EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS FOR RELIEF OF FLOOD SUFFERERS
Extra Session of Congress for Relief of Flood Sufferers THE DISASTER in the Mississippi Valley has inundated 10,000 square miles, rendering 200,000 homeless and destitute, with property damge...
...Many great disasters, not only in this country but abroad, have been tlic oeeasion for appropriations by Congress...
...He placed the number of refugees at over 200,000, and said: "This number is increasing daily as fresh breaks in the levees in-nundate the country...
...There are compelling reasons, however, for the railing of an extra session of Congress immediately to provide adequate funds promptly for relief and rehabilitation and to deal with the great problem of flood control...
...The numbers to be cared for have been doubled since that call and the crest of the flood has not reached all parts...
...He said: "The situation in the Mississippi Valley has developed into a grave crisis affecting & wide area in several states...
...His urgent request for more funds is an argument for a special session of Congress...
...The President's reluctance to call Congress in special session to deal with this "grave crisis" appears political in character...
...On January 20...
...The Mississippi flood is the greatest disaster in our history, affecting a large number of citizens, caused by floods of navigable streams over which the federal government has jurisdiction and for which it must assume responsibility...
...The responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of President Coolidge because under the constitution he has sole power to act...
...This view is not sustained by many who are in the flood area and who are fully aware of the havoc wrought, as indicated by the appeals of Senator Robinson of Arkansas and others to the President for a special session of the Congress...
...generous support of all able to contribute...
...Because of the vast increase in the flooded area the sum already called for will prove insufficient...
...It is especially unconvincing in view of the President's most recent call for additional funds in which he sets the need for immediate relief, alone, at $10,-000,000...
...It is to be hoped that the pressure of public opinion will force him to act, thus enabling Congress to provide funds immediately for relief and then to devote its undivided attention to this pressing and important question of flood prevention and control months in advance of the regular session...
...On March 3, 1925, a credit of $8,000 for the issuance of quartermaster's stores in relieving sufferers from cyclone in Georgia...
...Prom 1803 to 1916 Congress passed seventy Acts or Resolutions providing relief to sufferers from floods, fire, earthquakes and other calamities...
...A great emergency has arisen in which time is of the greatest importance...
...March 4, 1925, $10,000 for the issuance of quartermaster stores for relief of sufferers from fire at New Bern, N. C, and on the same day $4,500 for the relief of sufferers from cyclone in northwest Mississippi, making a total of approximately $39,-000,000, which has been appropriated for relief during the history of the country...
...Extra Session of Congress for Relief of Flood Sufferers THE DISASTER in the Mississippi Valley has inundated 10,000 square miles, rendering 200,000 homeless and destitute, with property damge estimated at $500,000,000...
...Inno 8, 1921—subsistence and quartermaster's supplies to sufferers from flood hn Colorado...
...It is plainly the duty of the President to call Congress in extra session at once...
...The Red Cross drive for relief funds should have tin...
...May 28, 1924, Naval supplies were made available for earthquake sufferers in Japan...
...The total amount of money appropriated for relief during this period was approximately 19,000,000...
...The President's argument against this action is unconvincing when the full import of the disaster is taken into account...
...Since 1916 Congress appropriated...
...1922, $4,000,000 worth of medical supplies were made available for additional relief in Russia...
...On February 24, 1925, Congress made available a credit of $6,000,000 for the issuance of supplies for the relief of earthquake sufferers in Japan...
...On December 22 of the same year >20.()00,000 was appropriated for the re-Bel' of sufferers from famine in Russia...
...He announced a few days ago that he would not call Congress in special session because he believed private resources would prove adequate for relief and that the problem of control might safely await the regular session of Congress in December...
Vol. 19 • May 1927 • No. 5
