Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-25
THE FEELING IN CONGRESS
No Developments Expected Until the Re-
csipt Of the Inquiry Report.
Senators Have n Better Knowledge of
Facts Than Members of
the House.

Unless disturbances occur in Havana or
Madrid no developments are expected in
the Spanish situation until the administra-
ton has received the report of the board
OF inquiry and feels justified in taking the
public into its confidence. If 1t could be
announced that the explosion was an &C
cident. that announcement would be made
In order to quiet public excitement. Since.
however. the announcement will apparent
ly be of different character when it
comes. 1t Is agreed by every one of re-
sponsibility that proper elaboration should
be shown and no hasty step be taken.
The best Informed opinion in Congress
appears to be that the cause of the dis
ter to the Maine is not open to discus
son. The question Is when will we act
ard how or whether Spain will leave with
this government the choice of the time
when reckoning is to be had.
No Expressions of Apprehension.
,. 1t being the desire OF the administrat ton
to gain time for preparation, 1t is not to
be expected that any one in authority con-
rected with the administration will give
expression to the public OF the apprehen-
slons, convictions or certain knowledge of
a grave situation.
Statements may be made by senator's to
their colleagues in executive session which
not one of them would repeat. This would
explain the gravity suddenly shown in that
body and the fact of their having better
knowledge of the situation than is had by
members Of the House. 1t would explain
the fact that senators who would sooner or
later have to be taken into the confid .nce
of the administration are of the opinion
that there Is no longer any doubt in the
mind of the administration as to the cause
of the explosion. The belief is thus Great
ed that the administration is convinced
that the explosion occurred outside the
Maine. This conviction Is probably based
on unofficial communications, and the de-
Partments giving out such news as ema-
mates from the administration are probably
technically within the truth when they in
sist that no official information is being
withheld.
Mines in Havana HarbOr.
1t is positively denied at the State De-
partment that Spain has asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of the preparations for war that
are being made by this government but 1t
is not denied that such preparations are
being made. The fact is too obvious to ad-
NIT of denial. though the preparations may
be explained as precautionary.
1t is understood to be true that Gen. Lee
has communicated unofficially to the gov
eminent his opinion that the Maine was
destroyed by design.
As long as peace face is to be put to the
front as a matter Of policy there is more
or less embarrassment about making the
necessary preparations for war. The Pres
!dent cannot well ask Congress for large
appropriations for the purchase Of ships
and for the construction and equipment of
defenses without it's being notice to the
whole world that we are about to go to
war. The little hope of. peace would then
disappear. 1t is thought, therefore, that
much will be done without direct AUTHORIZE
ton Of Congress. Sufficient assurance can
be had that Congress will not fail to
sanction. anything Of the sort that may
have to be done.