Evening journal., 1898-04-09

has received no instructions as 70 HIS
departure, nor has he made prepara-
tlons 10 go, although his establishment
Is In such a condition that he could
leave within a few hours after receiv-
Ing orders from his government to de-
part. As an evidence OF the complete
cessation Of negotiations Il can be cited
that yesterday closed the seventh con-
secutive day since the Spanish minister
called at the state department War
and naval preparations are proceeding
Systematically, but the larger details OF
preparations have been shaped and
there Is little more 70 do than to see
these regularly executed.
While there are many naval move
ments, there has not yet been any de-
oisive order affecting the movements
OF the feet All is in a state Of ex-
pectancy In this regard A report was
current yesterday that the Spanish
feet OF cruisers had sailed from Cadiz
for American waters. There was no
confirmation Of this either at the Span
lsh legation or at the navy department,
though It would not be improbable, as
the press dispatches from Madrid
Thursday night stated this formidable
fleet was expected TO sail yesterday.
AT the capitol the senator's who are
devoting themselves to the task OF Sc
curing a resolution on the Cuban ques-
tlon on which practical unanimity on
the part Of the senate can be obtained
were quite active, and when the day
closed they felt that they had made ap-
preciable progress.
There was n joint meeting OF the
leading members Of the steering COM
mittees OF the various parties during
the day in the rooms OF the committee
on appropriations. I'm which the whole
situation was canvassed and the rea-
sons for prompt action In the senate
after the matter is once taken up were
gone over much as they had been in
preceding meetings. The managers OF
this movement are endeavorlng to Sc
cure a reversal of the decision of the
committee on foreign relations to report
for both independence and intervention,
but they do not yet count upon a ma
jority OF the committee, though they
assert that they have made headway.
They recognize the fact that even with
the majority OF the committee their
way there would still remain several
senators, including Thurston. Petit
grew, Gallinger and Mason, whom ii
would be very difficult TO win over to
any line of action that does not provide
for the recognition OF the present Gu
ban government and who win insist
upon debating a contrary policy. They
are Finding fewer obstacles to progress
among Democrats, Populists and silver
Republicans than among straight Re-
publicans.
The movement to consider the whole
Cuban question in executive session Is
gaining ground. The senators who have
looked up the Preoedents find the only
parallel case to the present TO be that
when war was declared against Great
Britain in 1919 the declaration was con-
sldered in secret session.
The conservative senators who are
opposing any recognition of the pres
ent Cuban government claim that a
majority Of the committee on foreign
relations will n0w support this posi-
tlon. oontenting themselves with a gem
eral declaration for the freedom and
independence OF the island. coupled
with a proposition for Intervention in
the present war between Spain and
Cuba. They count upon getting the
votes OF six Of the IL members OF the
committee and say this number may
still be increased.