Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-03-26

ference with Members of the Cabinet
and with Mr.. Fine, Who is Agent foI
the Sale OF War Vessels, Etc.
| WASHINGTON, March 2I.--President
Mckinley did not attend church yes
terday morning, as is his custom, but,
instead spent two hours and more in
conference with several members OF
the cabinet. Assistant Secretary Day
called about 1890 o'clock and remained
until nearly one. Secretary Long and
Secretary Bliss were the other mem.
| bers present. They remained less than
an hour. Commander Clover, in com.
pany with Mr.. Flint, who has been
acting for the government in the ncgo-
tiations for the purchase of ships, also
called and were shown into the presi.
dents private office.
| The members of the cabinet, on lcav.
ing the White House, said that there
was no special Significance in the meet,
ing. The report of the Maine court OF
inquiry had not been received. nor was
| 1t definitely known when it would
reach here. 1t was expected, however,
early in the present week, and as soon
as received it would be handed at once
to the president, and when it had been
read and considered by the president it
would be made public.
Secretary Long, in speaking of the re-
port, said that, while fully realizing
its Importance, the country, in his
opinion would willingly accord to the
president a day or two, if necessary,
for its consideration. The indications
seem to be that the report will be made
plblic by the middle of the present
week.
The presence of Mr. Charles r. Flint
at the conference naturally gave infer
ence that the president and his advis-
ers were discussing the question of ac-
quiring additional ships. Mr.. Flint,
whose commercial interests are largely
with South American countries, is be.
lleved, in measure, at least, to repre-
sent Chill and Argentina in any nego-
tiations which are under way for the
disposition of their war vessels. A re-
porter asked Mr.. Flint if he could say
whether or not the United States had
secured possession of the Gillian ship
O'Higgins and the Argentine ship San
Martno, but he declined to make any
statement as to that particular fea-
ture of the subject. When pressed for
some information in regard to the mat
ter he replied:
Both Chill and the Argentine Re-
public have the warmest friendship
and admiration for the United States
and her institutions. Neither country
is anxious to sell their ships to this
government, basing this indisposition
on the belief that we have an excellent
navy of our own.
They want these vessels themselves.
If the time should come, however,
when it was apparent that the United
States needed these vessels they would
gladly part with them to US
The attention of Mr.. Flint was called
to the pus shed report that the United
States would purchase the Brazilian
torpedo gunboat Tuby, but this he
said would not be done, so far as he
was aware, as there were no negotia-
tions under way to that effect.
Aside from the meeting of several
members of the cabinet at the White
House, there were no incidents of i'm
portance during the day.
Judge Day, Assistant Secretary Adee,
Chief Clerk Michael and other officials
were at the department, but this has
been quite common during the recent
month Also at the war and navy de-
partments number of the chiefs of
bureaus were at their desks for several
hours, mainly for the purpose of dis
posing of the business which recently
has accumulated SO rapidly.
The most interesting topic of the day
was based on the dispatches from lIa-
vana indicating a prospective confer
enee between Gen. Pando and Generals |
Garcia, Gomez and Others of the insur-
gent army. for the purpose of submit
ting to the latter formal offer of au-
tonomy. The basis of autonomy, as
outlined in the dispatches, apparently
found no credence with the officials of |
the Spanish legation. They stated
their disbelief that conference on the |
proposed lines was probable and added |
that they had no information on the
subject. Minister Polo y Bernabe ex-
pressed the opinion that the report
from Havana was unfoundcd as he |
said, the basis upon which it was pro-
posed to grant autonomy was absurd.