The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-05
NO BILL RENDERED
TAFT DENIES STATEMENT IN PAM
 ANA PAPER.
United States Has Made Absolutely Nh Charge to Jamaica for Tents end Supplies Sent 'Quake
 Sufferers.

Fhlladeiphla' May 4.--Congressman ]. Hampton Moore of this city, tonight gave out a letter from Secretary Taft in which the Secretary denies the re-
 fts printed in Jamaican asd Pan
 ian newspapers that the United
 ttes government rendered n buI to
 naica for supplies furnished at inc
 of the earthuuake. The letter Is
 follows; .. er
 have the honor to acknowledge
 receipt Of your letter Of the 18th
 win which you enclosed A clip-
 ag rom Panama newspaper. hear
 B the caption 1sthmian Canal Com. mission sends bill to Jamaica and ra quest as to whether CD the War Da- partment or the Isthmian Canal Com mission. either or both, sent tents and provisions 10 the earthquake sufferers II, 1ah'alca' and CD if tents and pro- visions were forwarded there win q Dill as indicated In the clipping or oth- erwlse to cover the cost of such tents and provisions. and if so, what was inc reason therefor say
 Tn reply would state that if has been found upon the investfeation ,hat the Chairman of the Isthmian Canal commission under date of January 10. i9Vi, immediately upon hearing of the earthquake at Kingston, and reaIIzino that supplies could be sent from tbe isthmus and reach Kingston as ouick- ly 1T not quicker than from other points, sent food supplies which were the property of the Panama Raflroad of the value of $7,316.25 and also tents wooden plates and cots. the property or the Isthmian Canal Commission of the value of $7.0S475. On Januarv ss the Governor of Jamaica wrote A let ter Of acknowledgment and thanks to the Chairman of the Isthmian Canal commission Tor the supplies and stated that his government would be found ready 10 assent to whatever adjust ment this government would permit No bill, however, has been rendered to the Jamaican government for inc nav ment of these supplies; therefore inc allegation made in the clipping en- closed by you is in error.
 Tn addition to the above, this De- partment. upon the request of inc British legation at Havana, sent from quartermaster's stores in Cuba to Rineston tentage of the value of s2. 97l.7s. On February 6. inc Rrtttsh charge d'affaires at Havana. fin a let ter to the provisional government of Cuoa stated that he had been reduested by the GoYernor of Jamaica to conway the thanks of the Jamaican govern- ment for the supplies and that:
 The governor further says that as some or the recipients of the tents
 cost to the general relief fund. the govern ment of Jamaica will be glad 1t is to be permitted the privilege of repaying the invoice values of the property to the United States. as otherwise if would be in the insiiduous position of making money for the fund of the of the United States or of neutral, while the relief committee grant tents to persons able to pay for them.
 The matter was submitted to me by the provisional government of Cu- ba for instruction and in view of the | under which the re- quest was made. I authorized the pro- visional governor to say to the Brit. lsh charge d'affaires that if the gov ernment of Jamaica desired to repay the invoice values of the property to the United states government the general of the army of Cuban paclflcation, by whom the tents were sent. could make a statement of the same receive the money and con vert 1t into the treasury of the United Staes. Up to the present time, how ever. no payment has been made and no bill has been presented to the Ja- maican government for the tents"