New-York tribune., 1906-05-02


correspondence has passed between Chairman
Phelan at San Francisco, and Secretary Taft at
New Haven. by way OF Washington:
San Francisco. April 2s, 1906
William H. Taft, Secretary of War, washington.
AS the funds appropriated by the government are
to be disbursed under your direction the IN
President. we would respectfully request that you
inform US to what extent any, the na nnSaee SS
now has consolidated all funds, may expect 70
concentration of funds and work for obvious rea-
sons ana would be glad to serve you IN TINS or any
Of our work. We now need money ana 4rn.2 not sgp-
chairman Finance COMMITTEES Of the Relief and
Red Cross Funds.
Washington. May l. 1905
James D. Phelan, Chairman Relief Committee and
You and your committee evidently misconceive
the nature and legal limitations Of the
aid. and do not understand the facts. 4nstanLIy @ M
On receipt Of General F1nstGns % {e!egTa gss % q soo
and shelter for more than one hundred thousand
40 So ordered sent to San Francisco ratons cost
ing 100000. tentage, blankets. cots and bedding
ing S500OO to be used and distributed for the re-
The Transportation of these supplies cost more
than $15OOOO. made this order anticipating that
by Joint resolution authorizing me to furnish sub
sstenee, quartermasters and medical stores for re-
these purposes to be used Is my discretion,
The President then advised Congress that exc
penses had already been incurred for these pur-
poses aggregatng $500 600. and recommended the
Congress thereuron increased the appropriation to
s. 100000 in ali. and authorized me to use this
and medical stores but also for the transportation OF
SnS 5TSpS avT csmS scs ofdr9 or
troops to San Francisco which, with previous
transportatSon. on. for the same purpose. involves an
There is left available Of the appropriation there
can only be expended for rations quartermGsters'
and which can only be expended throTgh the law
Sul agents OF the War Department TO wit: The
and medical bureaus under my direction. have
no power or legal authority 70 turn the money
appropriated by Congress to your committee. to be
expe.nded by you or TO exPend il for any but the
tiOns. Should you think that the supply OF rations
or quarternasters stores or medical supplies ought
chase and forwarding of them to the proper army
officers In San Francisco for distribution. but
ury of the United States to your COMMITTEES for any
only as the amounts to be expended For the spe
cihc purposes mentioned in the Congressional
dent Of the + Red Cross % have already directed the
funds Of that society and avn OF nTc SUo oTt u OF 5ne
the remittance OF more as you shall need IT,
advise me OF the amount Of money YOU have on on
hee nea 30G IN 5fT rd the for which
now haXe on hand food supplies. tentage. blankets
ana clO'h'ns enough for TSSg present needs ne 60,
Secretary OF War and President OF RED cross
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Gallinger brought up the
question of the disposition of the s25OoOO voted for
relief saying that Mr.. T1llman had stated IN com
mttee that there seemed 20 be some misappreben-
sion on the question. and that some of the news
papers had indicated a lack OF information He
asked Mr.. Allison, as chairman OF the COMMITTEES
or Appropriations, 20 explain.
Mr. Allison said that two appropriations had been
made. aggregating s25O0OO0, but that about $500
900 had really been expended by the Secretary OF
War before the first appropriation 0f a.
million had been made Unfortunately. he went on
the call for help had come in the last quarter OF the
fiscal yeng. when the appropriations for the pur-
chase OF supplies for the War Department were
we'll nigh exhausted rendering II necessary to
make prompt refund Of the money used. he added
that only about S500,O00 Of the total sum apprO-
prlated remained unexpended but said that every
dollar would be used Tor the benefit OF the Cali
fornia people who need help.