The morning times., 1895-12-16
RATES FOR DISABILITIES
Trying to Classify Ford's Theater
Disaster Injuries.
MEETING OF COMMITTEE
VIII Discuss the Amounts to Be Paid
the Veterans Over One
Hundred Thousand Dollars Has
Been Disposed Of-One Hundred and
Eleven Still TO BE Taken Care OF.

The Senate committee on Ford's Theater
disaster holds its first meeting OF the ses-
sion today. The special object of the meet
ing is to fix the maximum rate of disa-
bility.
1t Is the intention of the committee to
be able TO present a report to the Senate
at an early date. Most of the preliminary
work has been done and this meeting is TO
arrange for the final review.
"A subcommittee, consisting of Senator
Faulkner and Representative Updegraff.
has been appointed TO examine all the tes-
timony so lar presented. The committee
has a large task ahead of them but their
report is expected before the close of Janu-
ary. Soon after that the report will be
made to The Senate.
A YEARS WORK.
The general commission has been al work
almost a year now trying to settle hp the
claims of those injured in the disaster of
June .. 1898. when twenty-three clerks
were killed and nearly one hundred and
fifty injured.
The committee at present consists of
Senators Harris, Faulkner. White and Nc
MILAN. There is one vacancy to be filled
if the present organization of the Senate
holds. III n change is made there must
be Il decided shift in the committee.
These gentlemen decided long ago on the
killed. Itwas $1,000. There were twenty
three of these, so over 100000 has been
disposed of already. 1t is safe TO judge
that the amount for total disability VIII
be placed below that figure.
There are l / l cases to be rated by the
commission Each one OF these claims q
permanent disability though, of course. of
varying gravity. OF the number injured
N the collapse only ten made no claims TO
permanent disability. All the Others will
never be the same again, so they claim.
All these have been examined by the
commission, except two, who are out Of
the city. These claimants will be sent
for at an early date, and their story heard.
Each one> tells how he was in iured. the
.SteDt of his injuries. and brings witnesses
10 prove his statements.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
Z Then each one is turned over to a medi-
cal commission for examiD alton. This
committee consists of three surgeons.
and one from the Marine Hospital. This
board has held It's essioDs In the dlspensary.
1914 q street.
OF the Ill claima nts, all have been
examined by the surgeons but thirteen.
These thirteen will be sent before the
board soon, seven on Tuesday, the remain
up all the outside work. The commission
must then decide matters for itself.
There will be a number Of ratings to
be made. Very few people were injured
in precisely the same manner and it's
going to be very hard matter TO divide
the claimants into classes. This is the
work before the Senate committee which
meets this morning.
After the amounts have been decided on.
Senator Faulkner and Represent a tive
Jpipgraff will have a busy time. They
must examine each applicants case, his
own statement. the statement of the wit
nesses and the report of the medical
board. After their report is finished.
the bill will be prepared.
Ii il feared that there may be ficht
when the bill reaches the Senate. Each
one of the III applicants thinks his per-
naDeDt in Jury is as severe as any one else's.
and will want Just much. II he can
enlist the sympathy of a Senator or Repre-
sentative. he will try Ia have special
legislation in his case.