Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-05
100000 FOR EARTH
QUAKE SUFFERERS
Is Unanimously Voted by Both Houses
Of American Congress- --SeCret
Service Message Received.
IN THE SENATE.

|
| Washington, Jan. 4.-With practical
~ no opposition the Senate today pass
Cd the House bill appropriating $780,
O0G to aid the Italian earthquake suf-
ferers. Senator Bailey of Texas de-
clared that such appropriations were
unconstitutional, but did nothing to
delay congressional action. The sum
of 100000 was appropriated by Il Sen
ate bill today for the purchase of
construction of building in Paris as
the home of the American ambaSsa =
dor. The bill will at once go to the
| 1fcuSe for it's consideration Janu-
airy il was today designated FOR co1,-
sheraton of the Omnibus claims bin,
which carries an appropriation Of 81, :
| 300, 900
The Senate resolution follows:
THAT to enable to President Of the
United States to procure, transport and
distribute among the suffering people
OF Italy and it's islands, such proVis
ions, clothing, medicines. moneys an
other articles as he shall deem advis
able for the purpose of rescuing an
SuCcOring the people who are in peri
and threatened with starvation in con
sequence Of the recent earthquake, tn
sum of 100000 is hereby appropriate,
out of any moneys in treasury no
otherwise appropriated and the action
of the President in dispatching tin
naval vessels to Italy with food an
supplies for the Italians sufferers l.
hereby ratified and approvel.
In the execution of this at. tn
i'll
United States navy, ana Sucn nthe
vessels rs hr may, in his discretion
cr.ploy."
Washington. jan PRESTON
Roosevelt in a message to Congress
today cS'.,d for q direct appropriate
Of h"li /, million dollars for the relic
Of the stricken people In the earth
quake zone of Italy. This, the most
generous fund ever contributed by the
American people for the succo: OF SUI
fcrcrs III other lands is to supplement
the dispatch of the supply ships Celtic
from New York and the Cuigna from
Port Said for Messina with their big
cargoes of necessaries, originally in
tended for the American fleet diverted
to the Immediate use of the Italian
victims. 1t also supplements the Pres
ident's prefer of the services of the
entire American fleet of 16 battlcshipS
whose use, in whole or in part, hing
ed only on the acceptance or declin-
alton of the Italian government.
The message was brief and plans
had been made for the immediate en-
actment into law of its recommended
ton.
The text of the Presidents message
is as follows:
ITO the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives:
The appalling calamity when has
hefallen the people of Italy Is follow
ed by distress and suffering through
out a wide region among many thou
sands who have escaped with life, but
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
which demands that the obligations OF
humanity shall regard no limit of ma
tional lines.
1.-The immense debt OF civilization To-
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 lnmI-
grants from Italy: the abundance
with which God has blessed lis in our
safety: all these should prompt us To-
| immediate effective relief
private generosity is responding nv
bly, to the demand by contributions
| through the safe and efficient cnan-
mel of the American Red Cross So
| cicty
Confident Of your approval, T have
ordered the government supply ships
Celtic and Culgoa to the scene of dis
aSter. whereuron receiving the au-
| thority which | now ask from you they
will be able to dispense food, cloth
ing and other supplies with which
they are laden to the value Of about
$500. 900 The Celtic has already sail
ed and the Culgoa is at Port Said
Eight vessels of the returning bat
| tleship fleet are already under orders
for italian waters and that govern
ment has been asked if their services
can be made useful.
| Il recommend that the Congress ap-
prove the application of supplies above
indicated and further appropriate the
sum of 100000 to be applied to the
work of relief at the discretion or the
executive and with the consent OF the
Italian government
II suggest that the law follow thu
form of that passed after the Noun
Felee disaster in 1902.
| ssTILnnnp pnncry~ET
"The White House,
January a. 1907