Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-23
Final Report Not In
Congress Will Be Given a
Chance to Act Soon.
Mckinley Has SPECIAL Message Ready
for Congress.

| WASHINGTON, March 23.-The cabi.
net and devoted an hour to the Span
ish situation and to the Forthcoming
report. The tone of the discussion
was firth. Secaetary Long authorized
the statement that the understanding
before the cabinet was that the report
would reach Washington next Thurs
day or Friday: and that the publica-
tion and transmission to congress
would not occur until next Monday
or Tuesday, as the president would
req lire that much time to give the
document consideration. Other cabi-
net officers state that the general
plan included the sending of presi.
Dental message along with the re-
port, stating that Spain had been
called upon to make suitable re-
sponse to the case presented by the
court Of inquiry.
While the cabinet associates of the
president maintained their usual re
serve as to the exact character of
their deliberations, yet 1T was con-
ceded that the discussion proceeded
on the theory that the coming report
would show that the Maine explosion
was not the result of an accident, but
was due to an external cause. There is
no doubt that substantial unanimity
exists on the part Of the president and
his cabinet. but both as to the Maine
question and TO the general subject of
Cuba.
Pending the decision on the govern
ments final policy, no oyertures nor
intimations have been conveyed to the
Spanish government, and there is not
official kno Hledge as to how Spain
would regard the recognition of
Cuban independence or intervention.
Last evening Secretary Long ad-
mitted that telegraphic summary of
the report of the court of inquiry had
been received, and he also admitted
that Admiral Sicard had received the
report and would forward
it to Washington without delay.
With the telegraphic summery re-
ceiYed as basis, the state depart
ment has already proceeded to notify
Minister Woodford officially of its
character, and he ia turn has prob
ably communicated the news to the
Spanish government, with an intima-
tion that it must be prepared to pre-
sent satisfactory reply within few
days.
1t is commonly supposed at the
navy department that there will be
no departure from the usual custom
of having the report of inquiry come
to Washington in the custody of the
Judge advocate, 1t would be a great
surprise if the report reached here in
any other way or was received before
Thursday, the day set for its receipt
by Secretary Long, who has explained
that his estimate of the date of its ar
rival is based on information in his
possession.
1t is a significant fact that after
the different conferences at the white
house there was a demand upon the
congressional library for all records
bearing upon the act of congress in
declaring war with Great Britain and
Mexico, which are the only precedents
in the history of the country. Some
of the very men who conferred with
the president in the morning were in
the afternoon looking at the declara-
tion of war with Great Britain, and
the declaration by congress that war
actually existed through the act OF
Mexico.
The sentiment of those who were
called upon by the president, it has