The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-08
HELP FOR THE MISSISSIPPI SUI
FERERs FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
APPROPRIATION OF 100000.
RED RIVER OF THE
NORTH.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM M'KINLE,
Congress Urged by the President to
Take Prompt Measures to Re-
Heve the Distress.


dent today sent the following message
to the senate and the house of repre-
sentatives:
me from the governors of Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana, and from prominent
cluzens OF these states and Tennessee, war
rants the conclusion that widespread Distress
involving the destruction of large amount
of property and loss of human life has re-
suited from the floods which have been sub
merging that section of the country. These
are stated, reliable authority, to be the
most destructive floods that have ever de-
vastated the Mississippi valley, the water be-
Ing much higher than the highest stage it has
reached before. From Marion, Ark. north of
Memphis, to Greenville, Miss, a distance of
more tan $50 miles by river it is reported
there are now at least fifty towns and viii
Iages under water, and a territory extend
ing from 100 miles north of Memphis to 200
miles south and from five to forty miles
WIDE is submerged. Hundreds of thousands of
acres OF cultivated soil with growing crops
are included in the submerged territory In
this section alone there are from so 900 to
$1,000 people, whose property has been de-
stroyed, and whose business has beeen sus-
pended. Growing crops have been ruined
thousands of cattle have been drowned and
the inhabitants of certain areas threatened
with starvation. AS a great majority of the
sufferers are small farmers, they have thus
been left entirely destitute, and will be un-
prepared for work even after the floods have
subsidized.
The entire Mississippi valley in Arkansas
Is Hooded and communication with many
points cut off. In Mississippi a like condi-
ton exists. The levees in Louisiana, with
single exception, have held; but the water
is rising and the situation there is reported
as being extremely critical
Under such circumstances the citizens of
tnese states look for the cooperation and
support of the national government in reliev-
ing the pressing cases of restitution for
1000, Clothing and shelter which are be-
yond the reach of local efforts The authorities
nave communicated wit no
recognize that their first and most energetic
DUTY is to provide as far possible the
means means OF caring for their own citizens, but
nearly all of them agree in the opinion that
after their resources have been exhausted A
sum aggregating at least $3.50 0OO and posi-
oV $Zo0OoO, will be required for immediate
Precedents are not wanting that in such
emergencies as this congress has taken
prompt generous and intelligent action, in
VoIVlhg the expenditure of considerable sums
OF money, with satisfactory results In 1874
$59O,0CO was appropriated, and in 1882 $3.50 900
was also appropriated for relief in the same
The citizens relief committee of Memphis
Peadv mas cared taken zen prompt action
and they aPe s TIN arP 2Rd9a Gi'tr tbs;
city In large numbers daily Supplies
ana provisions have been sent to the various
points p,. IN Arkansas and Mississippi by this
committee, but the most that can be done
by these efforts is to partly relieve the most
acute cases of suffering. No action has vet
betn taken Ior the great majority of the in
haDltants living in the interior, where the
condition has already been described
Ohuer these condt ions, having exerted them
serves 70 the fullest extent, the local author
iles nave reluctantly confessed their Inability
10 further cope with this distressing situation
unalded by relief from the government.
roI IL mas therefore seemed to me that the
represent at1yes Of tie people should be pronpt
~ informed of the nature of these stricken
peope, ana have communicated these facts
IN the hope and belief that the legislative
Drahch OF the government will promptly re-
enforce the work of the local authorities in
the states named. William -NcI[inIo,, -
Inc house acted promptly on the
message and adopted a joint resolution
authorizing the secretary of war to
expend $4,000 for the relief Of the
hood sufferers Mr.. Catchings Dem,
Mlssl presented the resolution. Mr.
Walker Rep., Mass) made some oh
lection and a sharp personal debate fol
lowed. Mr. Gaines Oem.. TennD read
a telegram from the governor of Ten
nessee, IN reply to a request for infor-
nation as to the condition in that
state. The governor wired:
In a deplorable condition. Bill now
pending for $4,000 appropriation by the
legislature"
Mr.. Walker sarcastically asked If Mr..
Gaines did not think the amount Of
the Tennessee approximation should he
reduced to 500. 1t was explained hv
Mr.. Carmack (Dem., Temp that the
people in that state who needed relief
were refugees from Arkansas. There
was no more debate and the resolu-
ton was adopted without dissent.
The reading of the message in the
senate was followed by the passage Of
a joint resolution, offered by Senator
Jones (Ark), apprOpriating $3.50, 900 TO
be Immediately available for the flood
sufferers
Mr.. Nelson Rep.. Minn.) moved an
amendment including the Red river of
the North with the Mississippi in the
terms of the resolution. Mr. Jones.
author OF the resolution, pleaded
against the embarrassment of the reso-
luton with the Red river amendment.
The resolution, he said, had been franz
ed after the most careful inquiry by the
president and the secretary of war
through the government officials in the
flood district. If relief was requisite
for the Red river, it could readily be
secured as separate proposition
Yielding to these appeals, Mr.. Nelson
withdrew his amendment. After the
passage of this resolution a message
was received from the house of repre-
sentatives, reporting the passage by
that body of a joint resolution appro-
priating 100000 for the food sufferers
along the Mississippi river and the Red
| river of the North.
Mr.. Jones stated that the house res
olution was the same as one Just pas
sed by the senate except that $50, 900
was added and the Red river Of the
North included. He, therefore, moved
the passage of the house resolution
and this prevailed without division. The
original senate resolution was then laid
aside.
The president signed the resolution