Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-20

Bearing Upon the enforcement OF
the Neutrality Laws.
Washington, July 19.-For the first
time in many years there was mid
summer cabinet meeting in Washington,
this afternoon, in the absence of the
President. Secretary of State Olney
apparently came TO washington from
Falmouth for the express purpose, for
he arrived this noon. and will leave the
city Immediately tomorrow morning.
Secretary Olney called at the War
Department soon after his arrival to
talk with Secretary Lamont.
The latter was absent at the time and
he failed to attend the cabinet meeting,
which was held later, although an ef-
fort was made to summon him by tele-
phone. Secretary Herbert next received
a visit from the Secretary of State and
about 4 o'clock the pair walked over to
the State Department and we're closeted
in the office Of Secretary Olney. Here
| they were Joined in the course OF half
an hour by Secretary Carlisle and At
| tOrney General Harmon, who had been
called by telephone into conference.
This lasted for fully two hours and
from time to time Assistant Secretary
Adee, who has been acting as Secretary
of State during the absence OF Secre-
| tary Olney, was called into the room
| to advise the cabinet as - come point
under discussion. Whatever was the
subject or subjects considered cannot be
learned. and apparently it was resolved
| to keep the proceedings secret, for each
of the persons present, as they emerged
declined courteously, but positively, to
answer
A SINGLE QUESTION
touching their deliberations. All that
| could be gathered was TO the effect that
nothing had happened at Gray Gables
to give rise to any apprehension. Still
| there was an air of gravity In the de-
meanor of the cabinet officers as they
emerged from the conference 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 evi-
! dence of probability. One theory ls
that the Mora claim was before the
Cabinet in the shape OF some PROPOSE
ton from the Spanish government for
! its settlement, that perhaps involved the
element of long time and consequently
justified some hesitation before 1t could
! be DISPOSED of. An idea broached
was that there was an ugly question
as TO the fulilment of our neutrality
obligations towards Spain that had
caused the sudden assemblage Of the
cabinet officers. This had some color
form the fact that the particular Off
| GERS gathered at the State Department,
his afternoon. were just those who
would be charged with the execution
of the neutrality laws The Secretary
of State would be clothed with general
supervision, the Attorney-General
would look after the enforcement Of the
law ashore. the Secretary Of the
Treasury, through the collectors of Gus
toms. and revenue cutters would care
for the ports and \oasts, and the Sec
retary of the Navy would maintain the
patrol in blue water. In further con-
frmation of this theory il was said
that the Spanish Minister, Senor Du-
puy de LONE, had suddenly arrived in
Washington from Massachusetts, but
a close search failed 10 discover his
whereabouts, and Secretary Olney
would not admit that he had seen him.
There are those who believe that It was
this
SUBJECT OF NEUTRALITY
which engaged the most serious attea.
ton of the cabinet officers. II is knowu
that they have been watching narrowly
the proceedings Of the Cuban sympa.
thizers. who have been operating In the
United States, and IL is believed thai
the open and Questionable operations at
the New York meeting lately when
convention went through the forms Of
electing a President for Cuba, has given
rise TO some doubt on the part Of our
government as 20 whether this was
proceeding that did not in itself con-
stitute. at least i'm spirit, an infractiOI
of the neutrality laws. which forbid the
use of the United States as a base Of
operations against a nation with which
the United States is on terms OF peace.
II this view was taken of the clatter
bv the cabinet meeting to-day, 1t Is
likely that it viii be manifested through
the issue of another presidential pro-
clamation much more sweeping in its
terms than that already put forth, warm
ing the residents Of this country against
anv infraction OF the neutrality laws,
and this in turn may be followed by in
s-rucuons % the Judicial officers Of the
government that VIII summarily checl
any hostile movements against the
Spaniards fin Cuba from this country.
Minister DeLOme was seen tonight.
but refused absolutely to be interview
cd as TO the reasons for his presence
here at this time.
The impression is very strong to-
night that the cabinet meeting was for
the purpose Of discussing the neutrality
feature OF the Cuban question, and IL is
believed that some public statement
will be made in regard thereto In few
days.
THE WEATHER.
u q Trr1u 10 -Ior