Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-20

sary, and that aid will be extended TO them
from all parts of the country. It IS made
clear that aid fronA foreign countries will
not be necessary. as the people of the United
States are abundantly able to supply such
assistance may be necessary.
The President and the members OF his
Cabinet thoroughly appreciate the humane
action of Congress yesterday in passing an
act appropriating s1,O90,O00 for the sufferers
by fire and earthquake. The President pro-
nounced 1t "a wise and humane action"
1t is the desire of the President and the
members of the cabinet that private con-
tributions made for the benefit of sufferers
by the calamity shall be given through the
American National Red Cross, which has
facilities for the administration and oistri-
burton of such funds.
Secretary Taft has Cancelled all of his
engagements for several days in order that
he may devote his time through the War
Department to giving aid to the stricken
city. The President himself authorizes the
statement that everything of every kind
that can be done for the earthquake and
fire sufferers will be done by the national
government.
the members of the cabinet that Secretary
Metcaf should proceed at once to San
Francisco in order that he might De abie
to inform the administration what may be
done in the way of prompt and effective
work Secretary Metcaf will leave this
afternoon for the Pacific coast
Secretary Metcalf was, himself: heavy
loser by the San Francisco calamity. Whlle
his residence is in Oakland, his investments
were In San Francisco, and last September
he stored all of his household goods. includ-
ing furniture, bric-a-brac paintings ana
souvenirs, In storage house IN san + AN an
CISCO That building was destroyed by the
fire In addition to these losses, the Secre-
tary is a sufferer by reason of the destruc-
ton of property in San Francisco in which
he was either wholly or in part an owner.
Will San Francisco Be RebuiltP
Senators Ankeny and Piles of Washing
ton talked with the President today about
some matters In their states. They have
not heard anything to indicate that the
earthquake caused any damage in Wash
ington although felt with distinctness
throughout that state There are many
people who think that the disaster 10 san
Francisco will result in Seattle becoming
the metropolis of the west and some doubt
is expressed whether San Francisco will
ever again be the city 1t was week ago,
largely because of possible fear of repeti-
tions in future years of the disaster
When Senator Piles was asked what ne
thought would be done about rebuilding the
DESTROYED city. he said: II feel sure that
the great pluck of the San francisco peo-
pie will assert itself and that no time VIII
be lost in again constructing this peauti1ui
city"
His Library destroyed.
The President received a visit from Fran
els j. Heney, special counsel for the gov
ernment In the Oregon land fraud cases.
Mr.. Heney called to pay his respects to the
President before leaving fer San Francisco.
He is one of the heaviest sufferers by the
terrible calamity in that city. Mr. Heney
has been in Washington for several weeks
on government business. and was shocked
beyond description when he heard OF the
terrible earthquake and fire In his home
city.
For over q quarter of century Mr..
Heney has resided on Fell street, in San
Francisco, between Buchanan and Web
ster streets While he has received no In
formation directly from the city, he as
sumed from press reports that not only his
residence but his Office. was wiped out by
the fire which followed the earthquake. His
home was nearly In the center OF the IRE
zone. His office was located in the Kohl
b,s-ding, which is known to have been
entirely destroyed by the fire. Opposite
his office was the Merchants Exchange
building, which was wiped out by the
f1ares In this building was the American
National Bank, in which all of Mr. Heney's
funds were deposited.
After years Of labor Mr.. Heney had col
lected a law library valned at s2a aaa s''ssss.