The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
CONGRESS VOTES
BIG sum FOR AID
President Sends Message Which
Promptly Brings Forth
SSOO,OOO Appropriation


100000 for the relief of the stricker
people in the earthquake zone in Italy
This is the most generous fund ever
contributed gby the American people fol
succor of sufferers in other lands, and
is TO supplement- the dispatch of the
supply ships Celtic from New York ane
the Culgoa from Port. Said for Mes
sina with their big cargoes of neces-
saries originally intended for the Amer
lean fleet diverted to the immediate use
of the Italian victims. II also supple
ments the presidents proffer of the
services of the entire American fleet OF
IS battleships, whose use in whole OIL
in part hinged only on the grateful
acceptance or declination of the Italian
government. The message was brief
and plans had been made for the i'm
recommendations.
PROMPT AID REQUIRED
The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tves: The appalling calamity which has
befallen tile 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 aud means Of living destroyed
The ordinary machinery for supplying the
ana an exceptional emergency exists which
demands that the obligations Of humanity
shall regard no limit Of national lines.
The immense debt Of civilization 10 Italy:
the warm and steadfsst friendship between
thst country and the affection for
their native land felt by great numbers
Of good American citizens who are immi
grants from Italy: the abundance with which
God has blessed US in oGr safety: all these
should prompt us to immediate aud effective
relief
Private generosity is responding nobly to
the work by contributions through the safe
and efficient channel Of the American Red
Cross society.
Confident Of your approval | have ordered
the government supply ships Celtic and Cul-
goa 10 the scene of the disaster. where upon
receiving the authority which l now ask
from you they win be able TO dispense food.
clothing and other supplies with which they
are laden TO the value Of about $500. 0o0.
The Celtic has already sailed and the Culgoa
Is ~ Port Said. Eight vessels of the
turning hatfleship feet are already under
orders for Italian waters and that govern
ment has been asked If their services can
be made useful.
recommend that the congress approve the
application OF supplies above indicated and
further appropriate the sum OF $500. 900 to
be applied 10 the work Of relief at the dis
cretion Of the executive and with the con-
sent Of the italian government.
I suggest that the law follow the form Of
that passed in the Mount Pelee disaster in
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. January 4, 1909.
HOUSE ACTS AT ONCE
In his invocation upon the recon
vening OF the house today Chaplain
Coudon feelingIy referred to the death
recently of Representative Davey OF
Louisiana and to the earthquake in
Italy. When the presidents messag ge
was read Bingham of Pennsylvania
secured unanimous consent for the inn
mediate consideration of the following
al f1F
the presidents message, and it was
adopted amid great applause:
That 10 enable the president Of the
United States 10 procure and distribute
among the suffering and destitute people of
Italy such provisions. clothing. medicines and
other necessary articles. and 10 take such
other steps he shall deem advisable for
the purpose OF rescung and succoring the
starvation. the sum Of $500 900 is hereby
appropriated out of any moneys In the
treasury not otherwise appropriated.
In the execution Of this act the president
is requested TO obtain the approval of the
Italian government and hereby authorized
10 employ any vessels of the United States
navy and TO charter and employ any other
suitable steamships or vessels.
Immediately another resolution was
unanimously adopted expressing the
profound sorrow of the house for the
calamity.
The house then added 100000 to its
dppfOpGldlloHs making IN all SoOO,OOU
instead of 100000 as originally
planned, to be given for the sufferers
APPROVED By SENATE
In the senate Hale reported a reso-
luton adopted by the committee on
appropriations and ii was agreed to
with only one vote in the negative
which was cast by Bailey. The reso-
luton was as follows:
That TO enable the president of the United
States 10 procure, transport and distribute
among the suffering people Of Italy and its
islands such provisions. clothing. medicines
moneys and other articles he shall deem
advisable for the purpose OF rescuing and
sUccoring the people who In peril and
threatened with starvation in consequence
OF the recent earthquake. the sum OF $780,
600 is hereby appropriated out of any
moneys in the treasury. and that the action
of the president in dispatching the naval
vessels 10 Italy with food and supplies for
the Italian sufferers is hereby ratified and
approved.
In the execution OF this act the president
may use any vessels of the United States
navy and such other vessels as he may in
his discretion employ.
Later the senate agreed to the reso-
luton adopted by the house increasing
the appropriation to 100000, and this
amount becomes Immediately available