The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-13
CONGRESS VOTES s2Oo,OOo
Continued from First Page.

] Continued from First Page.) visable for the purpose of rescuing ant
 succoring the people who are in peri and threatened with starvation, the
 sum of $200,000 is hereby appropriated.
 Tn the execution of this act the pres. 1 ident is requested to ask and obtain the approval of the French government and 1 is hereby authorized to employ any ves- sels of the United States navy and tc 1 charter and employ any other suitable steamships or vessels"
 1 MT Underwood of Alabama said that 1 he was opposed to the measure and would vote against it. Members were not here, he said. to legislate on the impulse of their heartstrings. He be- lieved it would have been more appro- priate for the president of the United States to send a message of condolence to the government of France. MT. McRae of Arkansas made an ap- peal for prompt and unanimous action in the interest of humanity. and MT, Livingston of Louisiana added the hope that the country would not turn back upon it's record for succoring those in distress without reference to nationali- ty or locality.
 MT, Fitzgerald of New York sought to have the amount amended to $500, ,000 in accordance with the presidents rec ommendation, but in view of the unani- nous action of the committee the amendment was not pressed, The bill was passed. 196 to g.
 Those voting in the negative were Messrs Burgess of Texas, Clayton of Alabama, Gaines of Tennessee, Lanham of Texas, Moon of Tennessee, Snodgrass of Tennessee, Tate of Georgia, Under- wood of Alabama, and Williams of Mis- sissippi.
 The senate concurred in the action of the house.
 The presidents message follows:
 ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
 tatives:
 "One of the greatest calamities in history has fallen upon our neighhoring island of Martinique. The consul of the United States and Guadeloupe has tele- graphed from Fort de France, under date of yesterday, that the disaster is complete, that the city of St. Pierre has ceased to exist, and that the American consul and his family have perished. He is informed that 30,000 people have lost their lives, and that 50,000 are homeless and hungry; that there is ur- gent need of all kinds of provisions and that the visit of vessels for the work of supply and rescue is imperatively required.
 "The government of France. while ex- pressing her thanks for the marks of sympathy which have reached them from America, inform us that Fort de France and the entire island of Mar unique are still threatened They therefore request that for the purpose of resouing the people who are in such deadly peril and threatened with star vation, the government of the United States may send, as soon as possible, the means of transporting them from the stricken island. The island of St. Vincent, and perhaps others in that re- zion are also seriously menaced by the calamity which has taken so appalling form in Martinique
 T have directed the departments of the treasury, of war, and of the navy to take such measures for the relief of executive discretion, and I earnestly commend this case of unexampled dis aster to the generous consideration of the congress. For this purpose I rec ommend that an appropria ton of $500,- GOO be made to be immediately avail. able. Theodore Roosevelt.
 White House, Washington, May 12, 1902"