The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-11
MEETING DISASTER FIRMLY
BALTIMORE MILL ACCEPT AID
 OF FEDERAL TROOPS.
Decision Reached a, Meeting Of Mayor, specisi Committee of the Legislature and Many Prominent Businsss Men The Prssent Not . Time for Sentiment Millions in Treasure Lie Buried Bee meath FtrsRuins and Must he Prop ..,v p.o,eet.d.
erIy Protected.

l Baltimore. Feb. 10.--The situation in stricken Baltimore began to clear to- day after a conference at the Belvidere hotel between Mayor McLane, a special 1 joint committee of the legislature and formidable delegation of representa- tive business men, This conference was arranged with a view of meeting in a practical way the exigency which this afflicted community faces. Besides the mayor there were present influential members of the state lawmaking body, | the board of public works, including State Treasurer Vandiver and a dozen bank presidents, Former Governor Smith, United States Senator-elect Isa- dor Rayner. and several leading citi- zens.
 l The supreme question to be decided was that of calling upon the national government for soldiers to take the places of the two state militia regi- ments now doing police duty in the burned district. The constitution of Maryland requires that no such request can be made of the president except by authority of the state legislature. The l legislative committee was present to hear views on that point
 | It required only a brief discussion to --nd that every one present was of the opinion that this is not a time for senti- ment as to the ability of the state to take care of itself. and that the United States soldiers were needed at once. On this score it was shown that the militia men were really much exhausted by l their long continued sentry duties, that they should be relieved in order that they might return to their vacations and that the militia on active duty is costing the state $50,000 day.
 1 Mayor McLarle was particularly ir- sistent that efficient guard of the hun buried beneath the smouldering ruins called for the strong arm of the federal soldiers The announcement of the leg isla tive committee that it would recon- nerd at once the passage of the neces- sary resolution was received with great pleasure. and now that the legislature has formally acted there is every assur- ance that a cordon of regulars around the devastated region will inspire a feeling of hopeful confidence. The peo- 1 pie tonight are expressing immense qualification over the prospect of seeing Uncle Sans men in blue doing police duty over the ruined district.
 Mayor McLane's announcement that l he will appoint an emergency commit < tee Of citizens to act as an advisory board to himself and other municipal officials on all matters pertaining to clearing away the ruins, enforcing of sanitary regulations and issuing of building permits is a great step forward in the way of putting the situation upon Q practical business~like shape.
 Merchants and bankers have been conferring to-day, and the prevailing conviction is that 1t will require the ut most vigilance to prevent the defiecton 5oe a considerable volume of commerce Ito Philadelphia and New York. It is I Continued on Third Page.)