Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-21
ASKS FOR MORE MONEY
The President Recommends
Another Relief Appropriation.
s1,5oo,ooo is NOW DESIRED
Secretary Taft Tells Of Departments
Work.
DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS
Reports From Generals Bell, Hum
phrey and Sharpe and Surgeon
General o'Reilly.
$500, 900 IS NOW DESIRED
DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS

fTSSlQent hOoSeVeit To-Day sent to COn-
gress a message. accompanying documents
and papers from the War Department. rec
ommending the appropriation Immediately
Of an additional one and half million
dollars for the relief of the sufferers by
the calamity at San Francisco
The President today conferred with Sec
retary Taft with Senator Allison, chairman
Of the Senate committee on appropriations,
and with other senators and representatives
about the need of further aid for the resi-
dents Of theEtricken city, and decision
was reached that Congress should be re-
quested to appropriate the additional 81
100000. Assurances were given by the
members of Congress that the appropria-
ton would be made.
Following is the text Of the President s
message:
ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
I submit herewith letter of the Secre-
tary OF War. with accompanying documents
including a form of resolution suggested
for passage by the Congress.
This letter refers to the appalling catas-
trophe which has befallen San Francisco
and neighboring cities, a catastrophe more
appalling than any other Of the kind that
has befallen any portion of our country
during its history. l am sure that there is
need on my part of no more than a sug-
gestion to the Congress in order that this
resolution may be at once passed. But /
urge that instead of appropriating a further
sum of 81, 100000 as recommended by the
secretary OF War, the appropriation be
for million and half dollars The SUD-
plies already delivered or en- route for
san francisco approximate in value a mil
lion and half dollars, which Is moro than
we have the authority In law as yet to pur-
chase. I do not think 1t safe for us to
reckon upon the need Of spending less than
million In addition. Large sums are be-
Ing raised by private subscription in this
country, and very generous offers have
been made to assist us by individuals Of
other countries, which requests. however,
have refused, as, in my Judgment there
is no need Of any assistance from outside
our own borders-this refusal of course. I'm
no way lessening our deep appreciation of
the kindly sympathy which has prompted
such offers
THE detailed account of the action of the
war Department IS contained In the appen-
dices to the letter of the Secretary of War
AT the moment our concern is purely with
meeting the terrible emergency of the mo-
ment Later 1 shall communicate with YOU
as to the generous part which / am sure
the national government will take In meet
ing the more permanent needs of the situa-
ton, including, of course, rebuilding the
great governmental structures which have
been destroyed.
Il hope that the action above requested
can be taken today.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House April 81 1907
The letter of Secretary Taft to the Pres
fdent recommended that Congress be re-
quested to appropriate another 81 OOo, 900 to
enable the War Department to carry on the
work or relief at San Francisco
Accompanying the Secretary's letter are
reports from Gen. Bell. chief of staff Quar-
termaster General Humphrey Commissary
General Sharpe and Surgeon General
OReilly. detailing just what has been done
10 HrOt fr1
had overtaken San Francisco. These re-
ports also embrace complete recapitula-
tion of all teleSrams sent and received.
Secretary Taft's Letter.
Secretary Taft's letter summarizing the
situation is as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT., WASHINGTON,
April d, 1906.
Mr. Dear Mr.. Presdent.-The situation In
San Francisco is such as to require an ad-
ditional appropriation from Congress to
meet the necessities of the people of that
stricken city who are Immediately In need
of shelter and food. The War Department
has rendered all the assistance possible, be-
ginning it's orders soon as the first tele-
gram was received from Gen. Funston,
about midnight of the 18th instant In
deed q telegram was sent by Assistant
Secretary Oliver to Gen. Funston immedi
ately upon the receipts of the news Of the
earthquake, on the morning or the 18TH,
directing him to- render all assistance
possible.
From the night of the 18th Of April all the
available stores of the army of three de-
partments have been used for relief pur-
poses, assuming that the action of this de-
partment would be ratified by Congress in
accordance with precedent in similar cases.
The memorandum of the general staff,
which accompanies this letter, shows the
kilograms received from Gen. Funston.
which gradually developed the extent of the
terrible disaster. and increased the amount
of supplies of every kind needed.
All subsistence and quartermaster's sup
plies and all medical stores of every kind
which were in the military depots In San
Francisco were destroyed, except the local
supplies for the troops stationed at the post
of the Preside at San Francisco. Accord
ingly everything had to be ordered from
distance. There are now on the way by
special trains from every available and con-
venient point where they were stored 900 900
rations. which means the rations for 100000
soldiers for one day. The value of these ra-
tions is estimated by the commissary gem
eral to be $685. eco. Two hundred thousand
of these rations have probably reached San
Francisco this morning, in charge of COM
missary officers
The quartermasteris department have ex-