Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-06
TAFT ASSURES AID
Government Supplies to Suf-
fererS From the Floods.
HEARS OF BAD CONDITIONS
Senator Elect James Gives Details
From Hickman, Ky.
BIG TERRITORY UNDER WATER
War Department Caring for Desti-
tute, Expecting Congress to Pro-
vide for Reimbursement.
HEARS OF BAD CONDITIONS
BIG TERRITORY UNDER WATER

| Senator-elect Ollie James of Kentucky
| conferred with President Taft this morn
| ing as to the deplorable conditions along
| the Mississippi river near Hickman, KY.
Mr.. James showed the President a tele-
gram from the mayor of Hickman saying
the levee five miles west of there had
broken and that the devastation was ap-
palling. The mayor added that Hickman
was caring for thousands Of refugees and
must have help.
Mr.. James thought it would be best for
the President to urge Congress to at once
furnish an appropriation to care for the
destitute. but the President assured Mr..
James that the War Department was pro-
ceeding as fast as possible to do this, and
that Congress could reimburse the depart
ment for the supplies it furnishes.
The President was sure that what Is
being done now could not be done any
faster if an appropriation were I'M
mediately available. The administra-
ton would give help. and trust to Con-
gress TO make the necessary appropr1a-
ton. This program has been agreed
to by Chairman Fitzgerald of the ap-
preparations committee.
Immediate Relief Guaranteed.
The President gave Mr.. James the
following letter:
my Dear Senator James: / yesterday
sent a letter to the chairman of the ap-
preparations committee. a copy of which
inclose, and I beg. in addition to what
I have said in that letter. to assure
you that so far as the action or Con-
gress is concerned, whatever action 1t
takes, the furnishing of supplies by the
War Department will not be for mo-
ment delayed as soon as 1t Is learned
what is needed to relieve the people
there. We have supplies on hand for
Immediate use, and we shall expect to
be reimbursed by congressional appro-
priation for what is used.
Sincerely yours,
WIN H. TAFT"
Letter to Representative Fitzgerald.
The President wrote the following letter
to Representative John j. Fitzgerald,
chairman of the committee on apprOpria
tons:
LAS 1 told you yesterday, by direction
of the Secretary of War. two officers of
the quartermaster's department have
been sent to that part of the Mississippi
valley where floods are reported We have
had telegraphic communications from
them. but they have not succeeded in
reaching Hickman and New Madrid,
though they have opened communication
with the mayor Of the latter town. This
is owing to interruption to railroad traf-
fic and the necessity for proceeding part
way by boat.
II write to say that 1 do not think it
wise to make any appropriation for the
plies until these officers reach the ground
and give US some idea of the amount
needed and the extent of the suffering
and restitution.
made, the Secretary of War will not
hesitate to use Of the army supplies
whatever is Immediately needed. and
have no doubt that he has near at hand
fering as can be relieved in that way.
shall advise you tomorrow of any
further information that we have re-
ceived."
Mails Delayed in West.
Reports received by Postmaster Gen
eral Hitchcock today from superintend-
ents of the railway mail service sta
toned at Omaha and New Orleans indi-
cate that mail interruption on account
of high water at the present time Is
the greatest I'm the history of the
service. Many towns in the Mississippi
valley are isolated, so far as mail COM
munication is concerned, and the situ-
alton In the lower valley continues a,1 to
General has advised his railway mail
superintendents to use every effort to
keep the mails moving.
From New Orleans it is reported that
the volume of water now en- route In
the Mississippi valley is unprecedented
and further trouble is expected before
| 1T has passed out into the Gulf of
Mexico.
Patronize the Local Merchants.
The War Department has decided that
buy food supplies for the flood sufferers
from the merchants in the flooded coun-
try rather than to endeavor to draw upon
the regular commssaries at Chicago and
ST Louis. The ration supplied to persons
in distress is that issued to the planta-
ton hands-cornmeal bacon and mo-
lasses. These staples can be had at any
country store in the south, and it has
been found that by patronizng the mer-
chants at time when their ordinary
business IS paralyzed the disbursing off,
GERS confer a real benefit upon the dis
tressed communities.
Commssary General Sharpe today
placed $4,000 at the disposition of three
almoners in the flooded district. These
are Maj. Normoyle. at Columbus, Ky;
Capt. Hegeman, at New Madrid, Mo-, and
Capt. James A. Logan. The last named
officer is one of the army cOmmisSary
officers at Chicago, but this morning was
ordered to proceed at once to Hickman,
KY.
The Red Cross is in close touch with
the War Department In this relief work.
OPPOSE ANIMAL HOUSING BILL.