Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-21
RUSHING AID TO HELPLESS
War Department Starts Million Day
RatiOns Toward Stricken City.
ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED
Congress VIII Be Asked TO Make
Additional Appropriation Today
Tents and Blankets Are
EnnOute.
ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED

WASHINGTON, April 2O.-Every branch
Of the government service from the presi-
dent down is bending every effort to bring
the earthquake sufferers relief The cabi-
nte today considered the San Francisco
situation and IL was decided that Secretary
Metcalf should proceed to that city as the
representative OF the national govern
ment and consult with the authorities as to
what is needed to alleviate distress. Every
available vessel in the vicinity of San
Francisco. whether It belongs to the navy.
army, revenue cutter service, FISH COM
mission or lighthouse service, has been
directed to carry supplies Of every descrip-
ton to the stricken city Of San Francisco
ana render other assistance, while officers
of the army on the Pacific coast and else
where have been given imperative instruc-
tons to ship tents. rations, medical and
other relief supplies and to cooperate
with the locsl authorities of San Francisco
and the state officials to the common end.
Offers Of assistance from abroad have
been very gratifying to the president, but
he feels the United States is able to care
for the San Francisco sufferers and con-
tributions from foreign countries will be
declined.
Foreign Aid IL Refused.
Mr.. Ballin of the Hamburg American
line offered 5000 for the California suf-
ferers and the following decllnation for
warded to Mr.. Ballin by Assistant secre-
tary Bacon of the state department, shows
the presidents appreciation of the friendli-
ness shown by Europeans;
The president deeply appreciate your mes
sage Of sympathy and desires me TO thank
you heartily for the kind offer of outside
aid. Although declining, the president
earnestly wishes you to understand how
much he appreciates your cordial and gen
erous sympathy.
The question Of an additional appropria-
tion to meet the expense of the work of the
government in rushing supplies to San
Francisco and alleviating distress in that
quarter will be brought to the attention of
congress tomorrow. II was announced to-
night that the War department has for
warded 70 San Francisco 100000 rations
(day rations), some OF which has already ar
rived there and most Of which is due there
tonight; tentage for $4,000 people. 1000 end
blankets a large number of stoves and
about 5000 cots. There are many different
trains, with an official in charge of each,
on the way. The quartermaster and COM
missary officers Of the army were busy to-
night compiling statements showing what
has been done by the War department to
assist the San Francisco sufferers.
Another Million Needed.
These statements are to accompany the
request which will be made to congress to-
morrow for an additional appropriation of
100000 TO continue the relief work. Es-
Inmates made at the department that $780,
600 already has been expended or contracted
for I'm the relief work, so that at least half
of tho additional 100000 will be necessary
to reimburse the department for the expen-
ditures already authorized.
Already hundreds OF thousands OF army
rations. tents, bedding, buckets, blankets
and other necessaries have been turned over
to the San Francisco authorities. More are
on the way and carloads OF medical sup
plies, furnished through the army medical
supply depot at st. Louis, are speeding to
the coast.
The Red Cross society officials here are
receiving notifications from every part of
the country that money and needful sup
plies of all sorts are being hurried to the
devastated city.
c. II. Keep of the United States Treas
Halam Keep of the United States Treas
ury department of this city. and national
treasurer of the American Red Cross CO.
ciety, in answer to thousands of inquiries,
today officially announced that contribu-
tions for San Francisco may be sent to
him or TO the state treasurers of the Red
Cross. The NAMES and addresses of those
west OF Chicago are as follows
Illinois-Orson Smith, Chicago; Cali
fornia--Horace Davis, San Francisco;
Neutrality-suspicious. w. Pratt. Tacoma;
wyoming-Dr. Amos w. Barber, Chey-
enne.
PORTLAND, Ore, April 2O.-The South
ern Pacific will run a special train Of
twenty cars, leaving here at 615 tonight
for San Francisco. carrying ten physicians,
twenty trained nurses and 10000 pounds
OF provisions.
The train viii be given right-of-way over
everything and is expected to reach San
Francisco Friday.