The Iola register., 1898-03-25
THE MAINE REPORT.
The Result of the Courts Investi-
cation Expected Thursday.
A PLAN OF PROCEDURE OUTLINED.
Extraordinary Precautions Taken by the
Authorities to Prevent the Contents
of the Document from
Being Known.

WASHINGTON, March 22.-The pro-
cedure in connection with the submis-
sion of the report of the Maine court
of inquiry by the president to con-
gress is now clearly outlined, and a
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 it 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
message from the president stating
that, after receiving the report, the
conclusions were laid before the Span
ish government and appropriate ac-
tion from that quarter asked.
1t 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 a noticeable fact
that the current official opinion is be-
ginning to follow that of the unofficial
opinion expressed so positively and
persistently 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
4 .
of the explosion was not accidental.
One of the cabinet officials, speaking
about the report of the board of in
quiry, said he had agreed heartily
with the suggestion that had been
made that the president should be al
lowed a reasonable time to consider it
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 to
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 is
felt in the president will lead congress
and the public to recognize that the
| president has sources of information
that are not possessed by anybody else
by reason of his communications with
foreign governments and his dip
lomatic channels, and if any body can
shape a policy which will lead to q
satisfactory settlement of the present
critical situation it is the president.
Most extraordinary precautions, it Is
alleged, have been taken by the au
thorities to prevent the report of tn,
Maine court of inquiry from being di
vulged before the document reache.
the president. From the time tn,
messenger bearing this report leaves
Key West until he reaches the capito
he will be under the constant surveil
lance of carefully picked, tried anC
trusty men who will be heavily armed
In fact, as much care will be taker
with this communication as though i
were IA paymaster's treasure chest be
ing transported to some frontier pos
where lawless characters would b'
likely to be encountered.
THE REPORT BROUGHT ASHORE.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 22.-Judg'
Advocate Mark of the court of in
quiry came ashore at three o'clocl
yesterday afternoon accompanied 10y
an orderly from the Iowa who carried
u bulky package of official documents
which was handed to Rear Admira
Sicard The documents were the full
findings of the court. Lieutenan
Commander Mark, when questioned OIL
the subject, refused either to deny o
confirm, but an officer from the Iowi
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 tn
documents will be taken to Washing
ton to-day by Lieutenant Commando
Mark.