New-York tribune., 1906-04-26
PRESIDENT ACTS AGAIN.
NEW PLANS FOR RELIEF.
Red Cross and Citisens Committee
Consolidated.

.Ap
a proclamation issued to-day urges the Ameri-
can people to send their contributions for the
alIeviation of the distress in San Francisco di-
rectly to ex-Mayor James D. Phelan, chairman
| of the finance committee in San Francisco, in
stead of TO the American Red Cross. The Presi-
dent pays a high tribute to the work accom-
| plished by the citizens committees of San Fran
cisco. and indicates that the necessity for work
ing through the Red Cross exclusively has
passed. The text Of the proclamation follows:
! To the Public:
| San Francisco first came it was necessary to
| take immediate steps TO provide in some way
| @ Ior tne receipt and distribution or the sums OF
| money which at poured in for the relief of
| the people of San Francisco. At the moment
| no one could foretell how it would be pos
slple Tor the people OF San Francisco themselves
| 10 organize; and to tide over the interval the
American National Red Cross Association was
| designated TO receive and disburse the funds.
| But the people of San Francisco. with energy
and self-relfant courage, a cool resOurcefulness
| ana capacity for organized and orderly en-
deaVor which are beyond all praise. have al
| ready met the need through committees ap-
| pointed by the Mayor of the city, ex-Mayor
James d. Phean being chairman Of the finance
| been astonishing in it's range promptness and
SGnlclency. AS am Informed by Major General
Greely' although all local transportation was
destroyed, as well practically every supply
store IN the city, these local committees, with
me me nelp OF the army, have succeeded in caring
Tor three hundred thousand homeless people in
the last five days Thanks to their efforts. no
Individual is now suffering severely for food,
water or temporary shelter. This work has been
oone with the minimum of waste and under
conditions which would have appalled, men less
Ld!Ied IN business methods, endowed with less
aoiiity or inspired with any but the highest
motives of humanity and helpfulness The need
OF employing the Red Cross, an auxil-
iary' has passed. and l urge that hereafter all
contributions from any be sent direct to
James D. Phelan chairman finance committee,
oan francisco Mr. Devine, OF the Red Cross,
VIII disburse any contributions sent to him
through ex- Mayor Phelan. and will work in ac-
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, April %. 1906
In connection with the proclamation the Pres
ident authorized the publication of telegram
he sent to Mayor Schmitz, Of San Francisco
acknowledging the receipt of telegram signed
by the Mayor, Judge Morrow, ex-Mayor Phelan
and others. The President quotes the procla-
nation he issued and adds:
There was of course. absolutely no question
that every sufferer would be helped simply as
suHeTer bY your committees as soon as thew
were organized and action through the Red
Caoss ,s was was simply TO NIL the gap until your
ganlzation was perfected and II would of
course. have been derehction of duty on our
part II we had not at once taken steps to see
that the gap was filed a time when It was
impossible for us to know how soon you would
De organized. 1 have sent a message to Con-
gress to-day urging an immediate appropriation
ior work at the Mare Island Navy Yard, and
Tor an immediate appropriation for the build
ing asked for by the War Department In a few
Gays snail send in further communica ton
for the rebuilding of the other public buildings
out am not yet able to get details as to the
amount needed for these
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
CHANCE OF MISUNDERSTANDING GONE
All chance of a misunderstanding as to the
channel through which relief should be given
was removed to-day by consolidation of the
citizens finance committee with the California
branch Of the Red Cross. This consolidation
assures the active cooperation of the Red Cross
with the local relief committee and places all
distribution Of supplies and accounting for con-
tributions under the War Department Dr.
Devine the Red Cross special agent advised
the central committee of the Red Cross of the
consolidation in the following dispatch:
Have effected consolidation of finance commit
tee with California branch OF the Red Cross
The committee, of which James D. Phelan
IS chairman is called the Finance Committee of
Relief and Red Cross. Intense local feeling
that this committee should be recognized. 1t
includes twenty representative organizations
and is entirely satisfactory to Judge Morrow
Actual management and distribution of relief in
hands Of military authorities. Conservative es-
innate places the homeless at 10000 Am vis-
itng relief stations this evening as basis for
recommendations.
Surgeon General OReilly of the army. the
chairman of the Red Cross central committee
replied TO this dispatch as follows:
The executive committee gladly recognizes
Committee Of Relief and Red Cross. Will for
ward funds to credit of James D. Phelan. Law
requires that all Red Cross accounts be audited
by the War Department. Please keep accounts
so this may be done.
ASKS MONEY FOR NAVY BUILDINGS.
In a special message to Congress to-day Presi-
dent Roosevelt urged the immediate appropria-
ton of 100000 for work at the Mare Island
Navy Yard, at San Francisco. in order that en-
ployment may be provided for many in the
stricken city He also urged the necessity for
the appropriation of money for the re-establish-
rnent of an army supply station in San Fran
cisco. The message follows:
To the Senate and House OF Represent tatives:
1 herewith inclOse communications from the
Navy Department and the War Department
in reference TO communications from Mayor
Schmitz of San Francisco and from other rep
| resentatives of California. With a courage and
self-relance OF which cannot Americans
be sufficiently proud the people Of San Fran
| cisco have already started in orderly and
| lutte fashion to rebuild the city Immediate aid
| in this enterprise should be given by the fed
| eral government. one of the crying needs of
| the situation is employment for the scores of
! thousands of men who have lost everything. If
! the appropriation of 100000 for the Mare ISL
| and Navy Yard be at once passed, over two
! thousand will Immediately be put to work
| for this appropriation will be expended only In
| employing labor. The appropriation is urgently
re-establishment of affairs in San Francisco; II
will also be of material to the navy
| Furthermore l recommend that the Congress
| act on the recommendations of the War Depart
| ment and appropriate the money necessary to
establish a building Is general supply and
storage depot for the supply departments OF
| of the military reservation of Fort Mason This
project is set forth in Senate bill 4475 OF the