The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-04-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

| The frightful calamity which has be-
fallen San Francisco has for the tune dis
| placed all other topics of discussion in the
National Capital. AS in all other big
cities crowds assembled about the news
paper bulletin boards all day and we'll
into the night and extra editions of the
papers sold out almost as soon as put
on the streets. On the cars, in the
social gatherings, in the homes and in
| Congress everyone asks for later news of
the holocaust. Washington, which is
largely made up of the residents of other
cities and states, has small city full of
Californians within her borders and the
anxiety of these as to the safety of their
/, friends and concern as to their losses are
shared by all who know them. III Con-
gress the feeling has been unanimous that
the country had experienced the greatest
calamity IL its history and during Thurs
days session all other business was dis
continued until some expression had been
given 10 the desire to do something for
the stricken city. Congress in this in
stance was prompt to act and without
discussion and with absolute unanimity
both houses agreed to the resolution APP
| propriating 81 900. 600 to be Immediately
available under the direction of the Sec
rotary of War for the purchase of supplies
| e. ;af of
fering in San Francisco and adjacent
cities. Conferences were held almost
hourly at the War and Navy Depart ments
and the White House and as soon as ii
became apparent from the dispatches
that the state would need Federal aid the
matter was presented to Congress and by
six O'Clock OF the day that the relief reso-
LUTON appropriating one million dollars
was presented in the House and passed
| by the Senate it had been signed by the
President and the Government Depart
for dispensing it. Not since the day hos
tilities were declared against Spain has.
the War Department presented such
scene of activity. Gen. Bell, the recently
appointed Chief of Staff was up all night
for two nights directing dispatches to
General Funston, who has charge of the
troops in the fire stricken city Late
Thursday the department chartered
special tran in New York, obtained right
of all roads and broke all records in hur-
rying supplies to the starving and home
less. Every bureau in the Navy Depart
ment was represented il the work, which
went on all through the day and night,
sending orders for supplies Tor the train
of twelve cars and otherwise supplement
The Representatives aud Senators from
California, almost frantic with personal
anxieties, were up night and day attend
| ing to relief work for their stricken neigh
bors and friends. Senator Perkins. who
is a wealthy man, pledged his private
fortune to the end that the War Depart
ment should be reimbursed for supplies if
Congress failed to vote the appropriation
but this he was not obliged to do since
Congress gave the money without hesita-
ton, and on Saturday supplemented it-by
voting an appropriation of an additional
million, making a total of $4,000, 900
appropriated by Congress for the relief OF
the earthquake and fire sufferers.
| Senator Newlands who is trustee for
No1sf0...:o
whose daughters fortunes are involved in
that, is one of the heaviest losers by the
earthquake and fire. He has been a very
wealthy man and his houses in Washing
ton are among the finest, aud his enter
taiuments and social relations of the most
exclusive, but his fortune has received
heavy blow and his losses, he estimates,
will amount to millions.
The President has displayed the keenest
interest and sympathy and he has sent
personal kilograms to the Governor OF
California, the Mayor of San Francisco
and himself given directions for the send
ing of all relief contributions to the Red
Cross Society of the United States, Presi-
dent Jacob Schiff, New York, in order
that they may be wisely administered
He has also issued orders to the heads Of
all departments that all possible assist.
ance be rendered with despatch for the
aid of the sufferers.
***
Senator Tillman, who is a small vol.
cano in a perpetual state of eruption,
broke out again last week, when he was
attacked by Senator Hopkins of Illinois.
AS in former years be did not attempt to
settle the discussion with his fists but no
one knows where the wrangle would have