The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-03

Il IS expected that both Houses Of Con
greSs. responding TO suggestions in a
special message from the President. viii
tomorrow authorize the expenditure Of
at least S5o0.600 for the relief Of the Ital-
ian earthquake sufferers.
The message viii reach the Senate and
House Immediately after Congress re-
assemblies al noon. Prompt reference TO
the Appropriations Committee viii follow.
and the committee viii report a resOlu-
ton which viii provide for the appropria-
ton. The Congress leaders are confident
that the resolution viii be adopted with
out dissenting vote The whole pro
gramme may consume less time than an
hour.
President Roosevelt had a conference
Friday night with Senator Hale OF Maine.
acting chairman Of the Senate Appropria-
tons Committee. and Speaker Cannon.
of the House Further details of the
plan were worked out az the White House
yesterday by the President and Truman
II Newberry. Secretary or The Navy. and
Robert Bacon. Assistant Secretary Of
State
Navy Medical Supplies.
The amount 70 be appropriated VIII
cover the cost of the navy's medical and
food supplies, which are already on their
way 20 Messina in government vessels.
There was a wide variance In the orig
inal official estimates Of the sum neCes-
sary TO be appropriated some opinions
c0ntended that as much rs S2.6c0 90 would
be necessary. But Speaker Cannon and
Senator Hale produced statements show
ing the amounts appropriated for relief
in the past. and these were used as a ba-
SIS for determining how much should be
contributed in the present instance.
President Roosevelt began work on his
special message late yesterday afternoon,
after returning from a horseback ride
and completed Il before he retired
As the result Of the two conferences the
President reached the conclusion that all
Of the navy supplies aboard the provision
ship Celtic. which sailed from New York
for the Mediterranean on December q,
could be spared. and they VIII be di-
verted 10 relief work A part Of the
cargo Of the CUig5a- another fleet supply
snip. now al Port said. may he used.
Eight OF the battle ships I'm the feet
are under orders 10 50 % Italian ports as
a part of the regular itinerary. No or
ders have been issued changing this pro-
sramme or directing other vessels ia the
feet TO proceed % the ruined city.
The eight vessels probably viii carry
out the plan made for them in the official
itinerary and deliver at Messina and -he
other stricken places all the available
medical supplies now carried by the At
lantic fleet not needed Tor the battle
ships.
The ships cannot arrive az MesSina be-
fore January Il OF u They viii arrive
at SUez to-day. The passage through the
canal VII be superintendent 10y the canal
authorities With all speed four ships
can make the passage In from twelve 10
fifteen hours. When these have anchored
at Port Said four more VIII make the
passage until the enti-e feet s. through
Two Days Required.
Two days VIII be- required for each ship
20 coal. OF about eight days for the entire
fleet. -Four of the ships could leave Port
said as soon as C0aIed and make the
trip to NIessina little before January Il
The most likely plan is the dispatch
OF the two supply boats 20 the stricken
district The Celtic. which VIII be al
Gibraltar by January =. has on board
1514on rations. and the CuIgoa approx
mately 5991} more This would supply
1oo0 people many days