New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-23
THE CABINET MEETING.
DISCUSSION OF THE BLOCKADE AND THE
EMBARGO SENATORS CONFER WITH
THE PRESIDENT

Washington April "2-The members O. the
Cabinet were late in assembling this morning
Secretary Long did rot arrive until II 20
O'Clock. and Secretary Alger ton minutes later
Secretary Sherman was accompanied by Assist
ant Secretary Day. Mr.. Gary. the retiring Post
mas;er-General. remained only long enough to
witness the taking Of tho oath Of his successor
and then feelingly babe tho President and his
colleagues gOodhy
The Cabinet meeting lasted till o'clock. The
discussion OF the proposed proclamation 70 the
world that this Government will establish and
effectively maintain a blockade az the port Of
Havana occupied considerable time. The proc
amation. substantially prepared by the At
torney-Genersl. was signed before the meeting
adjourned. and promulgated u once. The
embargo resolutions ot Congress were also dis
cussed at length. and finally approved by the
President These will ne put into effect Inme-
dately. They will eNectuallv prevent the land
ing al any Cuban or other Spanish port OF coal
or other contrahand articles Customs officers
will be instructed not to grant clearance papers
70 any vessels 50 laden. and il a false statement
Is made as TO their destination. they will not be
permitted to pass the boc'ade, and will be sub
tect 70 seizure.
During the progress OF the meeting General
A. W. Greedy. the Chief Signal Officer Or the
Army was called in. also Mr.. Marean
the local manager Of tho Western Union Te!e-
graph Company. but the nature o, their business
not disclosed
The Cabinet discussed a number OF important
matters bearing upon the situation. but the
members unusually reticent in regard 10
them The President and his advisers consider
the war as now on. and time will be lost In
forcing the issue.
At the conclusion OF the meeting the President
took walk with Secretary Alger.
Senator Davis as the head OF the Foreign Re
latiOns Committee, was IN conference with Ny
Mckinley FOR a halthour. AT its conclusion he
announced that there had been no material
change in the situation. and that everything
was going on satisfactorily. He was in an espe-
cially happy mood, and as he drove or for the
Senate iocularly called back. Please put me
down as reticent That's what one OF my col
leagues In the Senate takes occasion 70 Suggest
sometimes. and Just mark me likewise. He
said he understood that the President would Is
sue the expected call for volunteers before the
close Of the day. Asked as TO the probability
OF formal declaration Of war by Congress. he
said Z, was likely that action would be taken
to- morrow That would allow the Spanish Gov
eminent the full limit OF time imposed By the
United States ultimatum.
senator Mcmillan. OF Michigan and senator
Wilson. Of Washington. Representatives curtis.
Of Iowa ard RabcOck. OF Wisconsin. the latter
the chairman OF the Republican ongTessloia
Committee. were also with the PRESIDENT MI
Re hcock's mission related 10 the proposed pohd
issue 10 meet war emergencies lie urg"d tha'
II be made a popular loan. saying II was o'4IS
right that the people should nave an opportunity
10 take part in the issue The President II -
understood agreed IN this We" ana secretary
I{iss who has also been talked with. II Is stated
Is heartily in favor Of H. Mr.. babcock tnlhks
Tho bonds should De AT interest AZ . per cent
4 member Of the Cabinet. at II o'clock TO-DAY
tust before the Cabinet assembled, said II mad
not been settled by the Administration whether
or not 10 ask Congress 10 make formal dec.aT I
alton OF war. 49,, -
senator Davis. chairman Of the Committee on
Foreign Relations and Senator Cannon. or tan
we're with the President early to-day senator
Canror's visit. however, was of larger per
soral character. but he expressed the oeliel ina
there would be a formal declaration OF war maze
bv Congress to- morrow. and that II would he nut
through the Senate within a Few minutes hItrt
noon when the period allowed by the ultiinaturn
~ this Government would expire. He ala not
he said believe II would be proper 'or this GOV
eminent 10 take such action until af'er tha'
LIMIT had expired.