Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-14
FORD'S THEATER DISASTER
The Death Claims Still in Allegiance Be.
tween the Houses.
MIR. Harris Indignant Mt the Hold.
.,r Back Policy of the House-Only
just Claims.

An echo of the Ford Theater disaster was
heaTd In the Senate yesterday afternoon,
just before the sundry civil bill WIS sent
BACK to a further conference between the
TWO houses. Senator Harris, the chairman
OF the select committee for the investiga-
ton OF the claims arising from that acct
dent, asked Mr.. Cockrell whether the disa-
greement upon the appropriation of $105,00
to pay the established death claims was
upon the principle of granting relief at all
or as to the amount of the relief to which
the Senate had agreed. Mr.. Cockren an
swered: 1.-THE disagreement is first on the
principle that if we recognize this liability
1t Will make the government liable in cases
or accident to railway mail employees, etc,
and extend the principles of liability of the
government to its employees beyond any
thing that has ever been done. The House
conferees have urged also that the House
mas had no opportunity to investigate and
consider the matter. Then they object in
one or two instances where they think
there were no relatives SO near to the de-
ceased as to entitie them to any compen-
sation that might be paid. They are very
stubborn in their opposition to this appro-
priation." .-.
Mr.. Harris replied with a most indignant
speech. in which he upheld the principle
mat the government Is liable for the loss
or life and the injuries caused by the fail
OF the 10th street building. He declared
that the sufferers in the railway mail serv-
Ice or any other government service bear
no sort Of parallel to the present case
Inc government owned the Ford Theater,"
ne said. THE government placed 500 or 600
or Its employees there to perform their Off
cial duties. The government undertook to
change that structure and by reason of
md IN tie. aNttfsn th.@
building collapsed and number of men
were killed instantly by the disaster. A
number OF other employees were more or
less seriously injured and many Of them
very seriously.
Il shall not undertake to assert that there
would not be legal liability under exact
iy the same facts occurring between en-
ploye and employer If they We're private in
divlduais and could sue each other, but i
need not assert the legal liability that en-
lists for the injuries thus sustained. Wheth.
or there be legal liability or not. no
fa1r-m1nded man can hesitate to believe
ana act upon the opinion that there is the
highest order of equity in favor of a fair
and reasonable compensation for the in
1urles sustained by reason Of that accident
The committee Of which I have the honor
TO be the chairman are unanimously of that
opinion. without the shadow of doubt or
dissent.
AS 10 the amount of compensation In the
death cases. there may be margin for diff
terences OF opinion, but that fair and
reasonable measure of compensation is de-
manded by every consideration of equity
and justice. no fair-minded man can doubt
In my opinion. From the unfortunate DO
sltion that occupy as chairman, / am the
recipient OF the statements of the suffering
widows and orphans whose husbands and
fathers were killed In that disaster Most
OF them today are suffering In penury and
want Delay Is exceedingly hurtful, If Il
may not be even more fatal than hurtful
The Senate amendment merely provides for
the death cases. The cases of injury re-
Qufre much larger scope and a more ac-
curate investigation than where the persons
were killed upon the instant Therefore. the
committee reported an amendment and ask
ed the committee on appropriations to in
corporate the aprropria tons to provide for
the widows and orphans of the persons
VINO were killed there. In respect to the
injured parties, the committee proposed To
scrutinize and carefully Investigate, and
lnally determine according to their honest
Judgment what measure of compensation
should be granted in each individual case
This much l have deemed ii due to the
position / hold to say to the Senate and
having said 1t I hope our conferees will
give 1t such weight in their Judgment
they think fair, reasonable and right" so
There was no further discussion of this
matter ard the bill was sent to confer
ence with the item still In dispute