The evening times., 1896-06-03
PAYING THE BILL IT list
House Adopts Amendment Re-
garding ford's Theatefviclims.
SOME CLAIMS THROWN OUT
They Are Those Named In Secretary
LnmOnt's Letter, and of Clerks De-
Have Been A ppreciab bly, Injured-Re-
referred to the Commission.

Mr.. Sayers began in the House today his
fight against certain of the Ford Theatcr
victims who are named as beneficiaries III
the amendment for their relief contained
in the general deficiency bill
During the consideration of partial
conference report on that measure Mr..
Savers made u motion to eliminate the
names of those who are believed not to be
entitled to relief. aud refer the further con-
sideration Of their cases to the joint COM
mission appointed for the purpose oradiu,a-
eating the claims for damages arising from
the collapse of the building.
The letter from Division Chief Brown
declaring that certain persons To whom
suns OF money have been allowed suffered
no injury, reported Immediately after the
accident and were not in the least incnn-
venienced by the disaster, was read ut
length from the clerks desk.
Mr.. Sayers called attention to the state
ment. which, lie said, spoke for itself, and
desired that the House should decide as
To whether $50 900 should be distributed
to those who were obviously not entitled
to its benefits.
SLOW IN PRESENTING TESTIMONY
Mr.. Daniels. a member of the joint com
mission, told of the methods pursued in ex-
-amining claims, and said the evidence seem
cd sufficient to warrant the findings in each
case. He considered it rcmarka bic that the
officials OF the War Department, who now
furnish statement adducing testimony
showing that certain beneficiaries are not
entitled to the sums awarded them, had not
presented such evidence to the commission.
as every opportunity was afforded for them
doing SO.
AT the same time, Mr.. Daniels said. II
doubt existed as TO the justice aud merit OF
any further claim, ne was as willing that
Observation-Disclosures should be m ade Those
who now make the charge that the I'M
deserving had been named as beneticia ries
had not uttered one syllable during the
long period that the commission devoted
to the examination of witnesses.
Mr.. Bartlett. or New York, spoke In op-
position to the Senate amendment, and
SAID II would be extraordinary il the House
should agree To pay those de ella red undesery-
Ing by the officials in charge Of the ne u
VINO claimed tu have sustained serious in
jury. All the government employees IA
niliar with the facts, lie said, are unani-
nous In declaring that those specified
sustained no damage whatever. as they
reported for duty, without complaint or
comment, three days after the disaster.
Mr. updegraff said the commission had
performed It's duty and is now extinct
There Is no commission to which claims
could be re-referred. He had gone over
every syllable OF testimony and reduced
each claim to the lowest denomination and
he had become convinced that tie victims
OF the Ford's Theater disa astcr would never
approximately receive their Just dues until
90 per cent was adde q to the sums already
allowed,
Mt. updegraff declared that the build
ing was pulled down 'nsn the helpless EN-
pioyes through the. grosS negligence OF gov
ernment officials, which Swolii in any other
case have been regarded as criminal.
CLAIMS WERE SuBSTA
Continuing, Mr.. Updegrarf read from tie
testimony to show that the claims were
suhstaniiated, and denounced the reading
OF letters refiecung upon the commission
by minor and Unknown officials of th,. ~, >