The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-14
President Was of Opinion the $780,
900 Granted on Monday Was In
sufficient for the
CARGO FOR CRUISER DIXIE
FOOD AND CLOTHING ALREADY PUR-
CHASED AT NEW DIRK
Navy and war Departments Cooper
ating I'm Sending Ships to Marti-
nique-Other Relief Measures.

WASHINGTON. May 13. - President
Roosevelt. late this afternoon. approved
the bill passed b. Congress appropriating
500. 900 for the relief Of the citizens of the
French West Indies who have suffered
from volcanic disturbances
Soon after the Senate convened to-day
Mr.. Cullom, from the committee on fOreign
relations, reported a joint resolution ap-
pr~opriating $4,000. including the 100000 al
ready appropriated. 10 be expended under
direction of the President in such manner
as will most promptly and efficiently re-
Ieve the stricken people Of the French
West Indies and St. Vincent. The resolu-
ton was adopted without comment. When
it reached the House it was referred to the
committee on appropriations.
So comprehensiveiy laid were the plans
OF the War Department. yesterday. even
before the passage of the joint resolution
providing for the relief of the volcano suf-
ferers. there was really very little remain
ing for the officials 70 do to-day. The plans
OF the commissary department, made after
careful consideration of the news dis
patches from the Antilles, contemplate the
supply of 1900 rations for fourteen days.
The qu"artermasters department is pur-
chasing clothing supplies for 10000 people,
and the medical department is working in
proportion in its purchases.
In the Navy Department the carefully
planned relief measures were being carried
forward systematically and rapidly. The
Buffalo has been ordered TO be put in readi-
ness Tor lmmedldte use as a FOOD ana sup
ply transport Ia case ii should be decided
to send more supplies than the Dixie will
carry.
1t appeared by noon that so rapidly had
the governments agents worked that al
ready the War Department alone had
spent over 800 90 of the relief appropria-
ton. 1t was realized that several heavy
items remained to be made, and it was
the opinion OF the President and his Cabi-
net that the S100.000 appropriated yesterday
would not be sufficient to meet the emer-
gency Of the else. An effort was then
made to induce Congress 20 accept the
suggestion OF the President that 100000 be
appropriated.
1t appears that that part of the joint reso-
luton adopted yesterday requesting the
President to ascertain whether the extern
sion of our aid would be acceptable TO
France had been anticipated by the French
government The Presidents statement that
that government had requested that ships
be supplied TO cary away the survivors of
the catastrophe IN Martinique was at first
supposed 10 be based upon the statement
OF the Governor OF Martinique TO United
States Consul Ayme. IL appears, however,
that the request came directly from the
french government through Ambassador
Cambon. who personally presented the mat
ter TO the President.
ELOLl AAlA- AAt4tI OA NAt wa ant navy
Departments have decided To divide the
work OF relief 81 as to give the Navy De-
partIneut fun charge OF transportation and
~intrust the War Department with the ac-
cumulation of supplies. OF the little fleet OF
naval Golfers which was placed at the dis
posal of the relief workers by Admiral
Bradford, the LeOnidas. which is now dis
charging it's cargo of coal at Port Royal,
has been selected as the most suitable one
20 dispatch TO Martinique. and orders have
gone forward to load her with supplies and
get her under way as soon as possible.
There Is no lack of indications of spOn-
~taneOus offerings from all parts of the
country To-day a telegram was received
from the PittsbIrg Chamber of
asking the State Department If private con-
tributiOns would be received and how they
should be addressed. The mayor OF Detroit
sent a similar message and like kilograms
came from other points. The department
has as yet made no response a meeting of
the executive committee of the Red Cross
has been called at the State Department.
and IL IS probable that the suggestion will
be made that private contributions be
turned over to this agency. An original sug-
gestion came from a New York commits
sion house in the shape of a letter p~rOffer-
Ing one million pounds Of rice at cost price
and duty free to the government. The own
ers explained that they were able 10 make
this offer by reason of the fact that the rice
Is still in bOnd