Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-06
A NEW PHASE.
Prospects of a Dispute Between
United States and Florida.
QUARANTINE FOR WARsHIPs
The Government is Likely to
Oppose State Jurisdiction.
Activity Continues in Navy Yards and
Military Posts-Mr. Day Does
Not Think War Likely
QUARANTINE FOR WARsHlPs

WaSnlngtO March 5.-There is pro-
mise Of new and unwelcome develop
nlent Of the Maine affair that in the end
may lead up to an issue between the
government of the United States and the
state of Florida, if the officials of the
state endorse the stand taken by the
local officials at Key West The latter
have notified Admiral Sicard that on the
first of next month they propose to en-
force the state quarantine law against
all craft arriving from Cuba. as a mea-
sure of prevention against the introduce
ton of yellow fever The notice indi-
Gates that the law will be applied to the
naval vessels, and, in view of the serious
Interruptions such interference with the
free movements of his ships would
cause, Admiral Scard has reported the
facts to the navy department and
awaits Instructions
The department officials cannot toler-
ate with equanimity the stoppage of
such craft as the Mangrove and the
Fern on their errands of mercy, or de-
lays that may result in the prosecution
of the work of the Wreckers engaged on
the Names hull, and in the work of the
court of inquiry. The president himself
: probably will communicate with the
governor of Florida with a view to Sc
curing an abatement of the law, so far
as tits proposed toapply it to naval yes
sels. this being the speediest manner of
dealing with the case, although it may
be stated that the national government
has recognized the right of any local
authorities to stop its vessels in case
their movements were deemed neces-
.1arYNt aailr
nitted to quarantine when returning
from any port suspected of infection,
hut this is asserted to be merely con-
cession, and not the recognition of any
lawful right on the part of state author
ities, In view of the fact that the officers
on our warships, with the aid OF capaoie
surgeons on each ship, make 1t their
pride to keep their craft IN the most
healthful condition, naval officers feel
that they may be safely left to run their
ships between Havana and Key west
without restriction.
Az an evidence OF the care exercised
to avoid carrying eontagion, the oi1lclals
point to the fact that without any suS-
gestion from any one the wounded sur
vivors of the Maine disaster were de-
tanned for several days at TortugaS De-
fore allowing them to go to Key West
1t is asserted positively at the state
tYenaltnent that there has been. no
change in the plans for the sending OF
the Montgomery and the Nashville to
eastern Cuban ports with rrllef supplies
for the reconcentrados. 1t had been
suggested that the offer of a merchant
steamer from New York to take some of
these goods to Cuba would relieve the
naval vessels from the performance or
this onerous task, but the declaration
from the state department insures the
execution Of the original program, ana
the ships named will sail for Mantanzas
and Sagua la Grande as soon as the
goods arrive at Key West from New
York Reports have come to the state
department from these places that ter
iibIe destitution exists, probably no.
where exceeded on the island and the
officers of the Montgomery saw for
themselves, on their recent stop at Man
tanzas, the extent of the misery. 1t is
said of these. officers that they all re-
turned penniless from their Cuban
cruise, having been so moved by what
they saw that they gave away all OF
their ready cash.
II was decided this afternoon to
abandon the projected order to the flag
ship Olympia to return to San Francis
co from Hong Kong. Without this fine
ship the Asiatic squadron would be
made up of gunboats and unprotected
cruisers without any great degree of
defensive and no offensive force against
armored ships. The cruiser Baltimore,
now at Honolulu, has been selected to
take the powder brought to that port
by the Mohican further along to Hong
Kong for the vessels of the Asiatic
squadron. Whether the ship will be at
tached to the squadron permanently has
not yet been determined.
The torpedo boat Winslow, which has
been under repair at the Norfolk navy
yard. sailed today for Key West to join
the fleet there.
The continued reports that Spain is
buying new war ships led to counter re-.
ports that the naval authorities here
were considering similar purchases. In
no official quarter at the navy depart
neat could the latter reports be con-
firmed. as steps OF this character neces-
sarly would be guarded with the great
est secrecy There is little doubt, now
ever, that the department is informing
itself fally as to the opportunities for
purchases should the necessity for more
ships arise Thus far there have been
no negotiations for ships and no OPP
tions asked on particular ships quite
a number of offers of ships nave peen
submitted to Secretary Long by SNIP
building concerns in this country and
abroad. These have been docketed and
filed but beyond an nowledgment OF
the offers no steps toward purchase
nave been taken Under ordinary cir
cunstances the navy department would
require authority from congress to pur-
chase war ships. There Is no law which
nerrnits a larger exercise of authority
In times Of emergency than al other
times. II Is understood, however, that