318 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 15

terms of the resolution, notify me that their presence
is not necessary.

Under these circumstances I must, of course, decline
to comply with the request of the Legislature.
Respectfully yours,

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
HON. EDWIN WARFIELD,

Governor of Maryland,

Annapolis, Maryland.

The Secretary of the State appeared and delivered
the following:

Baltimore Feb. 11, 1904.

At a called meeting of the Council of Administra-
tion of the Department of Maryland, G. A. R., held
on the above date, the following preamble and resolu-
tions were adopted :

Whereas, The overwhelming calamity that befell
our city on Sunday and Monday, February, 7th and
33th, 1904, has also seriously affected the financial in-
terests of the State of Maryland, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Legislative Committee of the
Grand Army of the Republic, in accordance with the

expressed desire of the Department and recommenda-
tion of the committee, is hereby directed to withdraw
the bill now before the Legislature of Maryland, asking
for an approprietion of twenty-five thousand dollars

($35,000) for a monument commemorating the services
of the soldiers, sailors and marines who, responsive to

the call of the Governor, nobly sustained the renowned
martial glory of the State in the great Civil War of
1861-65.

Resolved, That the Department of Maryland, G. A.
"R., believing the present .time totally unpropitious
for any State expenditures save and excepting such as
may be absolutely necessary for conducting the affairs
of the State, and such aid as it may be enabled to
render the stricken city of Baltimore, is voicing the
unanimous sentiment of the "Old Soldiers" of 1861-65,
Im calling for the withdrawal of the bill now before