Representative Gilbert suggested mat
perhaps they came and listened 10
congress for a little while and went
crazy.
Nav Demand Witnesses.
Mr.. Gibson then made a statement,
saying. I'VE are pursuing this IN
vestigation under some difficulty. We
have no examiners TO study the tes-
timony. We have no investigators TO
dig I'D evidence for US. The members
of the committee have to get that for
themselves. We are mourning no
expense beyond the cost of TRANSCRIPT
ing the testimony. We have had
very good cooperation from District
officials. and the committee is CRATE
full to them for the fine spirit OF help
fulness they have shown. Some wit
nesses have refused to come. Ii those
witnesses continue TO refuse. we Will
apply to the House. and If authority
is granted we will have those wit
nesses taken into custody by the
sergeant at arms"
Fenning Aides Noted.
Mr.. Blanton said that that state
ment applied especially to Paul V.
Rogers, a former law partner of Mr.
Fenning, who now occupies the same
offices with him in the Evans Build
ing, and whose name has appeared
with Mr.. Jennings on official court
papers in several cases which have
been brought TO the attention OF the
committee: and to Helen LoZano. a
clerk in Mr.. Jennings law office.
whose name also has appeared in
court papers. and who have refused
to present themselves at the past
two meetings of the committee.
w ii. Hayden, a record clerk at the