Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-15
RELIEF FoR MARTINIQUE.
House Appropriations Committee is
Waiting,

Chairman Cannon Of the House commit
tee on appropriations does not contemplate
calling q meeting OF his committee today
to take action on the Senate proposition to
make the total OF the Martinique relief
fund $500. 900. II L. not likely that action
Will be taken until further word comes
from the President that more funds are
needed.
1t Ii stated at the War Department that
the supplies and stores shipped 20 Mar
Unique and st. Vincent on the cruiser
Dixie from New York and on the collier
Sterling from San Juan viii undoubtedly
be sufficient to meet the needs OF the SUI
fering people for fully q month to come,
and that the present efforts of the govern
menting the food supplies contributed by
the people so AZ to make them immediately
available. Secretary Root has authorized
the ofacers Of the commissary department
at New York to purchase any additional
supplies that may be necessary to supple
ment those contributed by private firms
and individuals for shipment to the scene
of the disaster by the cruiser Buffalo. now
loading at New York. or by other vessels.
Consequently private donations Of -four
yeast by the government, and the same
with Goldfish and other food supplies which
require other articles to make them avail
able as food.
The government has already expended
little over 100000 OF the available appro-
priation of 100000. and as much Of the bal
experimenting the food supplies contrib
uted by firms or individuals. As has been
already stated, the administration officials
anticipated the action Of Congress in pro-
yiding for the immediate relief OF the sit
uation, with the result that the Sterling
sailed from San Juan with supplies within
five hours from the time the appropriation
became available. and the Dixie sailed from
with in pN-
actly twenty mine hours after the President
signed the act making the appropriation
These two vessels carry more than thirty
six days rations for $1,000 people. together
with proportionate amount OF clothing
tentage, etc.
The supplies contributed by the people of
the United States will be forwarded on the
Buffalo, and on other vessels il necessary,
and it is believed that II will not be peces-
sary to expend any more of the appropria-
ton except as indicated, to supplement
the private supplies
These shipments were made to meet the
pressing needs Of the moment. and they
will provide for the material wants OF the
sufferers for over month Ii Is believed
that II may not be necessary for this gov
eminent to extend any further aid, in
the meantime the French government will
undoubtedly have made ample provision
to meet the situation in a more permanent
form.
Capt Henry G. Cole. commissary, has
been ordered to New York for duty on the
next vessel to take stores to Martinique.
He will take charge Of these stores and de-
liver them at the points of destination.
Secretary Root has accepted the offer OF
Mr.. Louis Klopsch of the Christian Herald
to send 1000 barrels of -four to the Mar
Unique sufferers and directed that the -four
be carried on government transport TO
the stricken islanders. The offer to send
twenty trained nurses will not be acted on
until it is known whether not they will
be needed.