The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
WE DIDN'T CHARGE
 JAMAICA FOR AID Taft Denies Reports in Kings
 ton Papers
NO BILL FOR SUPPLIES
The War Secretary Writes to Hampton Moore About United States Assist ance at the Time of the
 Earthquake.

Philadelphia, May 4.-Congressman J. Hampton Moore of this city tonight gave out letter from Secretary Taft in which the secretary denies the reports printed in Jamaican and Panamanian newspapers that the United States government rem dered a bill to Jamaica for supplies fur his .ied at the time of the earthquake. The letter is as follows:
 'I have the honor 10 acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th ult., in which you enclosed clipping from Panama newspaper, bearing the caption,
 Isthmian Canal Commission Sends Bill to Jamaica and request information as to whether CD the war department or the isthmian canal commission, either or both, sent tents and provisions to the earthquake sufferers in Jamaica. and (2), if tents and provisions were forwarded there vas bill rendered as indicated in the clipping or otherwise to cover the cost of such tents and provisions and it so what was the reason therefor.
 In reply l would state that ft has been found upon investigation that the chairman of the isthmian canal commis- sion under date of January 19 1907 inn medately upon hearing of the earthquake at Kingston, and realizing that supplies could be sent from the isthmus and reach Kingston as quickly if not quicker than from other points. sent food supplies which were the property of the Panama railroad of the value of S73l625, and also tents, wooden plates and cots, the prop erty of the isthmian canal commission of the value of S70s4.75. On January 9 the governor of Jamaica wrote a letter of owledgmont and thanks to the chairman of the isthmian canal commits 1fec md ctot ha hfs government would be found ready to as sent to whatever adjustment the United States government would permit. No bill, however, has been rendered to the Ja- malcan government for the payment of these supplies; therefore the allegation made in the clipping enclosed by us was an error.
 In addition to the above this depart ment upon the request of the British lega- ton at Havana sent from United States quartermaster stores in Cuba to Kingston tonnage to the value of $2971.7S. On Feb ruary the British charge d'aiffalres at Havana in q letter to the provisional gov ernor of Cuba stated that he had been requested by the governor of Jamaice to convey the thanks of the Jamaican gov ernment for the supplies and that.
 "'The governor further says that as some of the recipients of the tents will be called upon to pay their cost to the general relief fund, the government of Jamaica will be glad if it be permitted the privilege of repaying the invoice values of the property to the United States government, as otherwise it would be placed in the position of malx- ing money from the fund of generosity and cancelng the neutral relations in granting tents to persons not able to pay for them.
 "The matter was submitted to me by the provisional governor of Cuba for instructions, and in view of the cir cumstances under which the request was made I authorized the provisional governor to say to the British charge d'affaires that if the government of Jamaica desired to repay the invoice values of the property to the United States government the commanding general of the army of Cuban pacifi- cation, by whom the teats were sent, could make statement of the same character aud cover the receipt for the money into the treasury of the United States. Up to the present time. how ever, no payment has been made and no bill has been presented to the Jamaican government for the tents."