The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-04-27
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
April 81, 1906.

propriating Sl,000,000 for the
relief of the fire and earthquake
sufferers was passed i'll record
time without a word of debate.
In less than six hours from the
moment it was Introduced i'll the
House it was through the House
and Senate aud had been signed
by the President. The only adj
ditiOn TO it was made the follow
ing day when joint resolution
was passed making it clear that
the funds were to be available 10
buy medicine as we'll as food.
This was a wise proVis0. but it
appears from the news that the
government has received that the
officers on the spot from General
Funston down are not likely to
let the letter of the law stand IN
the way Of relief work. They
have been in the habit of notify.
ing the department that they
have taken certain measures aud
asking if there was anything else
10 be suggested.
Since the first news OF the dis
aster the lights have not gone
out III he great State, War and
Navy buildings. 1t has been like
war times. Relays Of telegraph
operators have been working dav
and night. Secretary Taft and
Secretary Bonaparte have can.
celled all engagements outside OF
W aShlhgtOn TO give their undi-
vided attention to the relief work
and Secretary Metcalf. of the
Department OF Commerce and
Labor, has been hurried to the
Pacific Coast as the representa-
tive of the administration on the
spot This detail has been par
ticularly grateful 10 him as the
Secretary has son and a sister
i'll the doomed city and has heard
nothing from them since the be
ginning of the trouble.
The War Department has order.
ed practically all the tents IN the
army to San Francisco and more
necessary than tents has ordered
the commiSsarieS of all points
within reach Of San Francisco to
buy food supplies in the open
market and rush them forward.
IL was thought that the first train
OF government supplies would
reach the city on Thursday night
The War Department is sending
supplies from as far as the Schuy.
kill Arsenal and early on Friday
morning two specials of the de-
partment loaded with bedding
and tents paused for a moment
III Washington on its flight to the
coast. The run of this special is
likely 10 be record breaker, foi
the War Department has arrang-
ed to give it a clear track from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast,
and il is believed that once out
of Chicago the run will he made
IN three days.
1t mas been great test for the
reconstructed army. Such an
emergency has not arisen since
the change in formation was
made i'll 1902. But the army is
standing up well to the test and
the relief going forward prom
i>eS to be effective and above all
things quick.
The Navy Department has or
dered all available vessels on the
Pacific Coast to the scene of the
disaster 10 aid il the work OF
rescue. The Pacific Squadron
which had sailed from San Diego
tor target practice was caught by
the wireless telegraph and bur,
red north, two torpedo boats
leading the way. The old Alba
troSs, the big Fish Commission
steamer was pressed into service
on Tuesday aud all the tenders of
the light house service available
around that part of the coast
have been ordered to San Fran
cisco as fast as steam can take
them.
The Secretary of the treasury
has done his best to meet the
emel gency from financial stand
point. He gave orders for the
tranfer of SO. 900, 600 from New
York to Oakland to meet the
pressing needs. There is S30,-
600, 900 buried in the vaults of
the Sub-treasury at San Francisco,
but there is no telling how much
of it has been destroyed or how
long before it will be available.
However, according to dispatch
from the Director of the Mint,
the mint in San Francisco was
saved and it is almost the only
building standing in the down
town district. In this there are
many millions in coin aud bull
lion that have been saved by the
plucky fight that the officials
made.
The President has been deeply