Evening star., 1897-01-05
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Bill in Regard to Expert Testimony in
the Local Courts.
Mr.. Chandler Proposes to Reduce
Per Cent for Three Years.

A bill to regulate expert testimony i'm the
courts of the District of Columbia was in
troduced in the Senate today by Mr.. Nor
rill. This bill provides that in all cases
where expert testimony is necessary in the
courts it shall be the duty of the trial
judge, subject TO review by the appellate
court, to decide whether the skill of any
person testifying as an expert is suttce.t
to entitle him to be considered as such. In
cases involving the sanity of any pers IN
the court is to name a commission of three
medical officers. skilled in the treatment
of mental disorders one to be chosen uron
nomination of the government one upon
nomination of the defendant, and one 20 be
selected by the court.
FOrd's Theater Disaster.
The committee on the Fords Theater
disaster has completed it's hearings on tes-
timony for the government in the cases
that were thrown out of the House bill, and
which have come before the commission
for a second hearing. The commission will
hold meeting tomorrow morning in Sena-
tor Harris room at the Capitol, and will
probably arrange to hear any additional
testimony that claimants may desire to
submit A report from the commission
may be expected within two or three
weeks, in time. it is hoped to have Con-
greSS take favorable action on any case
that may be found upon REORGANIZATION 10
be thoroughly worthy.
Wires for the Inaugural Committee.
Mr.. Mcmillan introduced a joint resolu-
ton in the Senate today authorizing the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
to grant permits for the stringing of tenn
porary overhead wires for use of the in
augural committee, these wires to be taken
down within ten days after March 4.
The Appropriation Bill.
The subcommittee on appropriations hav-
ing charge of the District appropriation
bill will resume it's sessions some time this
week, the date, however. not having yet
been fixed. Chairman Grout has returned
to the city, Mr.. Dockery is expected back
tonight or tomorrow, and the other MEM
bers Will be on hand within day or two.
The committee will then proceed rapidly
with the work of formulating the District
appropriation bill.
Among the members of the appropria-
tions committee there seems to be a dispo-
sition to treat the District bill with the
same consideration that will be accorded
other measures providing for the main
tenance of the government While it is
expected that the estimates, submitted
by the Commissioners, will be cut, il is
not thought that the District will be al
lowed to suffer to any serious extent 1t is
said among the members of the appropria-
tions committee that the depleted condition
Of the treasury must be borne in mind I'm
the preparation of all appropriation bills,
and that the District will have to take it's
place with the rest in this respect. 1t is
not anticipated, however that the proper
ton of the reduction In the District bill
Will be greater than in any other appro-
priation bill.
Fees for Health once Records.
The Commissioners bill providing that a
small fee be charged all persons desiring
office of the District was introduced in the
Senate today by Mr.. Mcmillan.
To Reduce Government Salaries.
Senator Chandler gave notice in the Sen
ate today Of an amendment to the legisla-
tive appropriation bill which will cause
CONSERVATION among employees of the gov
ernment. This amendment provides that
the salaries of all government employees be
reduced 10 per cent after June 80, 1897, and
that this reduction continue until three
years have expired. The object of the bill
is simply to permit the government to Sc
cure its labor during times of depression at
cheaper rate than prevailed when the
country was prosperous.
Another Retirement Bill.
Chairman Brosius Of the House commit
tee on reform in the civil service introduced
in the House late this afternoon bill to
provide for retiring clerks in the govern
ment service. THIS bill will be taken up by
the committee at its meeting next Friday,
and considered with the Tawney bill, now
pending.
The bill provides that. beginning with
next July, there shall be deducted from the
salary of each clerk in the classified service
OF the government per cent monthly, the
samc to be deposited to the credit of a
fund, to be known as the civil service re-
tirement fund. This fund is to be invested
by the Secretary of the Treasury i'm inter-
est-beaEing United States bonds, the bonds
to be sold whenever necessary to provide
cash.
After the 1st of July, 1901, clerks NAV be
retired at the rate of 75 per cent of the
highest pay received at any time by them
eligible for retirement are employees who
have served twenty years and are mentally
or physically disabled. They can be retired
voluntarily or compulsorily. Every person
who has reached the age of sixty years
and has been employed for thirty years
may be retired on their own application
Every person who has reached the age of
seventy years and has served for thirty-five
years shall be retired compulsorily.
Applications for retirement shall be made
to the civil service commission, and the
commission is authorized to appoint a
board, consisting of five employees at an
out of the retirement fund, to take charge
of the business of retiring clerks The bill
provides that any person who Is discharged
from the government service, or who dies
before becoming eligible, shall have the
amount OF their contributions to the fund
repaid.