Evening star., 1927-04-29
PRESIDENT URGED
TO CALL CONGRESS
Robinson's Proposal to Aid
Flood Sufferers Is Taken
Up by Cabinet.

A proposal from Senator Robinson
Of Arkansas, minority leader of the
Senate, to call an extra session of Con
gress for the purpose of appropriating
funds to care for the destitute families
in the flooded area was discussed at
the cabinet meeting at the executive
offices today, together with other
angles of the flood disaster.
Senator Robinsons proposal. which
was contained in a telegram, is under
stood to have been laid before the
cabinet members by the President him
self with the request for individual
comment. The President was repre-
sented later as having the matter un.
der consideration, but as having given
not the slightest indication of what he
intended to do.
President Confers With Curtis.
It is understood that the President
conferred yesterday with Senator
Curtis Of Kansas, Republican leader of
the Senate, during which time the
seriousness of the situation in the Mis-
sissippi Valley was discussed. Whether
the. calling an extra session because
of this emergency was taken up by
the President with the Senate leader
could not be learned.
According to one of the Presidents
associates, Mr.. Coolidge got in COM
:nunication with Secretary Of Com
merce Hoover, who is personally
experimenting the Federal Govern
ment's relief work, since receiving
Senator Rohinson's request for an
extra session of Congress. 1t is said
6of 1,.nc ~
learn from Secretary Hoover the seri-
BUSINESS up to the present time and
to ask his opinion as to the prospects
for recovery in the Mississippi Valley.
May Decide This Afternoon.
1t is the opinion of those associated
with the President, that he will be in
a position probably to say definitely
at his conference with the newspaper
correspondents this afternoon whether
he considers a special session of Con
gress necessary.
A summary of overnight messages
to the War Department from Mis-
sssippi Valley flood areas emphasized
increasingly serious refugee condi-
tions in the YaZoo delta, in northern
Louisiana and at other points. In
habitants of the lower Louisiana SEQ
levee is cut today at PoydraS just
below New Orleans, are being housed
in a building at the Army supply
base in New Orleans, which will
shelter 1000 persons.
Additional supplies issued for relief
purposes yesterday by Army COM
manders included ,459 tents, shipped
from Columbus to Camp Jessup, near
Atlanta, Ca, for distribution, 1,200
tents, 625 cots, 1000 blankets and
other equipment for the Vicksburg
area, and Army cook ranges. with
mess kits, forks, knives and other
equipment, for the refugees, at New
Orleans.
g Senator Thanks Officials.
Maj. Gen. Poore of the 7th Corps
Area reported receipt of a letter from
Senator Robinson of Arkansas express
ing grateful acknowledgement for
prompt cooperation in flood relief"
Conditions are tndescribably bad"
Senator Robinson said. MANY lives
will be lost and much property will be
destroyed.
Il believe that everything possible is
being done to afford relief and | desire
to make formal Acknowledgement of
the appreciation we feel for the prompt
and helpful action which has been
taken under your direction"
Members to Visit Scene.
Members of the Senate and House
committees having charge of flood
control legislation plan to visit the
scene of the flood to get firsthand in
formation for legislation at the next
session of Congress.
Chairman Jones of the Senate COM
merce committee said today that he
would visit the Mississippi Valley and
would invite the other members of the
committee to go along.
Chairman Reed of the House flood
control committee has announced that
he and other members of the House
committee would tour the valley.
------e-----