The news & observer., 1897-04-07
THE SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President May Not Ask Aid for
Flood Sufferers.

Washington, April 6.-President Me
Kinley may abandon his idea of sending
special message to Congress tomorrow
asking for legislation for the flood suf-
ferers. Such action, it is thought, is rem
dered unnecessary by the passage by the
Senate yesterday Of the Bate resolution
appropriating for the relief Of the flood
sufferers the unexpended balance of the
appropriation made from time to time to
meet contingencies in connection with
cholera and other epidemics. Mr.. Nc
Kinley sent for Secretary Alger late
this afternoon and had a consultation
with him on the subject. Since the Sen
ate had already initiated such legisla-
tion as he would propose in his message,
the question was as to whether action
by him was not rendered unnecessary.
Should he send a message it is probable
that he will recommend a specific appro
pria tion,~ either S150,000 or 100000, and
it is possible, in the event he does not
send to Congress a formal message, that
he will transmit the information in his
possession.
Senator Bate to-day, when question
ed on the subject, expressed the opin-
ion that if this joint resolution should
become law it would afford all the re-
lief that could be expected from the
government. He said that he had made
investigation, and had ascertained that
this fund, which had been set apart from
time to time for the suppression OF cpl
denies, now amounts to $450,000. This
would be more than ample for the pur-
pose The Senator also expressed the
opinion that the marine hospital service
having agents as it has in all the prin-
cipal cities, would be far more efficient
in the distribution of the fund than could
any newly organized service. He said
he had made sufficient inquiry to satisfy
himself that the resolution would be re-
ceiyed with favor by the House of Rep
resentatives and that the marine service
would cheerfully undertake the work if
assigned to it.
Washington, April 6.-Messrs. r. c..
Graves and j. S. Megken, representing
the citizens relief committee Of Memphis,
Tennessee, organized for the purpose Of
relieving the people of the flood country
tributary to that city, have arrived in
the city. They have prepared state
ment which they will submit to the Pres
ident. Among other things, it says:
From Marion, Arkansas, north OF
Memphis to Greenville, Mississippi, there
are now at least fifty towns and villages
under water, and the territory extending
from 100 miles north Of Memphis to 200
south, and from to 40 miles wide is
submerged and devastated by the flood.
Hundreds of thousands of acres OF cul-
tivated soil, with growing crops, are in
cluded in this submerged territory, and
there are from $4,000 to 10000 people,
whose property has been destroyed and
whose business has been suspended
thereby. The amount OF damage to prop
erty is incalculable. In addition to
the growing crops which have been de-
stroyed, thousands Of head Of working
stock and cattle have been drowned and
starved. After reviewing the work al
ready done by the relief committee, the
statement concludes:
~..They have now almost reached the
end of their resources, and reluctantly
confess their inability to cope with the
situation without obtaining relief from
the government"