The morning times., 1896-05-26
NEARLY UPSET 4 REPORT
Mr.. PenningtOn's Broken Nose
Discussed in the Senate.
FORD'S THEATER VICTIM
Mr.. Pugh Championed Opening Up
the Finding of the Com mmissioners
Appointed by Congress-The Motion
Only Defeated by Al Small Vote After
Warm Debate-Other Measures

Polk K Pennington's nose came near
opening up the entire report OF the Ford's
Theater disaster commission.
Mr.. Pennington's nose came SO near
doing this that it required a yea and
nay vote TO decide. The vote was only
five in favor OF sustaining the commission
and that after the two members of that
body in the Senate had told what all this
would mean.
Mr. Harris, who has been chairman of the
commission, said that if this case was
opened it would be July 4, before the
Senate would get through with these
claimants Ii the motion to reopen was
carried he should ask that each claimant
should be given a day.
This matter came up i'll the shape of a
motion made by Mr.. Pugh that the amount
appropriated to Polk X. Pennington, a
victim of the theater disaster, should be
raised from $500 to So $50 He read the
report of the commission itself on this
particular case and had the AFFIDAVIT of a
pension board, which examined Mr.. Pen
nington on May IS, also read.
MR. PUGH's CLAIM.
Reclaimed that the commission ma Y have
made mistakes. He knew Mr.. Pennington
and knew that his nose was disfigured
for life, and that he was otherwise in
jured.
Whom Of you queried Mr. Pugh, with
pathetic earnestness, would have his nose
permanently disabled for life for 5000
Mr.. Harris spoke vehemently in favor of
standing by the finding OF the commission.
He explained the mannerin which the work
was done. Told how the medical board
was appointed how each claimant and his
witnesses were heard. The result was
reached after most careful working. He
thought the report was fair.
MI Faulkner also told of the workings
of the commission and the sub-commission.
He warned the Senate against paying much
attention TO exparte statements and hoped
that the commissions work would be up
held.
Mr.. Pugh in answer claimed that -Mr.
Pennington was in bad shape, had leg
broken and his capacity to earn a living
reduced by half Mr. Pugh, at one time
grew sarcastic as he spoke of the harmony
of the commission and his reluctance to
disturb it,
on viva voce vote the chair was unable
for On the division the majority in favor
of Mr.. Pugh's amendment was large, but
there was u change when the Senate went
| on record. The vote in detail was as fol
lows:
VOTE IN DETAIL.
Yeas-AIen, Bate, Butler, Cannon, Chill
ton, Dubois, Hansbrough, Hill, Lodge,
Mitchell OF oregon, Peffer, Pettigrew
Pntchard, Pugh, Sewell, Sherman, Thurs
ton, Vest and Warren.
Nays-Aldrich, Allison, Brown, Caffery,
Chandler, C0ckrell, Cullom, Daniel, Faulkner
German, Hale, harris, Jones OF Arkansas
Lindsay, Martin, Mitchell of Wisconsin,
| Palmer, Perkins, Platt Roach, Smith,
| Stewart, Teller and Villas.
So it came that the report of the Ford's
| Theater commission report went through
Just before this a number of type errors
! in the names of some OF the claimants
were corrected at the suggestion Of Mr.
Harris.
In the case OF Francis W Test the AVA rd
of So, 900 was changed TO $4,000, and his
widow, Julia E. Test, was named as the
beneficiary. Pay was also appropriated
for the two members of the commission
who worked after their terms of service
had expired in the House.
An amendmentby Mr.. Pritchard of 81 ,00C
for the establishment OF the Washington
Institute for Colored People was ruled
out of order.
SAME FATE FOR ANOTHER.
The same fate awaited the bill, which
has already passed the Senate, for tn,
| relief of Emmert, Dunbar & Co, for Sill,
54S.22. hedebate on thequestion ofordeI
was an acrimonious one and Mr.. Gallnge
who Offered it, threate vengeance.
He evened up on the next amendment OF
fered by Mr.. Teller to hurry a claim o
Harris c. Hirst for breech-loading ordnanc,
in thecourt OF claims. He afterwards called
up the Emmert, Dunbar & Co, arnendmen
and it was agreed 70.
During the debate the action of the Hous
on the ga bill was reported and conferenc
asked
On motion OF Mr.. a lien nanamendmentw wa
adopted granting Messrs. Stout, Hall
Bangs $S7 ,290.10f for stonefurnis ned for til
walls and cellar Of the sub bas ement of tb
| TDnprpSEinuaI I