Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-03
Congress Will Be Asked to Appro-
pirate Half Million.
QUICK ACTION Is NECESSARY
Money May Be Used to Charter Ships
and Buy Food in Europe.
LARGE SUBSCRIPTIONS MADE
over Hundred Thousand Dollars
Already Forwarded by Telegraph
Through the RED Cross
Service.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-Pres!dent Roosc-
welt tonight announced that he has sent
two supply sh ps with $4,000 worth Of sup
plies to Italy, that he Will ask congress flr
additional aid and that he has offered ths
use OF the batteship fleet to Italy.
The announcement Is made In a telegram
made public at the White House, which h1
sent to Patrick f. McGowan, chairman OF
the American Italian general reli COM
mittee, New York city. The telegram fol-
lows:
II earnestly wish success to the American
italian general relief committee in its great
mass meeting at Madison Square Garden.
1t is Of course not possible for me to attend
in person. l am doing everything that can
be done to get aid to the suffering. and ON
account of the extreme urgency Of the case
have sent two supply ships with $4,000
worth of food and provisions without walt
ing for the authority Il congress. be ng con-
fident that congress will approve my action
shall also ask congress for additional
aid and throughout the coming week will
keep in the closest touch with congress AMI
through the State department with Italy. 50
that everything possible to be done by the
United States may be done.
Furthermore, | have cabled the Italian
.
or all Of the batteship fleet, If such can
be of use in this crisis
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Message TO Congress.
President Roosevelt was engaged tonight
in preparing the message which will be
presented to congress when it convenes
Monday large amount of data on prece-
dents and generally regarding the aid that
is being rushed from various quarters to
southern Italy and the means of getting
succor to the victims had been prepared
| for the president and was considered care
fully by him.
| The data prepared by the president
| showed that in the Mont Pelee catastrophe
the government appropriated 10000 for the
relief of the sufferers A committee of dis
| tingushed citizens was designated TO visit
the scene and disburse the money. SINH
lar plan appealed very strongly to the prcsl-
dent, certain notifications being suggested.
such as the selection Of Americans now In
Italy or delegation Of the American ambas-
sador or agents OF the American Red Cross
to attend the disbursement of the money.
The question which the president first
! sought to determine was. whether aid given
in this way woul dnnt reach the sufferers
! sooner than by means Of the naval Supply
| ships now on the Atlantic, but many days
sail from Sicily and southern Italy.
Money IN Pouring In.
Suffering Italy continues to occupy tho
| thoughts of most of the citizens and Off
| cials here Aroused TO a full consciousness
! Of the appalling disaster which swallowed
up so many lives the one aim is TO get
relief to the stricken people as speedily
as possible. Money is pouring into the
offices of the American National Red Cross
and is being telegraphed abroad as fast
as received. The New York Red Cross has
telegraphed $4,000 20 the National Red
Cross; $4,000 has been telegraphed from
San Francisco; Chicago telegraphed 81, 900;
the governor of Massachusetts has in
formed the National Red Cross that $4,000
was to be sent to the Italian Red Cross
from the Bay state 100000 has been cabled
by the National Red Cross to the italian
society. Over 5000 was subscribed locally
today, $500 Of which came from the plate
printers of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing and carrying with It a promise OF
$1,000 more.
BickneII VIII Not 90.
The suggestion that Ernest b. Bickuell.
national director of the American Red
Cross. be sent to Italy TO cooperate with
the Italian Rcd Cross has been abandoned
as unnecessary and Mr.. Bicknell has been
instructed to continue his trip to San Fran
cisco.
Mr.. Griscom today cabled that no names
OF American citizens killed or injured by
the earthquake had yet reached him.
Thanks for American generosity is ex-
pressed in a telegram received by the pres
ident today from President Massiglla OF the
Italian committee at New York City.
The president has directed the State de-
partment to ascertain from the Italian gov
ernment at what ports It would be most
beneficial for the battleships OF the Ameri-
can fleet to stop on reaching italian waters
, These battleships contain medical supplies
and clothing that will be of great value
among the sufferers and the object of the
inquiry Of the president is practically Il
permit the Italian government to name the
ports where the vessels shall 60 on their