The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-24

Washington, March 23-The feeling
was universal throughout official cir
Giles today that the elimination of the
Spanish crisis was near at hand. With
the report of the Maine court OF in
quiry only a little while off. with the
White House the center of long and
earnest conferences between the presi-
dent and the party leaders of congress,
and with exceptional activity towards
emergency preparations in the war and
navy departments, there was. abund-
ance of evidence that definite results
regarding the Maine disaster and the
C--l5an position in general were about
to be reached.
Among the presidents callers were
Senators Cockrell, Turpie and Foraker;
General Daniel Sickles. former United
States minister to Madrid, and Repre-
sentative William Alden Smith, of
Michigan who has recently returned
from trip to Cuba. The call Of
Messrs. Cockrell and Turpie was re-
Earded as particularly significant, as
they are representative Democrats IN
the senate, and their visit followed that
of Senator German yesterday. 1t was
generally understood that in the pres
ent emergency the president desires
patriotic unity, without reference to
party.
IN HAND TONIGHT.
Secretaries Long and Alger also con-
ferred with the president during the
day Secretary Long later said that
the Maine report would reach Wash
ington tomorrow night. If. however it
did not come before O'clock Thursday
evening. Mr.. Long said he probably
would not receive it until Friday morn
ing. when it would be laid before the
president Immediately. The secretary
did not think the president would give
the document any consideration at
late hour. 1t wGs more probable, he
thought. if Lieutenant Mark arrived at
a late hour, that he would take the re-
port TO Il hotel for the night.
EXCLUSIVE MAINE SUBJECT.
There has been no change in the plan
of sending the report to congress early
next week, probably Monday. accom-
Tanied by a message from the preSi-
dent It is definitely settled, however,
that the message and the papers ac-
companying it viii relate exclusively to
the Maine disaster. II viii not take up
the fearful condition OF affairs in Cuba,
as shown by the reports of United
States consuls. these bsing reserved for
subsequent action AID a later message
to congress.
ON HUMANE GROUNDS.
The prevailing impression among the
Republican leaders of the house, is that
the president will intervene in Cuba on
humane grounds. but it is positively
stated by one of them, who is close TO
the president. that the intervention will
not come until after the report of the
board of inquiry into the Maine disas-
ter goes to cOngreSS.
The two questions win be treated
separately. said he today, and the
message relative to Cuba viii be sent 10
congress soon after the report of the
Maine question
WAIVE MAINE QUESTION.
The Cuban message, as forecaSted by
a prominent Republican. viii waive he
question of the Maine disaster and put
aside that awful occurrence: viii be in
effect a declaration to Spain that the
present methods of warfare in Cuba
must cease. Ii viii result in irterv-n-
ton in case Spain demrs. The mes
sage viii be accompanied by the re-
ports OF the consUls in Cuba.
ITS EFFECT.
Mr.. Dolliver (Rep Ia) says that in
PREVENTION on humane grounds viii
place aIIr action upon moral lsvel that
wouldT command the broad sympathy
Of the world. We could afford, he says,
10 waive all question as 20 the Maine,
If the board does not fix the responsible
ity for the disaster on Spain, in order
20 make the grea.er issue. prOmi-
nent member of the house. who has
been several times in consultation with
the president recently, and who posses
ses as much Unofficial information of
the cause OF the Maine disaster prob
ably as the president does, says that
while the report of the board will not
fix the responsibility for the explosion
il viii be startling in it's nature.
The information at the capitol is that
already 5000, geo Of the $50. 900. 900 ap-
propriated for the national defense. has
been expended or contra cts entered into
for its expenditure.
QUIETING THE RADICALS.
1t is known that great deal of work
has been done about the senate today
by senators who are known as con-
servatives. Requests have been made
that the senate await the action of the
president and that no further attempts
be made 20 intensity the strained sit
uation. 1t was asserted by Senator Ell
l-ins that a great deal of progress had
been made and that on both sides of the (
chamber a great deal more conserya-
tism had been found than was supposed /
TO have existed.
CASE WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
The remark attributed to Admiral ST. !
card. at Key West yesterday, to the 1
effect that the case of the Maine was
perhaps the most peculiar in history 1
of modern times. is interpreted here as
clearly indicating that the direct re- /
sponsibiljsy for the explosion cannot be /
placed During the progress of the in |
Vestigation the law officers of the gov |
eminent have been giving the legal side I
OF the case their close attention and /
the statement is made that the cas- Of /
the Maine is indeed most peculiar. The /
records, it is said, do not show that ever |