Evening star., 1897-06-09
OFFERED TO GEN. COX
The Important Position Of Minister
to Spain.
CONDITION OF CUBAN AFFAIRS
Commissioner Calhoun Again Con-
fers With the President.
THE LEE REPORT ARRIVES

It was admitted at the White House to-
day that the President has offered the post
of minister to Spain to Ex-Governor Jacob
D Cox of Ohio. Whether or not he will
accept is not known. General Cox is an
old personal friend of the President, and
one in whom Mr.. Mckinley has great
deal of confidence. Although almost sew
enty years of age, General Cox is still
man Of much vigor and energy. Should he
accept this Important post he would bring
to IT an experience gained In important
service and achievements in public and
private life. He had distinguished ca
reer as soldier, rising to the rank Of ma
tor general. He was governor of Ohio in
1896 and 1867, and for two years was Sec
retary Of the Interior in President Grants
cabinet, from which he retired on account
Of disagreement with certain measures of
the administration. Later he served in
Congress, and for a time was president of
the Wabash railroad. He Is now practic-
ing law In Cincinnati 1t is not likely that
any action will be taken in this matter un-
til after the President returns to Washing
ton. Gen. Cox will have ample time in the
interval to make up his mind whether he is
willing to accept the appointment and un-
dertakc the great responsibilities which
such action involves.
Mr.. Calhoun Sees the President.
Mr. Calhoun, the Presidents special COM
missioner to Cuba, had another conference
with President Mckinley 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
$50 by appointment. He was accompanied
by his secretary. Mr.. Fishback. They re-
mained with the President about three
quarters of an hour. Neither Secretary
Sherman nor Assistant Secretary Day was
Gnv1f tol,
Calhoun's departure from the White House
he said that he would not accompany the
President Oh his trip to Nashville, but
would return to his home at Danville. ILL.,.
this evening. He had, ne said nothing to
add to what he already had given to the
news apers beyond the fact that he would
visit Washington again after the Presi-
dents return from the south for fur
ther consultation 1t is expected that he
Will prepare report giving the results of
his researches and observations in Havana
and vtncinity.
Mr.. Calhoun next paid a visit to the
State Department with Mr.. FIshback, and
Was in consultation with Assistant Secre-
tary Day for about an hour and a half
during which time the assistant secretary
denied himself to all callers.
Arrival of Gen. Lees Report.
The Lee report upon the Ruiz case, which
has attracted much attention, was
brought to the department by Mr. Fish
y,
the original twentyfour hours after it had
been brought to his attention in the press
The assistant secretary said to a Star re-
porter that he was not prepared to say
that the printed publication was inaccu-
rate, which in diplomatic parlance is about
as lar as a State Department official can
go toward confirming a statement The
report itself was thoroughly discussed by
the three officials, and all that could he
gathered as to the future action Of the de-
n ba NM
De held IN abeyance until the return of
PRESIDENT Mckinley from his Nashville
trip.
1t is recalled in this connection that the
Rulz case does not stand alone at the State
department, for, although the conditions
IN that were more aggravated than in the
others. the department has had to COM
plain and seek reparation in other cases
involving the confinement of American citi-
zens in violation of treaty rights This
was true IN the cases of Scott and Of To-
lon, and although claims for illegal i'm
prisonment were preferred some time ago
they were pigeonholed and never heard of
again. -
In the case Of Mr.. Delgadoes. the Spanish
government settled the case by the pay
ment of $4,000, which satisfied the iniI-
Vidual for the assault upon his person. but
there Is no record of any apology for the
incident.
Disposed to Vigorous Action,
1t Is evidently the intention of the de-
partment, however, not to allow this last
case to go the way of its predecessors, but
to press it to conclusion without permit
ting 1t to drop out Of sight. The widow of
DR.. Ruiz has filed claim for $15O,OOO for
the illegal Imprisonment of her husband.
and Secretary Sherman is on record as hav-
Ing said he did not regard the amount as
excessive.
Investigating the Leak.
The officials of the State DeDa
have instituted a quiet investigation to
fix the responsibility for the premature and
unofficial publication of Consul General
Lees report on the Ruiz case. Inasmuch
as the report was published almost stimuli
taneously with its arrival in New York in
the possession of Mr.. Fiskback and as
that gentleman says 1t did not leave his
hands, the impression prevails that the
leak occurred in the Havana consulate.