The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-21

WASHINGTON. March .n--r9esident
Mckinley did not attend church this morn
ing as is his custom. hat instead spent
two hours oy more in conference With sev
eral members of the cabinet. Assistant
Secretary Day called about 1880 o'clock
and remained until nearly O'Clock. Sec
reiary Long and secretary Bliss were the
other members present. They remained
more than an hour.
Commander Glover. IN company with Mr..
Flint who has been acting for the govern
ment in the negotiations for the purchase
OF ships. also called. and was shown into
the presidents private office. The mem
hers of the cabinet. on leaving the White
House said that there was no special sig
nificance in the meeting this morning.
The report of the court OF inquiry had not
been received. nor was II definitely known
when il will reach here. IL was said. how
ever. that it would probably arrive early
in the week. and soon as received 1t
would he handed at once 10 the president.
and when il had been read and considered
by the president II would be made public.
Secretary Long. in speaking OF the re-
port. said that. while fully recognizing its
Importance. the country. in his opinion.
would willingly accord the president day
or two If necessary for It's consideration.
Tae indications seem TO he that tlie report
viii be made public By the middle of the
present week.
The presence of Mr.. Charles II. Flint at
the conference naturally gives the Infer
ence that the president and his advisers
were discussing the question of acquiring
additional ships Mr. Flint. whose COM
mercial interests are largely with South
American countries, * believed in meas
ure. at least. TO represent Chile and Ar
gentina IL negotiations which are under
way for the disposition OF their war yes
sells. \ reporter today asked Mr., Film;
If he could say whether or not the United
States had secured possession of the
Chilean ship O'FIiggins and the Argentine
ship San Martino, but he declined 10 make
any statement as 70 that particular feat
ure of the subject. When pressed for in
formation in regard 10 the matter, he re-
Piled:
Both Chile and the Argentine Republic
have the warnest friendship and admira-
tIon for the United States and her institu-
tions Neither country is anxious TO sell
their ships TO this government. basing the
indisposition on the belief that We have an
excellent navy OF our own. They want
those vessels themselves. II the time
should come, however. when 1t was ap-
parent that the United States needs these
vessels. they would gladly part with them
10 us.
The attention OF MIR. Flint Was called 10
the published report that the United States
would purchase the Brazilian torpedo gum
boat Tuby. bat he said this was not done.
so far as he was aware. and there we're no
negotiations unde way 10 that effect
Aside from the meeting ~ several rem-
bers Of the ca ahinet at the White house.
there was no incident Of Importance dur
ing the day. Judge Day. Assistant See
retary McAdee, Chief Clerk Michael and
other officials were al the department.,
but this has been quite common during
the recent months. Also at .he war de-
parem.nt and navy department. "A num-
her Of the chefs Of bureaus were at their
purpose Of disposing 81 the business which
recently has accumulated 80 rapidly.
The mos; interesting topic of the day
Was based on the dispatches from Havana
indicating 4 prospective conference be-
tween Gen. pando and Gems Garcia and
Gomez and others Of tha inst1rgent army
for The purpose Of submitting 10 the lat
ter a formal offer OF autonomy The
basis Of autonomy. outlined ia the dis
patches, apparently found 10 credencs
WITH the officials or the Spanish legation.
They stated th.is disbelief that con-
:cr@uce on the proposed lines was proba ble.
ani added that they har no nf0rma ton
or tle subject Minister Polo J Bernabs
expressed the opinion tha; the report from
Havana was unfounded. as. be said. me
basis upon which il was proposed to
grant autonomy vas absurd