Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-01-06
$500, 900 VOTED FOR SUFFERERS
Congress Responds to the Message
of Roosevelt Asking Aid for Italy.

Washington, Jan. 4.--President
Roosevelt sent to the House and SEN
ate to-day a message recommending
that 100000 be appropriated for
the relief Of the Italian earthquake
sufferers
The message follows:
"To the Senate and House Of Rep
resentativts: The appalling calamity
which has befallen the people of
Italy Is followed by distress and suf-
fering throughout a wide region
among many thousands who have es-
capped with life, whose shelter and
food and means Of living are Destroy
ed. The ordinary machinery for sup.
plying the wants of civilized commu-
mites is paralyzed, and an exception.
al emergency exists which demasds
that the obligations of humanity
shall regard no limit Of national
lines.
THE immense debt OF civilization
to Italy, the warm and steadfast
friendship between that country and
our own, the affection for their ma
tive land felt by great numbers of
good American citizens, who are i'm
migrants from Italy; the abundance
with which God has blessed us in
our safety; all these should prompt
us to immediate and effective relief.
Private generosity is responding
nobly to the demand by contribu-
tions through the safe and efficient
channel of the American Red Cross
Society.
Confident Of your approval, 7
have ordered the government supply
ships Celtic and Culgoa to the scene
OF the disaster, where, upon receiv.
ing the authority which I now ask
from you, they will be able to dis
pense food, clothing and other sup
plies with which they are laden, to
the value Of about 100000. The
Celtic has already sailed and the Gull
goa Is at Port Said. Eight vessels
of the returning battleship fleet are
already under orders for Italian wa
ters and that government has been
asked If their services can be made
useful.
81 recommend that the Congress
approve the application of supplies
above indicated and further appro-
pirate the sum of $50O,O0O to be ap-
piled to the work Of relief at the
discretion of the Executive and with
tine consent of the Italian govern
ment.
81 suggest that the law follow the
form of that passed after the Mount
Pelee disaster in 1902.
Theodore Roosevelt
"The White House, January 4,
1900
%SOO,OOO Appropriated.
Resolutions were Immediately in
troduced in the Senate and House
providing for an appropriation of
SS00,000 for Italian relief. The res
olutions provided that the money
should be used for provisions, cloth
articles and the President is nthor-
lied to employ any vessels Of the
United States navy or to charter and
employ other suitable steamships or
vessels to carry out the purposes Of
this government.
At the conference at the White
House last night, whi ch was attend
ed by Speaker Cannon, the sum Of
100000 was agreed on as the
amount which should be appropriate
ed That sum was included in the
act drafted by the appropriation COM
mittee.
Ten minutes before the House con-
vened, the Speaker received a letter
from the White House suggesting
that the amount be increased to
$500, 900. Before any action could
be taken by the committee on ap-
propriations, the House was in re-
ceipt Of the Presidents message on
the subject.
At the hurried meeting of the
committee the amount was Increased
to conform with the Presidents later
recommendation.
The Senate agreed to the resolu-
ton passed by the House, appropri-
ating 100000 for the relief Of Ital-
ian earthquake sufferers and this
amount becomes Immediately avail
able.
BuaCkHem'S ATmiCa. aEv@