Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-05-27
PRESIDENT ASKS AID.
CONGRESS URGED TO SUCCOR
STARVING AMERICANS.
Message to Congress Asking that
$4,000 Be Appropriately Destitute
Americans in Want-Speedy Action
by the Senate.
To Aid the Needy in Cuba.


President Mckinley Monday sent q
message to Congress urging that 500, 900
be appropriated, to be Immediately avail
able under the direction of the Secretary
of State, for the relief of destitute Ameai-
can citizens in Cuba. Prompt action was
taken by the Senate, which passed with
out division a resolution in accordance
with the recommendation of the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Hit of Illinois introduced a
similar bill in the House, but immediate
consideration was blocked by Mr.. Bailey
of Texas, who insisted that an amend
ment be added embodying Senator Nor
gan's resolution for the recognition of the
Cuban insurgents. Mr.. Dingey objected
to the amendment, whereupon Mr.. Bailey
objected to the bin and the whole matter
was sidetracked.
The Presidents message is as follows:
''To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States: Official
information from our consuls in Cuba es-
tablisaes the fact that a large number of
American citizens in the island are in a
state of destitution, suffering for want of
food and medicines.
This applies particularly to the rural
districts of the central and eastern parts.
The agricultural classes have been forced
from their farms into the nearest towns,
where they are without work or money.
1.-The local authorities of the several
towns, however kindly disposed, are un-
able to relieve the needs of their own peo-
pie and are altogether powerless to help
our citizens.
'0The latest report of Consul General
Lee estimates six to eight hundred Ameri-
cans are without means of support.
II have assured him that provision
would be made at once to relieve them.
To that end i recommend that Congress
make an appropriation of not less than
$4,000 to be Immediately available for
use under the direction of the Secretary
of State.
ut is desirable that part of the sum
which may be appropriated by Congress
should, in the discretion of the Secretary
of State, also be used for the transporta-
ton of American citizens who, desiring
to return to the United States, are with
out means to do so.
"WILLIAM M'KINLEY."
Following the reading of the message
Senator Davis of Minnesota, chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
favOrably reported, with amendments, the
resolution introduced by Senator Calm
ger last Thursday appropriating $4,000
for the relief of destitute citizens of the
United States in Cuba. The resolution,
as amended, is as follows:
Resolved, By the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States in
Congress assembled, that the sum of $50,-
600 be and the same is hereby appropriate
ed out of any money in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated. for the relief of
destitute citizens of the United States in
the island of Cuba, said money to be ex-
pended at the discretion and under the d.
rection of the President of the United
States in the purchase and furnishing of
food, clothing and medicines to such Gti-
zens and for transporting to the United
States such Of them as so desire, and
who are without means to transport them
selves"
Senator Davis asked for immediate con-
sideration of the resolution and there was
no objection.