The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-20
i THE CABINET MEETS
An Unusual Proceeding During
4, the Summer Months.
TIE PRESIDENT WAS NOT PRESENT

while the Cabinet omciRls Refuse TO Ro-
II Is Believed to Have Been Called to
Suppress Cuban Activity Here.
time In many years there was midsum-
mer cabinet meeting In Washington yes
terday afternoon. In the absence Of the
president, Secretary of State Olney appar-
emily came TO Washington from Falmouth
FOR the express purpose, for he arrived at
noon and left the city this morning. Sec
retary Olney called at tho war department
soon after his arrival at the state depart
ment, TO talk with Secretary Lamont.
Tho latter was absent nt the time and
he failed to attend the cabinet meeting,
which was held later, although an effort
was mado to summon him by telephone.
Secretary Herbert ncxt received visit
from the secretary Of state, and about 4
o'clock the pair walked over to the state
department and were closeted in the of
nco Of Secretary Olney. Here they were
Joined in the course OF hnlf an hour by
Secretary Carlisle and Attorney General
Harmon, who had been called by telephone
Into the conference.
The conference lasted for fully two
hours, aud from time to 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 sonle point
under discussion Whatever wns the sub
tect or subjects considered canpot be
learned, and apparently It was resolved to
keep the matter secret, for each of the
persons present, as they emerged, declined
eourteously, but positively, to answer a
single question touching their delibera-
tions, All that could be gathered was to
the effect that nothing had happened at
6ray Gables to give rise to any apprehen-
Eion.
Still, there was an air Of gravity In the
demeanor OF the officers at they emerged
from the conference that would Indicate
that some weighty and important ques-
tions had boon under consideration. What
these may have been can only be sur
missed, 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
government for its settlement that per-
haps involved tho element Of long tlmc,
and consequently justified some hesltn.
tion before 1t could be disposed OF.
Another idea broached was that thorc
was an ugly question as to the fulflllnent
Of our neutrality obligations towards
Spain that had caused the sudden assem-
blage Of the cabinet officers This had
some COLOR from the fact that the particu.
lar officers gathered at tho state depart
Jnent yesterday afternoon were Just thos,
who would be charged with the execution
Of the neutrality laws. The secretary oi
state would be clothed with general super
vision, the attorney general would look
after the enforcement Of tho law ashore
the secret ary Of the treasury, through the
solicitors Of customs and revenue cut
ters, would care for the ports and coasts
and the secretary Of tho navy would main
tain the marine patrol. In further con
nrmation Of this theory, Senor Dupuy dc
LONE suddenly arrived In Washington
from Massachusetts,.
There are those who believe that 1t wa
this subject of neutrality which engaged
hhe most serious attention Of the cnbinc
pflcers. II is known that they have beel
watching narrowly the proceedings Of tn
Cuban sympathizers who have been opor
nting in the United States, and 1t is be
lieved that the open and questionable opsr
Atlons at the New York meeting latoly
when convention went through tn
form of eleatlnF presidents for Cuba, ha
given rise to some doubt on the part of on
government as to whether this was a pre-
beediDg that did not in itself constitute, q
least In spirit, an infraotion Of that prin
oiple Of the neutrality laws which forbi,
the use Of tho United States as base o
operations against o nation with whicl
the United States is ON terms Of peace.
II this view was taken of tho matter b
the cabinet meeting 1t Is likely that
will be manifested through the issue o
another presidential proclamation mucl
more sweeping In its terms than that al
ready put forth. warning the residents d
this country against any infractlon OF til
neutrality laws and this in turn may b
followed by instructions to the judicia
officers of the government TINT will sum
marily check any hostile movement
against the Spaniards in Cuba from thi
country.
Minister DeLome was seen last nigh
but refused absolutely TO be Intervene
as to the reasons for his presence here Il
this time.