The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-04
PRESIDENT ASKS AN APPROPRIATION OF
 $5OO,OOO
For Relief of Earthquake Sufferers if
 Southern Italy.
Sends Special Message to Congress To. day-AlSO Asks That Stores on Sup. ply Ships Celtic and Culgoa be Do. mated for Same Purpose - Both Houses Grant Recommendation.
Especial from United Press


 Washington, Jan. 1.-The President
 sent the following special message to Congress to-day.
 "The appalling calamity which has befallen the people of Italy is follow ed by distress and suffering through
 out the wide region among many thou sands who have escaped with life but 1 whose shelter and food and means of living are destroyed. The ordinary
 machinery for supplying the wants of civilized communities is paralyzed, | and an exceptional emergency exists l which demands that the obligations of ] humanity shall regard no limit on Ma | tionaI lines.
 "The immense debt of civilization to l Italy; the warm and steadfast friend | ship between that country and our | own: the affection for their native | land felt by great numbers of good American citizens who are immigrants S l from Italy: the abundance with which | God has blessed us in our safety; all l these should prompt us in an effort for relief. Private generosity is res bonding nobly to the demand for con- 1 tributions. Confident of your approv- supply ships Celtic and Culgoa to go to the scene of the disaster where l upon receiving orders from you. they
 will be able to distribute food, clothing and other supplies with which they are loaded to the value of about $3OO,O The Celtic has already sailed and the | Culgoa is at Port Said. Eight yes sels of the returning battleship fleet are already under sailing orders for Italy to see if their services can be made useful.
 .I recommend that Congress give approval of the supplies above men, toned and further appropriate the sum of $5O0,O0O to be applied to the | work of relief at the discretion of the Italian government.
 1T suggest that the law follow the form of that passed after the Mount Pelee disaster of 1902. (SigneO, Theo- dore Roosevelt"
 Washington, Jan 1.-The hrSt thlng done in both Houses of Congress to-
 day upon their resumption of busi- ness after the Christmas holidays was to listen to the reading of the Presi- dents special message asking for re- lief for the earthquake sufferers in Italy. The Houses acted upon the Presidents recommendations imme- diately and passed bill appropriat- ing s50o.o00 in cash and the supplies on board the naval supply ships Celtic and Culgoa, valued at $300,000. The House then listened to the read ing of the Presidents special message on the secret service.
 The Presidents earthquake message was referred by the Senate to the
 Committee on Appropriations. Sena- tor Hale said the Committee would at once hold an informal meeting and
 prepare a suitable measure which
 would be reported later in the day. He
 requested that adjournment be post poned until some action could be ta- ken.
 Senator Hale (Republican) from the
 committee on Appropriations, reported and the Senate adopted this afternoon the joint resolution appropriating $S00,-
 GOO to relieve the distress in the earth quake districts of Italy. The resolu- ton approves and ratifies the act of the President in sending the supply l ships to Italy.