Evening star., 1898-03-25

went to the White House fifteen minutes
after the delivery of the report. He was
with the President and Secretary Long an
hour 1t Is not thought he took away any
part OF the report for the purpose of COM
municating with Minister woodford. All
communication to Minister Woodford or
with the Madrid government will probably
he delayed until tonight or tomorrow.
Judge Day had called at the White House
at O'Clock. but as the President had not
come down stairs he went away to return
later 1t is thought from this that he
probably had matters other than the Maine
report to confer about with the President.
The Cabinet Meeting.
The President, Secretary Long and Com
| mander Mark fingered in the library until
all the members of the cabinet arrived
Inc PRESIDENT and Secretary Long proceed
eo 10 the cabinet room, leaving Lieutenant
COMMANDER Mark in the library so tha,
ne could be within call should the cabinet
oesfre any explanation of the contents of
the report and the accompanying drawings.
secretary Long and Commander Mark
ie1t the White Honse about - o'clock 90
ing to the Navy Department. Commander
Mark remained with the President and
caoinet long enough to explain any fea-
ture Of the investigation desired. After
his departure the cabinet got down to hard
ana serious work IN consideration of the
message.
VIII Vol Cause an Immediate Rupture
Nothing around the White House TODAY
changes the universal belief that the Maine
report w ii show that there was an outsid.
explosion. but the feeling grows that the
matte rupture
ihose who are expecting the President TO
make positive and quick demands uno,
Spain in the way of reparation arc .Ir,o,t
sure TO be mistaken. 1t IS strongly be-
heVed that no indemnity will be asked and
that Spain will be allowed to determine fo.
ne rself what she will do
Inc refusal of the President to demand
an indemnity or even to hint for one. will
pe regarded as the most significant feature
VI lhe situation. 1t will mean that the
Tresioeht VIII soon take action which he
uees not desire to be handicapped by a
penang dispute over money. It will be a
warning to Spain which her statesmen are
sure to see and which will probably cause
1Eem more serious concern than a dozen
demands for indemnity
1t is generally felt today that to make
a demand for indemnity, to be followed by
long correspondence over arbitration
WculG postpone Il settlement of the main
question at issue for an indefinite period.
Cabinet officials Cheerful
The cabinet adjourned at 1:1o O'Clock,
disappointing those who had expected a
ions meeting. AS the members passed out
Oh the PRESIDENTS room they were chat
ting away as pleasantly with each other
tfexy t.I le,,
reception. One of them laughed heartily
at some remark of another
1t is learned that none of the testimony
vas read to the cabinet officials, or asked
for bv them. They were simply acquainted
with the summary, which was read in full
This was all they desired Commander
Mark explained Il number of things and
also gave his Individual impressions when
asked to do so, as was several times the
case.
The President did not give any intima-
ton OF a change in the original program of
sending the report to Congress on Monday
Whatever the contents of the report it
old not have the effect of altering plans
already announced in The Star
TO lie Cabled TO Madrid.
duplicate copy of the report is said TO
nave been sent to the State Department
some time before the adjournment of the
cabinet that it might be Immediately put
in cipher and cabled to Minister Woodfor.l
The understanding is, however, that no
Instructions will accompany this draft OF
the verdict. The President will this after
noon or tomorrow decide what instruc-
items Will 5e given the American minister
at the Spanish capital and will communi-
cate SO soon as he comes to a decision as
to what representations shall be made to
Spain.
Without exception, cabinet members de-
cine to discuss anything which occurred
in the cabinet meeting. None of them at
tempted to deny, however, that the gravity
OF the situation has been at ell altered by
tie report. All answers made to questions
even when Of an evasive nature. carried
with them a tendency to show that there is
nothing in the report to sustain the former
theory of an accident. Everything goes to
show the outside explosion idea to have
been the correct one from the beginning
Another Cabinet Meeting
The cabinet members have the impress
sion that they may be called together again
by the President before the report goes TO
Congress.
The President received no visitors today
Beyond thoSe actively engaged in dealing
with the question of the hour. He held no
public reception this afternoon and will
devote all the time between now and Mon
day to a consideration of the grave ques-
tions before him. He will spend a good
deal of the time in reading the testimony
taken before the board.
WILL RETIRE FROM POLITICS.