The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-03-21
CABINET IN SESSION SUNDAY
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE DENIED
BY MEMBERS.
Flint, Who Has Been Trying To Sc
cure Battleships, Declines to Dis
cuss Rumored Purchases.

''''AN,N'''
ley did not attend church this morning as
is his custom, but instead spent two hours
and more in conference with several mem
bers of the cabinet.
Assistant Secretary Day called about 1880
o'clock and remained until nearly O'CLOCK
Secretary Long and Secretary Bliss were
the other members present. Ihey re-
manned less than an hour. Commander
Clover In company with Mr.. Fl1nt VINO
has been acting for the government III the
negotiations for the purchase of ships, also
called. and was shown into the president
private office.
the white house said that there was no
special significance in the meeting TINS
morning. The report of the Maine court
of inquiry had not been received, nor was
| 1t definitely known when 1t would reach
here. 1t was expected. however ea''y
in the present week. and as soon as re-
ceived, it would be handed at once to the
president. and when it had been read ana
considered by the president 1t would be
made public.
Secretary Long. in speaking of the report
said that while fully realizing Its mpoI.
lance, the country, in his opinion "ouid
willingly accord to the president q DAY OF
two. if necessary, for its cohslderatlon'
The indications seem to be that the re-
mort will be made public by the middle OF
| the present week. ,o
The presence of Charles r. Flint at the
conference naturally gives Inference 'ha'
the president and his advisers were DISCUSS
ing the question Of acquiring auu'.'oA"'
ships Mr. Flint, whose commercial inter-
ests are largely with South American Coun-
tries Is believed, In measure at least
to represent Chill and the Argentine re
public in any negotiations which are under
way for the disposition of their war YES
se,s. A reporter today asked MT. NM IL
he could say whether or not the tn1teh
States had secured possession OF the Chill"h
ship O'Higgins and the Argentine ship san
MARITIME but he declined to make any
statement as to that particular feature of
the subject.
When pressed for some Information in re-
gard to the matter he replied
Both Chill and the Argentine Republic
have the warmcst friendship and aaln3:1-
ton for the United States and her lnSttu-
tons. Neither country IS anxious TO sen
their ships to this government, baslnS TINS
indlsposition on the belief that We have an
excellent navy of our own. Thcy want
these vessels themselves. If the time shouin
come, however. when it was apparent tAat
the United States needed these vessels they
would gladly part with them to US
The attention of Mr.. Flint was called to
the published report that the United States
would purchase the Brazilian torpedo gun
boat Tuby. but this he said would not be
DONE so far as he was aware, as there
were no negotiations under way TO that
effect.
Aside from the meeting Of several mem
bers of the cabinet at the white house
there were no incidents Of Importance dur
ing the day. At the war and navy depart
ments n number of the chiefs of bureaus
Were at their desks for several hours, main
~ for the purpose of dispOsing of the bust
ness which recently has accumulated so
rapidly.
The most interesting topic of the day was
based on the dispatches from Havana IN
dicating a prospective conference between
Gnernl PandO and Generals Garcia, Co
meZ and others of the inSurgent army fer
the purpose of submitting to the latter
formal offer Of autonomy. The basis OF
autonomy. outlined in the dispatches.
apparently found no credence with tha
officials of the Spanish legation They
stated their disbelief that Il conference on
the proposed lines probable and added
that they had no information on the sub
iect Minister Polo y Bernabe expressed
the opinion that the report from Havana
was unfoundcd. as he said the basis upon
which It was proposed to grant autonomy
was absurd.