The San Francisco call., 1906-05-04
PRESIDENT
EXPLAINS
ATTITUDE

n
WASHINGTON, May "a special
message was sent to Congress today
by President Roosevelt. in which he
explained the attitude of this Govern
ment regarding the offer Of contribu-
tions to the San Francisco fire and
earthquake sufferers from foreign
countries.
The President says that where the
contributions were made to this Gov
ernment he did not feel warranted In
accepting them, but where they were
made to the citizens relief commit
tee of San Francisco no official action
was or could be taken In regard to
them. The message indicates that the
Governments Of the entire civilized
world promptly responded in messages
Of sympathy and many of them with
contributions or offers of contribu-
tions. The text Of the message Is, In
part, as follows
"IL sD%diately after the disaster at
San Francisco many offers Of assist
ance in the shape of contributions
were rendered by foreign individuals.
corporations, governments and muni-
cipalitfes. The Canadian Government,
with an instant generosity peculiarly
pleasant as a proof of the close and
friendly ties which knit us to our
neighbors of the north, offered to pass
a resolution appropriating $1,000 for
the relief OF the sufferers by earth
quake and fire. With generosity
equally marked and equally appreciat-
ed the republic OF Mexico. our nearest
neighbor to the south, voted to appro-
pirate $4,000 and the republic Of Qua
temala voted to appropriate $4,000 for
the same purpose. The Empress Of
China. In addition to sending money
to be used for the Chinese who suf-
fered In San Francisco. offered to send
more than double as much to be used
for the Inhabitants generally.
The Japanese Government iimmedi-
ately offered to send across the ocean
one OF their beautifully equipped hos
pital ships to be used In any way for
the sufferers, and also offered 200. 900
yen to the relief committee In addi-
ton to more than 100000 yen sent by
japanese subjects. The Government
OF far distant New Zealand voted
$4,000. The Government Of Martinique
voted 1000 francs; the municipality of
Edmondson, Canada. $1,000 Many rnu-
inequalities, corporations and individ-
uals in England. Germany, France,
Japan, Cuba and other countries prof
fered aid
Where these offerings Of aid are
Tno od 70 he nvsxr
organized to deal with the distress in
San Francisco have, Of course, no Of
fetal action to take concerning them.
Where they were rendered to me, in
my official capacity, I did not feel war
ranted in accepting them
But am certain gave utterance to
the feelings OF all our countrymen when
I express my very uvAly appreciation
OF the warm-hsartsd generosity and
eagerness to help us III the time Of
our affiction shown by the govern
ments. the municipalities. the corpora
tions and the individuals mentioned
before. We are deeply grateful to
them and we are deeply gateful for
the way IN which they showed In such
practical fashion the growth of the
spirit Of brotherhood among the ma
tions.'
The message here gives a list OF al
most every country on the globe which
sent offerings Of sympathy. It adds:
Appropriate expressions Of graft
tude to all those friends have been re-
turned by the State Department or by
myself. but It seems to me that the
real depth OF grateful feeling awak-
ened IN our people by eli these evi-
dences Of genuine sympathy and
friendship should be expressed also by
formal action OF the supreme legisla-
tive power Of the nation.
II recommend the passage by the
to that end.
serrrrOr>opm nnnCrxrrr m .,