The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-20
Hut Refcxe 10 Give Any Inklins OF the
Question That Called Them
HurrfedIy Together.
sURMIsEs OF REPORTERS
MORA CLAIM AND FILIBUsTERs
PROBABLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.
President Cleveland Places All Pen-
sion Agencies Under ProteC scn of
the Civil-Servlce Rules.

WASHINGTON. July l9.-For the first
time in many years there was miisum-
mer Cabinet meeting In Washington this
afternoon In the absence OF the President.
Secretary Of State Olney apparently came
10 Washington from Falmouth for the ex-
press purpose, for he arrived this noon and
viii leave the city Immediately to-mor-
row morning Secretary Olney called al
the War Department soon after his arrival
at the State Department 10 talk with
Secretary Lamont The latter was absent
at the time. and he failed TO attend the
Cabinet meeting. which was held later. al
though an effort was made to summon him
by telephone. Secretary Herbert next re-
ceived visit from the Secretary OF State.
and about o'clock the pair walked over 10
the State Department and were closefed
in the office of Secretary Olney. Here they
were Joined in the course of half an hour
by Secretary Carlisle and Attorney-general
Harmon, who had been called by teie-
phone into conference. This lasted for
fully two hours. and from time 10 time
Assistant Secretary Adee. who has been
acting as Secretary OF State during the
absence of Secretary Olney. was called
into the room 10 advise the Cabinet as TO
some point under discussion. Whatever
was the subject or subjects considered
cannot be learned, and apparently IL was
resolved to keep the proceedings secret.
for each OF the persons present. as they
emerged, declined courteously. but positive
ly. to answer a single question touching
their deliberations. All that could be
gathered was 10 the effect that nothing
had happened at Gray Gables TO give rise
TO any apprehensions. still there was an
air of gravity in the demeanor OF the Cab
met officers as they emerged from the con-
ference that would indicate that some
weighty and important questions had been
under discussion. What these may have
been can only be surmised without any
tangible evidence of probability.
One theory is that the Mora claim was
before the Cabinet in the shape of some
proposition from the Spanish governments
for its settlement. and perhaps involved
the element of long time and consequent
ly justified some hesitation before IL could
be disposed Of An idea broached was that
there was an ugly question as TO the full
fillment of our neutrality obligations to-
wards Spain that had caused the sudden
assemblage of the cabinet officers. This
had some color from the fact that the
particular officers gathered at the State
Department this afternoon were just those
who would be charged with the execution
of the neutrality laws. The Secretary OF
State would be clothed with general sL2er-
vision: the Attorney-general would look
after the enforcement of the law ashore:
the Secretary Of the Treasury. through the
collectors OF customs and revenue cutters.
would care for the ports and coast5, and
the Secretary of the Navy would maintain
the patrol in blue water. In further con-
firmation of this theory IL was said that
the Spanish minister. Senor Dupuy De
LONE, had suddenly arrived in Washing
ton from Massachusetts, but a close search
failed to discover his whereabouts. and
Secretary Olney would not admit that he
had seen him. There are those who be-
lieve that II was this subject Of neutrality
which engaged the most serious attention
Of the Cabinet officers. 1t is known that
they have been watching narrowly the
proceedings of the Cuban sympathizers.
who have been operating in the United
States. and II is believed that the open and
questionable operations at the New York
meeting lately. when a convention went
through the forms Of electing President
for Cuba, has given rise TO some doubt on
the part of our government as 10 whether
this was a proceeding that did not in itself
constitute, at least in spirit, an infractfon
of that principle OF the neutrality laws
which forbid the of the United States
as base of operations against a nation
with which the United States is on terms
of peace. II this view was taken OF the
matter by the Cabinet meeting to-day n is
likely that IL will be manifested through
the issue of another presidential proclama-
tion much more sweeping in its terms than
that already put forth. warning the resi-
dents of this country against any infrac-
ton of the neutrality laws. and this in
turn may be followed by instructions 70
the judicial officers OF the government that
will summarily check any hostile move-
ments against the Spaniards In Cuba from
this country.