Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-05
MONEY FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
Congress Appropriates 100000 After
Listening to Presidents Message.
SECRET SERVICE MESSAGE READ
President Roosevelt Sends Commute
cation in Respect to Charges
Made in His Former
Message.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Following the re-
ceipt of President RooseveIt's special mes
sage asking an appropriation of $500,000 for
the relief of italian earthquake sufferers
the house and the senate passed resolutions
appropriatlng $4,000. which will be imme-
diately available.
The resolution passed hy the house called
for tho appropriations $4,000 more than
the president asked and the senate agreed
to it.
Secret Service Message Read.
Unusual attention was paid in the house
of representatives today to the reading of
a message from the president replying to
a resolution of that body calling on him
for an explanation of the intimation in his
annual message that members OF congress
were afraid to be investigated by the secret
service. The galleries were packed to the
doors.
The message was read as soon as the
Italian relief measure was put through
The presidents specific references to GER
tain speeches by Messrs. Tawney of Min
nesota. Smith of Iowa, Sherley of Ken
lucky and Fitzgerald of New York when
the provision for the restriction OF the
operations of the secret service was up
for discussion and also to Mr.. Rusby, the
speakers private secretary, called a storm
of laughter. The speaker several times Wig
orously raped for order
In his invocation upon the reconvening
of the house of representatives today
Chaplain Couden feelingly referred to the
death recently of Representative Davey of
Louisiana and to the earthquake in Italy
Almost Immediately upon the conclusion
of the prayer MIR. Latta. one of the pres
ident's secretaries, appeared in the cham
Der with a message from the president
urging approval of his acts in extending
relief and also an additional appropriation
of $4,000 for further relief.
Text of Presidents Message.
The text Of the presidents message is
as follows:
ITO the senate and house of representa-
tives The appalling Calamity which has
befallen the people of Italy Is followed by
distress and suffering throughout a wide
region among many thousands 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 national lines.
Italy; the warm and steadfast friendship
between that country and our own; the
affection for their native land felt by
great numbers of good American citizens
who are immigrants from Italy; the abund-
ance with which God has blessed us in our
safety; all these should prompt US to i'm
mediate and effective relief.
Private generosity is responding nobly
/ A. frfh Al,
safe and efficient channels Of the American
Red Cross society.
Action Already Taken.
Confident of your approval I have
ordered the government supply ships Celtic
and Culgoa TO the scene of the disaster.
where. upon receiving the authority which
/ now ask you, they will be able TO dis
pense food. clothing and other supplies
with which they are laden to the value OF
| about $4,000. The Celtic has already
sailed and the Culgoa is at Port Said
Eight vessels of the returning battleship
fleet are already under orders for Italian
waters and that governms Mt has been asked
! II their services can be made useful.
| II recommend that the -ngress approve
the application Of supplies above indicated
and further appropriate the sum of $500. .OOC
i 70 De dplllcu " tue Npih VI lSlAcl dl the
discretion OF the executive and with the
consent OF the Italian government
II suggest that the law follow the form
Of that passed after the Mount Pelee dis
aster in 1900.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The White House. Jan. 4. 1903 .
House Passes Resolution.
The members of the committee on ap-