Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-03-26
WHAT WILL THE FINDING BE2
Senator chandler's Opinion Cuban
Reciprocity ENJOYS.
(From our Regular Correspondents

Il
no cooler man in Washington than
President Mckinley, although his is
the greatest individual responsibility
in deciding what action shall be taken
upon the report of the Naval Court OF
Inquiry. That report will probably
be reported in day or two, certainly
this week. Opinions differ as to
whether the report will be at once
sent to Congress and made public
Senator Chandler, whose relations
with the President are such that his
opinion is as good as that of any other
man, said: 1t is barely possible that
the character of the document may be
such as to render it inexpedient to
give it out until Congress can be
gradually made aware Of its contents.
If, for instance, it indicates beyond
doubt the official culpability of the
Spaniards in connection with the
Maine disaster, it would not be wise
to place Congress in immediate pos
session OF the facts officially, for fear
that war would be declared instan.
taneously and without due regard for
all the conditions One thing is GER
tain, Congress and the public will
have the report at the earliest moment
it can be given out without detriment
to public interests.
Another certainty is. that President
Mckinley will not allow himself to be
influenced by any of the numerous
stories as to what European nations
may think that he should do, but will
act solely in the interest of the ma
tional honor of the United States with,
out regard to the probable approval
or disapproval of his action by any
European power or powers. The
Maine was our ship, the court that
made the investigation and report
was composed OF our Naval officers,
and it is our affair to take what ac-
ton we please upon that report, and
we are going to do It. This isn't
spreadeagleism, but plain everyday
patriotism, which is shared by every
American whose heart is in the right
place.
Congress and the country will be
furnished an itemiZed statement show
ing every cent expended from that
special $50, 900, 900 emergency APP
preparation, President Mckinley hav-
ing directed the preparation Of spe-
cial form OF requisition for these funds,
which must be signed by the Presi.
dent himself before they can be hon
ored, and the opening of special en-
Urgency account in the books of the
Treasury.
The gun-shop in the Washington
Navy Yard reminds old -timers of the
war time activity in the same yard,
but upon a different class OF work.
During the war this was strictly a
Navy Yard; now it is only a Navy
Yard in name, its principal work be-
ing the making of guns-some Of the
finest in the world have been and are
being made here-mountings and
ammunition for the Navy. Not a
minute is now being lost in the Yard,
one of three S-hour shifts OF men be-
ing continuously at work
The three Commissioners appointed
| by the Cuban Cabinet to act with the
Spanish Minister in negotiating re-
ciprocity treaty with this country
were presented to Secretary fisherman
today, by the Spanish Minister, and
later they called on Hon. John A.
Kasson, who has chargeiof the inter-
ests Of this country in all reciprocity
negotiations. They expressed anx-
iety to proceed at once with the treaty,
but it is not probable that any ma
terial progress will be made Euntil it
becomes little clearer that it will be
worth while to make such treaty.
II we are to have war with Spain, there
will be no such treaty negotiated, and
if we recognize the independence OF
Cuba, we should therebysofficially de-
clare that Spain had nothing more to
do with Cuba. These commissioners
may be entirely honest in their inten-
tions, but the administration has not
forgotten Senior de Lome's advice that
these negotiations be pressedi as a
blind, nor the statement made on the
floor of the. Senate a few days.ago by
Senator Proctor, showing theIweak-