The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-20
MILLION DOLLARS FOR RELIEF.
CONGRESS- PROMPTLY APPROPRT-
ATES THAT SUM
II the President as Promptly Approves
The Money Is Immediately Available
Under the Direction OF the Secretary
or War for the Purchase OF Supplies.

Under the Direction OF the Secretary
or War for the Purchase OF Supplies.
WASHINGTON, April 19,-Prompt action
was taken by Congress to-day for the relief
Of the California sufferers from earthquake
and FIRE. without discussion or division.
both houses agreed to a resolution ap-
propriating 81 600, 900 to be Immediately
available under the direction and discretion
Of the Secretary Of War for the purchase Of
supplies for the homeless and hungry Of
San Francisco and the adjacent cities over
come by the disaster.
Yesterday, when the first meAgre news
Of the catastrophe came from San Fran
cisco, il was thought that the State and the
City might be able to handle the situation
without asking the General Government for
assistance other than that which could
temporarily be given by the War Depart
ment and the military forces at the Preside
in preserving order. AS the enoTmity of
the disaster became known the need for
speedy relief became apparent and mem
bers Of the California delegation in the
Senate and House saw that they would be-
forced to seek help from Congress.
Before Congress assembled to-day
Senator Perkins went to the War Depart
ment and saw Secretary Taft in regard to
measures for prompt relief, He told the
Secretary that il he would proceed at once
toward having rations issued. tents shipped
to the stricken city and other steps taken
for relief, he, together with other Senators
whose word he had that they would Join
with him, would personally pledge their
own fortunes to the end that the War De-
! partpNant ypn,tl1 ho roin1hinsaH in the aVppt
that Congress should fail to make an ap-
preparation to meet the emergency.
1t was scarcely necessary, however,
to make this pledge, as there were assur-
ances on every hand that Congress would
not lose time in voting a large sum for relief.
A number of wealthy men Of the Senate.
however, had said to the California Senator
that they would make good any expendi-
ture which the Secretary Of War might
make toward providing temporary shelter
and food for the sufferers in the event that
Congress should fail to act.
Senator Perkins at first thought to ask
Congress for an appropriation of a quarter
Of a million dollars. Before he had shaped
his resolution, however, additional informa-
ton showing the widespread character OF
the catastrophe prompted him, at the sug-
gestion Of other Senators, to increase the
amount to half a million dollars. The reso-
luton appropriating this sum promptly
passed the Senate and went over to the
House.
BY this time Chairman Tawney Of the
House Committee on Appropriations, was in
possession OF further kilograms indicating
that the entire city of San Francisco was
doomed ,Spnd that perhaps a hundred thou
sand persons in that city alone would be rem
dered homeless and hungry, and showing
that other towns were in dire need, and he
rewrote the resolution and increased the
amount to a million dollars. His resolution
also increased the scope Of the relief so as to
provide for the assistance Of vessels of the
navy and those of the revenue cutter serv-
ice.
The resolution as presented by Mr..
Tawney and passed by the House reads:
That the Secretary of War L. authorize ed
and directed to procure in open market OF
otherwise subsistence and quartermasters'
supplies In addition to such supplies belong
ing to the military establishment and avail
able, and issue the same to suoh destitute
persons as nave been rendered homeless
or are in needy circumstances as a result of
the earthquake which occurred on April is.
and the attending contiagration, and in eX-
ecnting this Joint resolution the Secretary of
War is directed TO cooperate with the au-
thorities OF the State of California and the
| Mayors Of the cities OF San Francisco. Berke-
ley, Oakland. Alameda and such ether cities
on the Pacific Coast as may have sustained
damages.
That the Secretary Of the Treasury, Secre-
tary Of the Navy and the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor are directed 10 cooperate
with the Secretary of War in extending relief
and assistance TO the stricken people herein
referred to, to the extent OF the use of the
naval vessels, revenue cutters and other
vessels and Government supplies under their
control on the Pacific Coast.
That to enable the Secretary OF War to
execute the provisions OF this Joint resolu-
ton there Is appropriated 81, 600. 900. to be
expended under the direction and in the
discretion Of the Secretary Of War"
This resolution will make available the
use Of the Fish Commissions steamer
Albatross, the naval vessels of the Pacific
squadron and the revenue cutters.
" The business of the House was inter-
rupted to pass the resolution, which was inn
mediately ~engrossed and sent over to the
| Senate. There discussion on the rate bill
was suspended while the Senate agreed,
without discussion or dissent, to the reso-
luton increasing the appropriation from
$500, 900 to 81 900 900.
The first private telegram to reach the
Senate from the Pacific Coast since yes
terday's earthquake was received to-day
by Sena tor. Perkins from Editor W. +.
Dargie of the Oakland Tribune. 1t says:
Every boat from the city (San Fran
cisco) is crowded with hungry and penni-
less refugees. Fifty or a hundred thousand
peorlc will be cast on Oaklandtemporarily.
Can't Congress do something at once to
provide temporary relief?"
Immediately after the Senate had agreed
TO the House resolution, it va 3 sem TO the
White House, where the President affixed
his signature, and 81 900 900 from the Fed
Of the sufferers.
Special Prayer for California.
That the Christian churches Of America