The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-10
CASE OF DIR. RUIZ.
State Department VIII Probably Press
CInfms for Indemnity.

a Claims for Indemnity.
WASHINGTON, June 9-Mr. Calhoun, the
Presidents special commissioner to Cuba.
had another conference with President Nc
Kinley this morning. Owing to the fact
that Mr.. Mckinley was to leave at noon
on the trip to Nashville Mr.. Calhoun went
to the White House at $3.50 by appointment.
lie was accompanied by his secretary. Mr.
Fishback They remained with the Presi-
dent about three-quarters Of an hour. Nei-
Their Secretary Sherman nor Assistant
Secretary Day was present at to-day's
conference. After Mr. Calhoun's departure
from the White House he said he should
not accompany the President on his trip to
Nashville, but should return to his home
at Danvile, ILL.,, tomorrow. He had, he
said nothing to add to what he had already
given to the newspapers beyond the fact
that he probably should visit Washington
again after the Presidents return from the
South for further consultation.
Mr.. Calhoun paid visit to the State De-
partment with Mr.. FishbacK, and in
consultation with Assistant Secretary Day
Tor about an hour and a half, during which
) time the assistant secretary denied himself
TO all callers. The Lee report on the Ruiz
case, which has attracted so much atten-
ton, was brought to the department. by
MIR. HiShback and delivered to Judge Day.
who saw the original twenty-four hours
after 1t had been brought to his attention
in the press. The assistant secretary said
he was not prepared TO say that the print
! ed publication was inaccurate, which, IN
diplomatic parlance, is about far
AState Department official can go towards
Aonfirming a statement. The report itself
as thoroughly discussed by the three Of
.cials. All that could be gathered from
chem as to the future action of the depart
ment in the matter was that the matter
would be held in allegiance until the return
of President Mckinley from his Nashville
trip. 1t is recalled in this connection that
the Ruiz case does not stand alone at the
State Department for, although the con-
ditions in that case were more aggravated,
the department has had to complain and
seek reparation in other cases involving the
confinement of American citizens in viola
ton of treaty rights. This was true in the
case of Scott and of TolOn, and, although
claims for Illegal Imprisonment were re-
ferred, they were pigeOnholed and never
heard Of again. In the case of the Del
gados the Spanish government settled the
case by the payment Of $l5,000 which sat
isfed the individual for the assault on his
person, but there was no record of any
, apology for the incident 1t is evidently
the intention Of the department however,
not to allow this last case to so the way OF
cluslon without its being permitted to drop
out of sight.
1t was learned this afternoon that the
Department of State is in now in possession
Of two distinct reports bearing upon the
Ruiz case. They were brought to Wash
ington by Mr.. Fishback the secretary TO
Mr.. Calhoun, and handed to Assistant Sec
rotary Day. One of these reports was made
by Consul General Lee and has been fully
port, really the original, was joint produc-
ton, signed by Consul General Lee and by
DIR. Congosto, the Spanish consul al Phila-
delphia, who, with General Lee constituted
special commission to investigate the con-
ditions surrounding the death of Dr. Ruiz.
In this report IL e two commissioners went
as far as they could together, which neces-
sarily confined them to mere statement
of the facts that are not subject to con-
troversy. Failing to agree upon a state
ment of the causes which led to Ruiz s
deaSh, the commissioners signed the docu-
ment at this point and then, by mutual
agreement, made what may be described as
supplemental reports to their own govern
ments, in which they set out statements
that they could not agree to include in the
original report the published report of
General Lee was one of those supplemental
reports and it is probable that the Spanish
government has one intended to oontrovert
1t made by DR.. Congosto. With all of this
literature on the subject in possession of
the two governments the possibilities of
prolonged negotiations promising.
The publication of General Lees report
in advance of its reception at the State
Department has given much annoyance to
the officials and probably will be made the
subject of quiet inquiry, inasmuch as it
is believed that the position of our govern
ment, in the negotiations that are sure to
follow with Spain, is weakened by thus put
ting its case in possession of the other side.