Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-04-10
FLOOD MESSAGE.
The President Asks Congress to AS
sist the High Water Sufferers.
PROMPT ACTION BY BOTH CHAMBERS
A Joint Resolution Passed Approprlating
6soO.o00-senator Morgan Speaks on
the Cuban war--Mr. simpson
diets After the Speaker.

Gcts After the Speaker.
WASHINGTON, April s--When the
senate assembled yesterday n special
message from the president on the food
sufferers was laid before 1t and read.
The message was as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives:
Information which has recently come TO me
from the governors OF Arkansas. Mississippi
md Louisiana and from prominent citizens OF
these states and Tennessee. warrants the con-
clusion that widespread disasters. involving
the destruction OF o large amount OF property
md loss OF human life has resulted from the
foods which have been submcrging that Sec
ton Of the country.
These nre stated on reliable authority TO be
the mos, destructive floods that hnve ever de-
vastated the Mississippi valley, the water
reaching the highest stage II has reached be-
fore. From Marion. Arls., north Of Memphis,
to Grcenvillc, Miss, distance OF more than
80 miles BY river, It Is reported there are
now ut least 30 towns and villages
under water and territory extending
from 100 miles north OF Memphis 10
2p0 miles south and from Ave TO 10 miles wide
In submerged. Hundreds Of thousands OF acres
Of cultivated soil, with growing crops are in
cluded In the submerged territory. In this sec
tion alone there are from 81. 90 TO 60OtO people
whose property has been destroyed and whose
business has been suspended. Growing crops
have been ruined, thousands OF cattle have
been drowned and the inhabitants OF certain
areas are threatened with starvation.
As great majority OF the sufferers are small
farmers. they have thus been left entirely
destitute and will be unpreparcd for work, even
after the floods have subsidized. Tho entire
Mississippi valley In Arkansas Is flooded and
communication with many points cut OF. In
Mississippi u like condition exists. The levees
In Louisiana. with single exception. have
held; but the water Is rising and the situation
there is reported Us being extremely critical
Under such circumstances the citizens OF
these states look for the cooperation and Sup
port OF the national government In relieving
the pressing cases OF restitution for food,
clothing and shelter which are beyond the
reach of local efforts. The authorities who
have communicated with the executive recog-
nizc that their first and most energetic duty Is
TO provide. rs far rs possible. the means OF car
ing for their own citizens but nearly oil OF
them agree In the opinion that after the re-
sources have been exhausted sum aggregate
ing ut least siJ0. COO and possibly s.0).00O will
be required for immediate use.
Precedents IRE not wanting that In such
emergencies as this congress has taken prompt,
generous and intelligen, action. involving the
expenditure OF considerable sums Of money
with satisfactory results In 1874 $4,000 was
appropriated and In lss? sJSo,0oD was also up.
propratcd for relief In the same direction, be-
side large sums In other years
The citizens relief committee Of Memphis.
which has taken prompt action. has already
cared for from COCO to 700 refugees from the
flooded district. and they are still arriv-
ing In that city In large numbers daily.
Supplies and provisions have been sent
10 the various points In Arkansas and
by this committee, but the
most that can he done by these efforts is
TO partly relieve the most acute cases Of suffer-
Ing. 30 action has vet been taken for the
great majority OF the inhabitants living In the
whose condition has already been de-
scribed Under these conditions and having
exerted themselves to the fullest extent. the
local authorities have reluctantly confessed
their inability to further cops with this dis
tre,sing situation unalded by relief from the
government
II has therefore seemed to me that the repre-
OF the people should be promptly
Informed OF the nature and extent Of the suffer-
Ing and needs OF these stricken people. and
nave communicated these facts in the hope and
belief tina, the legislative branch OF the govern
ncnt will promptly reinforce the work OF the
ocal authorities In the states named
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. April z. 1897.
After the reading of the message Mr..
Jones, of Arkansas, offered n joint reso-
luton appropriating sl5O.OOO for sup
plies for the southern flood sufferers. 1t
vas at once taken up, explained briefly
md passed. After this action by the
senate the house resolution increasing
Inc appropriation for the flood suffer-
,rs to 100000 and including in the
appropriation the overHowed districts
N North Dakota and Minnesota, in
she valley of the Red river Of the
iorth, was received and adopted and
,he senate's own resolution was recon-
iidered and indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama, then re-
'umed his speech in support of the
resolution declaring that n state of
war exists in Cuba. At two o'clock the
,enate went into executive session,
Ind at ego adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, April SIN the house,
.fter the presidents message was read,
Mr.. Catchings, of Mississippi, offered
md obtained consent for the immedi-
tie consideration Of resolution appro-
$500, 900 for the relief of the
iood sufferers in the overlooked dis
riots in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Z was at once granted precede nee and
passed without serious opposition.
An interesting feature OF the session
vas passage between Mr.. Simpson,
he Kansas populist, and Speaker Reed.
Nr. Simpson gave voice to the opposi-
ion to the speakers temporary policy
II inaction, which has been smolder-
ng in some quarters, by speaking to a
question OF privilege. He finished q
iery denunciation of the speaker by
that he appoint the COM
nittees of the house ut once and gave
notice that he would prevent any more
attempts to do business by unanimous
consent. Speaker Reed listened calmly
o the speech and then replied that the
pealSer was merely the instrument OF
he house; that he had enforced what
lie supposed to be the policy desired by
he majority and that the house had
,ower to command the speaker II it
of his course. At 1:2o p.
n. the house adjourned until Saturday.
There Must he Mistake.
WASHINGTON, April s.-The reports
rom Anadarko Oh in rcpard 10 the