Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-30
Trade Bodies to Start italian
Relief Fund.
MEET TOMORROW MORNING
Committees Called by Invitation Of
Commissioners.
RED CROSS WORKERS BUs-
Executive Committee in Session DIS
cussing Plans-State Department
Calls for Information.

Plans for extending aid from the Dis
trict to the earthquake sufferers In Italy
will be considered tomorrow morning at
meeting of representatives. OF the Board
of Trade and Chamber OF Commerce IN
the office of Commissioner H. Is. r. Mac
farland in the District building.
Commissioner mcfarland this morning
consulted with Miss Mabel Boardman OF
the executive committee of the American
National Red Cross as to what the Dis
trict of Columbia could do to aid that So
ciety in helping the sufferers in the devas-
tated cities of Italy. Later he conferred
with President j. II. Small of the Board
of Trade and President Il. y. Harper or
the Chamber of Commerce. and asked
them to appoint small committees to meet
in his office tomorrow morning to discuss
what plan should be adopted for the Dis
trict's part in the relief work.
The Board OF Trade committee appoint
ed to attend the conference consists OF
]. II. Small. jr.. d. J. Callahan, John
JOY Edison. A. l.. Browne and Scott Bone.
The Chamber Of Commerce delegation is
composed of r. n. Harper. r. c. Dulin.
A. Lisner. Charles j. Bell and William
II. Saunders.
Continued activity was displayed in
American National Red Cross circles to-
day in the effort to render all possible
aid to the earthquake sufferers in Italy.
Already a number of communications
from state branches have come to the
headquarters here, making inquiries re-
garding the scope OF the work in hand
and asking for information helpful In
prosecuting the raising OF funds.
Executive Committee Meets.
This morning there vas meeting OF
the executive committee OF the associa-
ton. of which Brig. Gen. George W.
Davis, retired. is chairman. At this
meeting the question of what further
steps are necessary for the relief OF the
sufferers was considered.
At the meeting Of the executive com
mittee it was decided, inasmuch as the
California relief work OF the society ter
inmates tomorrow, to appropriate from
the surplus of the fund for that work
now in the hands Of the Red Cross the
sun Of SO 600 for the benefit OF the suf-
ferers in southern Italy. It was arranged
that this money should be transmitted
tomorrow through the State Department
direct to the Italian Red Cross at Rome.
in order that 1t might be utilized at once.
1t also was decided to request the gov
ton Of funds for the Italians 10 have
such contributions transmitted through
the regular American Red Cross organi1a-
ton, either at Washington or in the
states. as the only recognized national
relief agencies for the distribution OF such
funds.
There were no fresh details available
at the State Department today regarding
the earthquake from our diplomatic and
consular officers. There was a letter
from a brother OF Consul Arthur s.
Cheney of Messina, who. with his wife.
are supposed to be dead but the depart
ment was unable to give any further In
formation about him than that contained
in AfSnafcb n
last night
Before the king departed for Messina
Ambassador Griscom conveyed to him
the dispatch Of coincidence sent by Presi-
dent Roosevelt on behalf OF the Ameri-
can people.
Inquiries were received at the State De-
partment today for information regarding
DR.. and Mrs. Herbert Norris Of Phila-
delphia and Miss Pitfleld and Miss Sta
dleman of Philadelphia. all of whom were
supposed to have been at Taormina at
the time Of the catastrophe.
Nothing is known at the War Depart
Gen. Charles B. Hail. U.sA.. retired. was
in southern Italy at the time of the
earthquake disaster. Gen. Hairs address
as recorded at the department is care OF
the Credit Lyonnaise. Paris, France.
Gifts Through Red Cross.
Discussing the relief project, Commits
sioner Mcfarland said:
The people Of the District of Column
bia, always generous, will do their full
share toward the relief of the sufferers
In this terrible disaster. AS in the case
Of the relief sent to California, l think
our contributions should 60 through the
American National Red Cross. by way
Of the District of Columbia branch Of that
organization. At the time OF the Cali
fornia earthquake the people OF the Dis
trict gave more proportionately than their
share. What we want to do is to stimu-
late in every way the contributions. The
president of the Board of Trade and the
president of the Chamber OF Commerce
have consented TO appoint small commit
tees, with which 1 shall confer tomorrow
morning as to what steps We should take
for that purpose. OF course, no ono
should wait for the action Of that confer
ence, because this is emphatically case
where he gives twice who gives quickly.
Therefore, contributions of money should
be sent at once to the treasurer Of the
District branch of the American National
Red Cross. Howard S. Reside, second
vice president American Security and
Trust Company. SO that the money may
be cabed quickly. ~
Commissioner West expressed hlnsell
as heartily approving the plan to raise
funds i'm the District for the AID OF the