Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-03
House Action on the Ford's Thea
ter Disaster Appropriation.
EFFECT OF SECY LAMONTS LETTER
Lively Debate Participated in by
Several Members.
MR.. UPDEGRA PLEA

deficiency appropriation bill came up Mr..
Sayers of Texas moved to strike out the
awards to those victims of the Fords Thea
ter disaster who were mentioned in the
War Departments recent letter, as pub
lshed in The Star. Mr.. Sayers had the let
ter read to the House, and the reading was
listened to with the greatest attention by
members.
Mr.. Sayers said he felt it his duty to call
the attention of the House to the facts set
forth in the letter, and afford an opportu-
nifty for the House to act.
Mr.. Daniels Proposition.
Mr.. Daniels of New York. a member of
the Ford's Theater commission, said the
| commission had exerted the utmost efforts
to get al the facts connected with ali
claims Mr. Daniels criticised the War De
partment officials for not presenting the
evidence which is now urged against the
claims at the time the investigation was
made. He said the officials were clearly in
fault in not bringing the evidence in SO
that it could be sifted. The officials knew
The commission was at work and wanted
evidence, and the testimony should not
have been withheld until after the award
was made. However, as long the charges
have been made by the War Department
against the claimants, he was willing to let
these particular claims go over until they
can be re-examined by the commission.
MIR. Cannon COncurred.
Mr.. Cannon concurred in Mr.. Daniels
suggestion and added that he favored refer
ing also the claims of the three legatees in
the bill, SO that the commission might de-
termtne whether the creditors of the de-
ceased will not have further claim against
the government.
Mr.. Bartlett (N.Y.) objected to the pay
ment Of the claims. The report of the Of
hc!als Of The government is unanimous
| against the claims, and it would be an ex-
traordinary proceeding upon the part of
the House. He was opposed to referring
the claims Of the three legatees to the COM
mission, but wanted them stricken out
altogether.
Mr.. Updegrnff's Reply.
Mr.. updegraff Uowa) held that the Ford's
Theater commission is extinct and there is
nothing to which the claims can be re-
ferred. AS member of the commission,
he had been over every syllable of the tes-
| timony and reduced it to fraction.
Justice will never be done these people"
said Mr.. UpdegraH. until 80 per cent is
added to the whole allowance
Where the New Evidence Came From
Mr.. Updegraff said the evidence submit
ted by Mr.. Sayers did not proceed from
Secretary Lamont, who would never sign
such document, but was signed by some
of the authors of this dire disaster" He
referred to the Fords Theater building as
having been pulled down by officers of the
United States through a negligence SO
gross to verge criminanty."
Mr.. tpdegrAff referred 10 the case of
Capt. Pillar, mentioned N the report, who
he said, had been manned for life by the
agents of the government He would be
glad to double the allowance to this man
Mr.. tpdegraff said that one of the men
who signed this letter, when was a dis
grace to the signers, was .he superintend-
ent of the building, who lid not have sense
enough to know whether the building was
being endangered by the removal Of the
central piers.
Medical Board Criticised.
Mr.. UpdegraT criticised the medical
board that examined the victims, and said
1t reported one man as suffering one-fourth
disability who was dying at the time, and
is now dead. His broken ribs had pene-
trate1 his liver.
MIR. Henderson Urges Payment.
Mr.. Henderson Of Iowa said the Fords
Theater disaster had shocked the civilized
world. A commission Of earnest and
able men had investigated the claims of
the victims and reported upon them. Mr..
Henderson did not believe the American
Congress should haggle and split over
these claims. The whole amount should
be allowed
Mr.. Hcnderson's remarks were warmly
applauded on the republican side of the
House.
What MIR. sayers Said.
Mr.. Sayers said he concurred in the SEN
timent OF sympathy for the victims, but
that could not lead him to agree to ex-
tending the beneticerce of the government
to people who were injured in the disaster.
In reply to a question Mr.. Savers said the
report on these claims had been submitted
to him by the Secretary of War. He had
been told that he could get some interest
ing information by applying to the Sec
retary of War, and had therefore done So
Mr.. Sayers was asked whether the sug-
geStion as to the existence of the informa-
uon came from any official who might be
tainted with responsibility for the disaster
He said the suggestion came from citi-
zen.
Mr. Hopkins wanted to know If any of this
signers Of the letter from the War Depart
ment had been indicted.
! Mr.. Sayers said Col. Ainsworth's name
was not on the document, and the signers
were not indicted.
Mr.. Henderson Again.
| Mr.. Henderson of Iowa said the claims
had been investigated by commission, one
member of W lom was honest Tom Upde-
Sran, a man whom he had known from
| boyhood, and in whose ability and integrity
| he had perfect confidence.
Il don't intend to let any secret hissings
| from men who We're here when this COM
mission met to prevent me from paying the
whole of these claims and wping out the
| blot that has come upon the escutcheon of
| my country
| Evidence Not Good in Court
Mr.. Hardy Of Indiana said the curse of
| God was on the Fords Theater building
| after the greatest tragedy since the cruci-
| fxion had occurred there. He thought the
| building should have been draped in black
tbirty-one years ago. with the inscription
| over the portals of Abandon hope all We
| who enter here
| Mir. Hardy said the evidence submitted In
| Mr.. Savers letter would not be accepted in
any court of justice in the land 1t was
| also well known in law that an employer
| who Injuries his employe by gross negligence
| is liable for damages.
| A Motion to Concur.
| Mr.. Updegraff then moved that the House
| concur in the Senates provision as to
| these claims-that is, to grant them all.
This motion took precedence over Mr. Say
ers' motion to strike out the claims of those