The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-25
CONGRESSIONAL AID.
CONGRESS ACTS PROMPTLY IN
VOTING MONEY FOR EARTH
QUAKE SUFFERERS.

Washington, April z1.-The ma
tional government for once acted
swiftly and effectively when the enor-
nous extent of the disaster at San
Francisco became apparent. It is
satisfaction to be able to record that
the bill appropriating $1,0G0,O00 for
the relief Of the fire and earthquake
sufferers was passed in record time
without a, word Of debate. In less
than six hours from the moment 1t
was introduced in the House it was
through the House and Senate and
had been signed by the president. The
only addition to it was made the fol-
lowing day when a joint resolution
was passed making it clear that the
funds were to be available to buy
medicines as we'll as food: This was
wise proviso, but it appears from
the news the government has received
that the officers on the spot, from Gen.
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 notifying the department
that they had taken certain measures
and asking if there was anything else
to be suggested.
Since the first news Of the disaster,
the lights have not gone in the great
state, War and Navy buildings. 1t has
been like war times. Relays of tele-
graph operators have been on duty
day and night. Secretary Taft and
Secretary Bonaparte have cancelled
all engagements outside of Washing
ton to give their undivided attention
10 the relief work and Secretary Met
calf of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor has been hurried to the
Pacific coast as the representative OF
the administration on the spot. This
detail has been particularly grateful
to him as the secretary has a son and
a sister in the doomed city. and has
heard nothing from them since the
beginning Of the trouble:
The War Department has ordered
practically all the tents in the army to
San Francisco and more necessary
than tents has ordered the commissa-
ries Of all points within reach OF San
Francisco to buy food supplies In the
open market and rush them forward.
It was thought that the first train OF
supplies would reach the
city OF Thursday night. The War De-
partment is sending supplies from as
far as the Schuylkill Arsenal and ear
ly on Friday morning two specials OF
the Department loaded with bedding
and tents paused for moment in
Washington on its fight to the coast.
The run Of this special is likely to be
a record breaker, for the War Depart
ment has arranged to give it a clear
track from the Atlantic to the Pacific
coast and it is believed that once out
of Chicago the train will make the run
in three days.
1t has been a great test for the re-
constructed army. Such an emergen,
cy has not arisen since the change in
formation was made in 1902. But the
army is standing up we'll to the test
and the relief going forward promises
to be effective and above all things
quick.
The Navy Department has ordered
all available vessels on the Pacific
coast to the scene Of the disaster to
aid in the work of rescue. The Pacific
SQUADRON which had sailed from San
Diego for target practice was caught
by wireless and hurried north, two
torpedo boats leading the way. The
old Albatross, the big fish commission
steamer, was pressed into service on
Tuesday and all the tenders Of the
light house service available around
that part of the coast have been or
dered to San Francisco as fast as
steam can take them.
The secretary of the treasury has
done his best to meet the emergency
from financial viewpoint. He gave
orders for the transfer Of s10,o0O,o0o
from New York to Oakland to meet
pressing needs There is s30.o00,OO0
buried in the vaults Of the sub treas
MY at San Francisco, but there is no
telling how much Of it has been de-