Evening star., 1898-03-19
WHAT WILL BE DONE
When the Report of the Court of In
quiry Arrives.
NO INFIMATION OF VERDICT here
Officers Of the Maine Report at
the Navy Department.
DEPARTMENT. ACTIVITY

The dynamite gun vessel vesuvius arrived
at the navy yard this morning from Jack
sonville. Fla. but bringing no report about
the Maine disaster. The Vesuvius has not
been within 400 miles of Key West.
Lieut.. Blow and other officers on the
Maine when tie battle ship was blown up
reported at the Navy Department this
morning and narrated their experience. !
Monday Tuesday is now indicated as
the probable time when the report of the
court of inquiry will be received.
1t is understood that the government in
tends to extend the work of relief to the
entire island of Cuba, whether Spain con-
sents or not.
The House naval affairs committee dis
cussed at length the army reorganization
bill
contract was given to dredge the har-
boz about Fort Jefferson on the Tortugas,
the first step toward making it a naval
supply station.
The battle ship Oregon sailed from San
Francisco today for Callao Peru.
The Maine court of inquiry resumed it's
sittings at Key West today.
1t was rumored that Spain had bought
Hugh McAimont's steam yacht Giralda.
If the report of the Maine court of in
qriry reaches here Monday night or Tues
day morning it will probably be considered
at Tuesdays cabinet meeting before be-
ing sent to Congress that day or the next.
In matter of so much moment 1t is
thought that the President will confer
freely with his cabinet advisers, although
he may institute IIeliminary action on his
own accord before consulting with them.
Every step which has been taken up to
this time has been by the President per-
sonally, in me st instances without even
suggestion from any source. He relies up
on his own judgment, afterward submit
ting his action to his cabinet and to party
leaders.
AS the coming emergency will be ex-
traordinary, the cabinet will be called to-
gcther soon as the President receives
the report and the report with the Presi-
dents preliminary action placed before ALL
Not until that time will the President him.
self know exactly what is to be done.
A member of the cabinet said this morn
ing that 1t had been impossible up to this
time for the cabinet or the President to
arrive at any fixed determination as to
what the procedure will be Immediately
following the reception of the report Ev-
erything. he said. depended on the nature
OF the verdict hundred plans might be
formed. to be shattered by an unexpected
report =
No IntimatiOn of the Verdict.
The existence of this uncertainty is the
best proof. it is said, that the President has
fTyna Of -I,%x
his cabinet advisers know nothing and
therefore cannot decide upon any line of
action Whatever steps are taken must be
mapped out in few minutes after the first
knowledge of the verdict.
There are only two through trains from
the south each day, arriving in the mora
ing and evening. One of these trains will
bring the man with the report. From Key
West to Washington, via Tampa, is a trip
of about two days. By leaving Key West
tonight or early tomorrow morning the
messenger would reach here early Monday
night. By leaving tomorrow evening he
would probably arrive early Tuesday morn
ins. Nobody believes the report will be
telegraphed. That would be too danger
GUS.
Quiet at the White House.
There were no exciting or interesting incl
dents at the White House today. Secretary
Bliss called early and had a short talk
with the President. Senators and repre-
sentatives on political errands were re-
ceived in turn without lesrning anything
new On the situation. After the President
had finished with these visitors Judge
Day was ushered in and he and the Presi-
dent held conference of more than an
hour.
All Sorts of RumOrs.
he
all official quarters today in anticipation
of the early receipt of the report from the
court of inquiry the Maine disaster
Warlike preparations continued with un-
ahated visor at the War and Navy De-
partnaents. but the main interest OF Off
ciais centered in the Forthcoming report
The interest was so Intense that many re-
ports gained circulation to the effect that
the official document would te in the hands
or the President within the next few hours
but these conjec.ures, on inquiry In au-
theritative sources. were found to be in
accurate One cabinet officer stated that
II would be here carly next week. Reyond
this he could not go. One rumor bad II
that Lieut.. Blow had brought to Washing.
tor an abstract of the conclusions, but this
was dismissed after Lieut.. Blow had been
In conference with Secretary Long and
other naval officials.
S SAieh uo'ciopiient oi tne morning
was the arrival Of four Of the survivors of
the Maine disaster. who held long con-
ference with SecretaryLong and later were
taken by the Secretary to the White House
for a talk with the President.
Senator Chandlerss Belief.
Senator Chandler was in conference with
several Of the cabinet officers today, and
after leaving them expressed the opinion
that the report of the court of inquiry
would not be received until next week. He
thought 1t would come Monday or Tuesday
and was quite confident that the President
would send 1t to Congress a. soon as re-
ceived IL of a nature to permit that being
done.
1t Is barely possible" said the senator.
shat the character Of the document may
be such as to render II inexpedfene to give
Il out until Congress can oe maze avare