Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-18
AIDS INJURED GIRL SINGS "SWAN SONG
Senate Votes $8 600 to Miss Unce Joe Cannon Makes
Alice " Houghton. Speech in House,
EXEMPTED FROM SEIZURE NO REGRET AT RETIRING
Bureau Empoye Gets Speaker He Will Never
Once and SIS Monthly Seek Office Again.
SUFFERING GREATLY CORRECT ERRORS
MARITIME, Touching Appeal a in
Bill Goes Economic Training"
EXEMPTED FROM SEIZURE
Census Bureau Employe Gets $4,000
at Once and SIS Monthly.
STILL IS SUFFERING GREATLY
Wounds Have Not Yet Healed, Says
MARITIME, in Touching Appeal.
Bill Goes to House.

Substantial sympathy for the Years of
suffering of Miss Alice V. Houghton
whose scalp was torn off while she was
at work in the census bureau two years
ago this month, was shown by the Senate
this afternoon. when it passed a bill ap-
propriating 5000 for her. OF this amount,
5000 is to be paid at once and the
mainder is to be paid her at the rate of
$40 per month. 1t is specifically exempted
from attachment or seizure. the Senate
desiring that all of the money should go
to the young woman herself.
Miss Houghton was an eight-hundred-
and-fOrty dollar clerk in the census bu-
reau and had work in connection with the
tabulating machines in use for the CEN
sus of 1910. She dropped some cards on
the floor, during her work on the after
noon of January II. 1911, and stopped
over to pick them up.
Disfigured for Life.
AS she did so, her hair was caught by
a rapidly revolving shaft near the floor.
Almost in an instant, her scalp had been
torn from her head and she was dis
figured for live. She was hurried to the
hospital and for months the skill of
prominent physicians and surgeons was
Later she was removed to her home. The
wounds are still unhealed and the young
woman is constant sufferer.
1T has been two years since she met
with this disaster" Senator MARITIME of
New Jersey. her special champion on the
floor of the Senate. told the upper house
of Congress today. Il have been to her
home and personally know of her suffer-
ings. She is blind IN one eye, physically
weak. unable to read or write. Her scalp
IL unhealed, and the wounds have to be
dressed each day For two years the
young woman has suffered the tortures of
the damned"
Course of Senate Action.
The action of the Senate today was the
result of a request made by Senator
Crawford of South Dakota. chairman of
the Senate committee on claims, that the
bill be sent back to the committee for
further consideration.
Providing 81, 300 for her to be paid at
the rate of $50 per month, the bill was
passed by the Senate several months
ago. Senator MARITIME and others did not
think the amount sufficient and entered
a motion to reconsider the motion by
which the bill was passed. Since then
it has remained dormant in the Senate
and Senator Crawford asked to have 1t
taken off the Senate calendar by sending
1t to the committee.
Senator MARITIME objected to the re.ref-
erence to the committee. After making
his appeal for q larger compensation, he
moved that the bill be amended to pro-
vide 5000.
'she has been disfgured for life," he
added, land no amount of money could
restore her to health and happiness.
Newlands' Comment.
.If the claim Of this young woman was
against a private corporation instead of
the United States Senator Newlands
CONNIE ented, "a jury would have awarded
her $4,000 or $4,000 damages"
mo jury would have given her less
than $4,000" commented Senator Mar
tine.
Senator Crawford insisted that the bill
ought to be sent to the committee.
II ask for unanimous consent to the
immediate consideration of the bill,'' said
unison. The consent was given and Sena-
tor MARITIME formally offered his amend
ment for 5000
What amount has already been paid
Gailinger asked
Senator Crawford replied she had re-
ceived about S1.J00. and Senator Smoot
exIlained this amount represented years
salary and the payment OF medical and
hospital expenses
What has been received by the young
lady herself?" asked Senator McCumber.
Got Practically Nothing.
Practically nothing" replied Senator
Crawford 1.-The money given before was
used to pay the expenses of her medical
treatment
Does the amount proposed by the Sen
ator from New Jersey (Mr. Martinez COM
pensate the young woman properly"
Senator Newlands asked of Mr.. Craw-
ford.
No sum can compensate her." was the
reply. NO money can compensate for
loss of sight or permanent Disagreement
injury
Personally Mr. Newlands said, he
favored a still larger sum- But he was
willing to accept the suggestion of Mr..
MARITIME.
1t is very inadequate compensation
for the sufferings of this young woman"
ne concluded.
Not one voice was raised against the
amount proposed by Mr.. MARITIME. and
minute later the bill for 5000 was pass
ed unanimously. 1t now goes to the
House for its action.