The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-15
PROCTOR WITH PRESIDENT.
THE TWO IN CONFERENCE MORE
THAN TWO HOURS.

Again Talks of the situation-Min-
lister Dernabe Denies That Torpedo
FIOtilIa's Departure for Cuba Has
any Signihcance-DnnG Def
cheney in the Engineer Branch of
the Navy.
Washington, March Ex-senator Proctor
visited the White House and uptown de-
partments to-day, and his call excited a
good deal of interest. He spent, half an
hour first with Secretary Alger, explaining,
it is believed, the military situation in
Cuba, and afterwards had a conference
with Judge Day, assistant secretary of
state. Then he went to the White House
and was closeted with the President for
! two hours and a quarter. When he
emerged from the room he courteously de-
clned to speak regarding the nature of the
information he had communicated to the
President.
| Col. Myron NJ. Parker one of the lead
ing business men of Washington, who ac-
companied Senator Proctor in his recent
visit to Cuba, said to-day that the Ameri-
cans on the island had no doubt that the
disaster to the Maine was caused through
Spanish agency Their belief, however, he
said, could not be traced to any authorita-
tive source. The insurgents, Col. Parker
thought were in better shape than ever
before, and would be able to accom-
plish their independence in time.
The Cubans, as rule, he believed, would
be glad to see the island come under the
American flag and would do what they
could to bring about that result. The
Colonel reiterated his statement of last
night that the situation of the ireconcen-
tradoes was deplorable i'm the extreme.
They were confined within narrow limits
and practically left to starve The gener-
osity OF the American people, however,
was beginning to be felt and the extreme
distress was gradually being relieved. He
spoke in the highest terms of Gen. Lee
and the work he was doing, and of Consul
Barker, who had made great personal sac
rifices for the starving people within his
district.
Representative Elliott of South Carolina
| called at the navy department to-day to
talk with the officials respecting the cloth
ing of the naval militia. Under the exist
ing regulations the department had no au-
thority to extend any of the small allot~
me1t Of funds made by Congress for the
use of the naval militia, for the purchase
of clothing. Ii is all consumed in the pur-
chase of boots, equipments, arms, books,
signal flags etc. For several years the
militiamen have been trying hard to Sc
cure a modification Of the law that would
permit of the application of at least a
portion of the military appropriation for
the purchase Of uniforms. This has been
accomplished at last through the inclusion
in the pending naval bill of a suitable
amendment However, this new clause
under ordinary conditions would not go
into effect before July next Representa-
tive Elliott is endeavoring to secure the
departments aid In having the section go
into effect Immediately upon the passage
of the bill, in which case considerable
body of the South Carolina militia can be
put into active service at once. The de-
partment is thoroughly committed to the
measure.
The tug Leyden. a fine steel boat, has
been ordered from Newport to Key West.
Cablegrams received at the navy depart
| ment to-day announce that the Bancroft
sailed yesterday from Lisbon for Norfolk
and the Helena from Lisbon for Key
West to join the squadron. This leaves
Admiral Howell at Lisbon with his flag
ship San Francisco as the sole represen-
tative of the United States navy in Euro
pean waters. 1t was stated at the navy
department that the Marblehead, which
arrived at Tampa Saturday night, was
ordered to that place simply to take on
some stores for the North Atlantic squad
ron.
From unofficial information received
here there has been a satisfactory inn
provement in the health of both Admiral
Sicard, who is commanding the North
Atlantic squadron, and Capt. Sigsbee, who
commanded the Maine before the explo-
sion wrecked her.
The big armored cruiser Brooklyn ar
rived at Fortress Monroe this morning di-
rect from La Guayra, Venezuela She
has made fine run up and, it is expected,
will await at Hampton Roads, the arrival
of the Minneapolis and Columbia which
are just fitting out at Philadelphia. This
force will form an excellent nucleus for
the projected flying squadron in case
the department decides to form one.
The Spanish minister, Senor Polo y
Bernabe received a number of dispatches
to-day from the minister of state at Mad
rid and from Captain General Blanco
Those from Gen. Blanco We're reassurine
in tone and stated that the situation al
Havana and throughout the island was
quiet and satisfactory
The minister of state cabled, saying in
substance: The uprising in the Philip
pines is 50 insignificant that ii will be end
ed by the time you receive this"
The minister asked that an emphatic
denial be made in his name to the reports
that Senor Juan Ceballos had been ir
Washington as a commissioner from the
Spanish government to make overtures
for terms of settlement with the Cuban in.
surgents.
Senor Polos attention was called TO the
reports from Spain as to the prospective
sailing of the Spanish torpedo fleet fol
Havana and to the significance which had
been attached in this country 70 this
movement.
The minister said that the movement OF
torpedo craft had been long contemplated
Their coming had no relation whatever
he declared, to recent conditions. as they
were wanted for work along the Cubar
coast.
Thesminister has received no intimatior
as to the findings of the Spanish nava
commission which is investigating the
Maine disaster. He says this commission
is proceeding with the same formality ana
secrecy as the United States court OF In.
quiry, and that no intimation Of It's find.
ings will be justified until the formal re.
port is presented to the Spanish govern
ment