Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-04
President Sends Special Message
Asking for Use OF Food and
Ships Of the Navy
Congress Takes Immediate Action and
Resolutions in Line With Presidents
Recommendation Are Presented -
Largest Sum Ever Appropriated by
Government for Foreign Relief.

washington, Jan. 4-fTeSlueut
Roosevelt in message to congress to-
day asked for direct appropriation of
100000 for the relief of the stricken
people in the earthquake zone of Italy.
This is the most generous fund ever
by the American people
for the succor of sufferers in other
lands, and is to supplement the dis
patch Of the supply ships Celtic and
Culgoa for Messina with their big car
goes of necessaries, originally intended
for the American fleet, to be devoted to
the immediate use of the Italian VIC
Tins
Th~ text Of the presidents message
ITO the Senate and House Of
Representatives: The appalling
calamity which has bcfallen the
people of Italy is followed by dis
tress and suffering thruout the
wide region among the 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 national
lines.
"The immense debt of civiIiza-
ton to Italy; the warm, 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 abundance with which God has
blessed us in our safety; all these
should prompt US to immediate and
effective relief. Private generos-
ity is responding nobIy to the de-
mand by contributions thru the
safe and efficient channel of the
American Red Cross society.
Confident Of your approval,
have ordered the government sup
ply ships Celtic and cuIgoa to the
disaster, where, upon receiving the
authority which, now ask from
you, they will be able to dispense
food, clothing and other supplies
with which they are laden, to the
value Of about 100000 Tho Celtic
has already sailed, the Cuigoa is at
Port Said. Eight vessels Of the re-
turning battleship fleet are already
under orders for Italian waters,
and that government has been
asked If their services can be
made useful.
III recommend that congress ap-
prove application of the supplies
above indicated, and further ap-
propriate the sum of S500,000 to be
applied to the work Of relief at the
discretion Of the executive and with
the consent Of the Italian govern
ment. suggest that the law follow
the form that passed after the
Mount Pelee disaster in 1902.
"(Signed)
"THEopoRE ROOSEVELT
Congress Acts at Once.
Resolutions were introduced today ir
the senate providing for appropriation
of s5o0,000 and in the house fol
$500 900, for Italian relief. The
resolutions provide that the money
shall be used for provisions. clothing
medicines and other necessary articles
and the president is authorized to en-
ploy 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.
Increased to 100000.
The house passed the resolution
reference to committee, amid
great applause, and adopted a resolu-
ton expressing the profound sorrow of
the house for the calamity and request
ing the president to communicate the
same to the people of Italy.
In the senate the resolution was
to the committee on appro-
priations, where the amount was in
creased to 100000, and the resolution
was Immediately reported to the sem
ate as agreed to, with only one vote
in the negative, which was cast by
Bailey. 1t was at the suggestion of the
president that the amount has in
L.