Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-24
TIRE MAINE REPORT.
4 plan OF PROCEDURE OUTLINED.
Extraordinary Precautions Taken ~ ~
Authorities - Prevent the Contests
u the Document frsn
Being kuovp.


WASHINGTON, March 9s.-rhs pro-
oedure In connection with the submis.
sion Of the report Of the Maine court
Of inquiry BY the president u con-
gress is now clearly outlined, and =
cabinet officer yesterday explained the
general line Of action At present in
tended to be pursued upon receipt Of
the report, which is expected to reach
Washington next Thursday. A copy
Of II will be laid before the Spanish
government very early and, as soon as
can be consistently done, the report
will be sent to congress and made pub
lie at the same time. The report to
congress will be accompanied by a
message from the president stating
that, after receiving the report, the
conclusions were laid before the Span
ish government and appropriate &C.
ton from that quarter asked.
II is stated positively that no part Of
the report, and no intimation Of the
findings has reached the executive
authorities in Washington as yet. At
the same time it is noticeable fact
that the current official opinion is be-
ginning to follow thato of the unofficial
opinion expressed so positively and
perslstently at Havana and Key West,
that the cause of the explosion was
external to the battleship. Officials
high in the administration stated yes
terday that, while they were wholly
without information as to the findings
of the court of inquiry, they found
themselves sharing in the apparently
intangible convictions that the cause
Of the explosion was not accidental.
One Of the cabinet officials, speaking
about the report Of the board OF in.
quiry, said lie had agreed heartily
with the suggestion that had been
made that the president should be al.
lowed a reasonable time TO consider II
before giving it to the public, and felt
sure that the public would take the
same view. In SO important matter,
he said, the country can well afford ia
give the chief executive in whom II
has so much confidence reasonable
time for deliberation, feeling assured
that the full report will then be given
! out and nothing withheld.
The same official expressed the hope
that this same confidence which Il
felt in the president will lead congress
and the public TO recognize that thu
president has sources of information
that are not possessed by anybody else
by reason Of his communications witt
foreign governments and his dip
lomatic channels, and II anybody car
shape policy which will lead to {
satisfactory settlement of the presen
critical situation 1t is the president
Most extraordinary precautions, 1t II
alleged, have been taken by the au
thorities to prevent the report Of thu
Maine court Of inquiry from being di
vulged before the document reaches
the president. From the time tn,
messenger bearing this report leavel
Key West until he reaches the capito
he will be under the constant surveil
lance Of carefully picked, tried ant
trusty men who will be heavily armed
In fact, as much care will be taker
with this communication as though II
were paymaster's treasure chest be
ing transported to some frontier posi-
where lawless characters would bt
likely to be encountered.
THE REPORT BROUGHT ASHORE.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 99.-Judgt
Advocate Mark OF the court OF in
quiry came ashore at three o'clock
yesterday afternoon accompanied by
an orderly from the Iowa who carried
bulky package Of official documents
which was handed to Rear Admiral
Sicard. The documents were the full
findings OF the court. Lieutenant
Commander Mark, when questioned on
the subject, refused either to deny OF
confirm, but an officer from the Iowa
said the documents were the long-ex
pected report on the Maine disaster
The papers were Immediately exam
ined by the rear admiral and Com
mander West. 1t is presumed that the
documents will be taken to Washing