Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-15
Victims of Ford's Theater Practi-
cally Ignored by Congress.
A JOINT COMMISSION PROVIDED
Senators Express Opinions Of the
Great Injustice.
ENDED FOR THE PRESENT

The heirs Of the twenty-one men who
were killed outright by the fall Of the Ford
Theater building a year ago last June will
not secure relief from Congress at this ses-
SIGN. The amendment to the sundry civil
bill appropriating slO5OOO to pay the twen-
| ty-one claims In the cases of immediate
death. which was inserted in the bill by the
Senate at the suggestion of the select COM
| mittee 10 investigate the disaster has been
| stricken out in conference. and a substitute
| provision added which creates a Joint COM
| mission to investigate all the claims, in
| cluding those resulting from the deaths,
| and to report to Congress at some future
time. This amendment has been agreed to
by both houses. and the last hope of legis-
| lation at this session is now gone
The amendment. however, appropriating
pay for these claims was not relnQuished by
the select committee of the Senate without
struggle. When the conference report was
laid before the Senate today Mr.. Manderson
who has been actively interested in the in
vestigation as a member of the committee
asked Mr.. Cockrell, chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations, If this was the
final report Of the conference. Mr. Cock
rell answerd affirmatively, and then Mr..
Manderson, after calling for a rereading of
the new provision for joint commission,
said:
i think this is a most unfortunate not
TO say cruel, result. The Ford Theater dis
aster occurred early in June. lsa3. The
whole country was shocked by that accI-
dent 1t was attributable clearly to negli-
gence somewhere, for which the govern
ment Of the United States is responsible
Twenty men were killed and over one hun
dred injured, and all were employed by the
government in clerical capacity in a ram
shackle building, which, without a mo-
ments notice. tumbled about their ears
The Senate appointed q special committee
In the main well qualified by experience to
investigate the matter. 1t has as its eff
cient chairman the senior Senator from
Tennessee, Mr.. Harris. and as members
Mr. Faulkner. Mr.. White. Mr.. Mcmillan
and the senior Senator from Nebraska
The committee was composed of four law
yers, men of large practice in their pro-
fession, and a business man, who has
They set themselves to work and had nu-
merous meetings. There were prepared
with great care the blank applications
which should form the basis Of each claim.
the committee that would not be imposed
had these men gone into court.
There has been no question In the minds
Of the committee but that the government is
liable In damages to these people who have
been injured and to the heirs of those who
were killed. There has been no question as
to the moral and equitable liability, and In
the mind Of no lawyer is there a question
upon private individual in a similar case
These blanks were prepared and filled out
with the greatest care. 1t devolved upon
me to examine the claims of those who died
Immediately as a result of the accident and
/ made very thorough exploration In
every line not only as to the character of
the injury where the death did not i'm
mediately follow. but into the circumstances
of the surviving members Of the families of
the dead men. We also Investigated the
extent of the injuries of the survivors, and
wish had the time and could go through
the list and show the deplorable condition
that confronted us In many many cases. /
wish l could speak adequately of the desti-
tuition of widows left with six and eight
children, without income, dependent upon
the charity Of the public or that of unwill-
Ing relatives, or those unable to give them
the sustenance demanded
The committee has been unable on ac-
count OF the long sess sions of the Senate to
give that thorough examination to all thcs.,
claims for Injury that is really necessary.
But great progress has been made Already
i understand that Senators Mcmillan and
White have made the exploration of the
claims submitted to them, fifteen or twenty
to each and are ready to report. In the
partial report made it was shown that
there had been sich investigation made
that during the coming recess it would
probably be possible TO give to all of the
claims the necessary attention, but in the
Teantime this partial report was made on
the death claims which were indisputably
this has been aba Idoned now. i see that
these people are going TO have that sick
ness OF the heart that comes from hope de-
ferred The proposition is now to have
joint commission sit at the next session of
Congress. We all know what that means.
Day will succeed day, week will follow
week and months will accumulate. and no
action will be taken, no relief will be given
to these people who are in such great suf-
feriEg and distress.
when can such a joint commission meet?
With this long continued session running
almost to the fall elections, there will be no
chance, If there were the disposition, for the
committee to get together during recess.
Then will follow the short session of Con-
gress. requiring Of every man all his energy
and time and certainly 1t will not be until
after the next session, at the earliest, that
there can be any progress made by the
commission, and then there will be no or
ganization Of the House to authorize such
a body to sit during recess.
Frankly. Mr.. Presidentl see a long vista
of years to come before relief can be given
to these people, to whom in common decency
and honesty We should make some payment
Immediately. 1 very much regret that
through some parliamentary juggling, that
/ for one cannot understand this reasonable
bill"
Senator White said that he fully agreed
with all that had been said, and asked IL II
would not be possible for the Senate to in
sist upoE It's amendment with the under
be glad to cooperate with the House COM
mittee In regard to any future action to be
taken on the claims for injury. These
cases of death, he said, are absolutely es-
| tablished and there could be no question
whatever as to the liability of the govern
! ment. Hence he did not see why the death
claims could not be settled now on the
basis of the inquiry already made
II have no desire to embarrass the COM
mittee on conference, in charge of this bIll,"
said Senator Harris. Believing that the
government ought to make a reasonable
| compensation to the heirs of the deceased
| and to those who are seriously injured 1
| introduced the original resolution that re-
| suited in this committee being organized
A vote was then taken on concurring in
the conference report, and 1t was agreed
! to without a division, although several
| voices were raised in the negative This
| settles the matter beyond any recall at
| this session.
| Without n Head.