Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-17
When the Report of Court of Inquiry
is Expected,
fHE COURSE THAT MAY Be FOLLOWED
Bill to Reorganize the Line of the
Army.
MORE EDO OATS

rot expected to reach here before Monday
A bill was introduced by Representative
Hull, with the Endorsement of the War De-
partment, TO reorganize the army on a war
footing of 10000 men.
payment of s150.oOO was made for
rapid-fire guns from the Armstrong; of
England and 81 .6s9. 621 in part payment for
thu cruisers bought from Brazil.
The fleet at Key West is to be increased
within day or two by other warships.
Today was diplomatic day at the State
Department, and many diplomats were r.
ceived by Assistant Secretary Day.
A summary of the strength of the Ma
tional Guard in the different states shows
az organized force of over 100000 and
over 10,000,000 men available for service.
The House naval affairs committee unan-
imousIy voted fer six new torpedo boats
and six new torpedo boat destroyers.
President Mckinley and Secretary Long
now believe that the verdict of the court of
inquiry into the Maine disaster will not
reach Washington before the first of next
week. Secretary Long today expressed this
opinion, saying that it is not based on any
positive knowledge.
The Secretary as promptly gave denial
to rumor in circulation all morning that
the verdict of the court is now on its way
here If such is the case, the Secretary
said, neither he nor the President knew
anything about it.
Irasmreh as these two men are more
deeply interested in the report of the board
than any other two in the country. it is
almost certain that the court of inquiry
would notify Secretary Long that it had
reached a conclusion and would dispatch
the verdict.
1t has not been decided in what manner
the verdict of the board will be made
public. 1t is, of course, certain that the
findings of the court will go direct 10 Sec
retary Long.
The Secretary viii quickly convey it to
the President. The latter must decide
whether the mOmentous document viii be
ntaoe public from the White House or
whether it will be sent to Congress before
the public ascertains the facts
The belief today is that not a line of the
message will officially become known until
1t has been sent to Congress and read in
that body.
II is further thought that the President
Will not se.d the document 10 Congress
until he has n ade certain demands upon
Spain. supposing that the court finds that
the explosion was external. In this event
the President in transmitting the docu-
ment to Congress will accompany it with
message saying that he ha-s taken Ger
tain action. He Will either say that Spain
has mace answer or that an answer is
awaited.
Feeling mt the White House.
As the time grows shorter for the recep-
ton OF the report, the suppressed excite
ment among White House visitors of ma
tionai note is more apparent. Some of
these callers are already making sugges-
tions, which the President receives pleas
antly- Representative Sulloway of New
Hampshire is among the republican repre-
sentatives who has informed the President
that he does not believe the country will
approve demand for indemnity for the
loss of the Maine and her crew.
Court nt Key West.
When the court arrived at Key West yes-
terday from Havana and reported to Ad-
miral Sicard what progress it had made
toward reaching the end of its long task
the admiral promptly communicated with
the Secretary of the Navy.
II was the Secretary's purpose to have j..
full synopsis of the courts conclusions put
in cipher and telegraphed to Washington
Upon consultation with the President, how
ever, this plan was abandoned. Boz. the
President and the Secretary are determined
that no efforts be spared to maintain the
secrecy of the courts verdict until they
nave themselves determined to give it pub
licity- Therefore even the admirably de-
signed naval cipher code could not be re-
lied upon with complete satisfaction, and
at the Presidents instance Admiral .-card
directed q he,
custody of some naval officer, according to
the usual method, and forward them to
Washington in that manner Whether this
officer has started or not is not yet known,
but IL he and Admiral Sicard have executed
their orders with the regular naval prompti-
tade it will not be long before the Presi-
dent is placed in possession of such in
formation and conclusions as the court has
SO far reached 1t is not even known posi-
lively that these conclusions are fina. but
IL the ordinary routine of the courts in
quiry has been followed in this case they
are probably so, unless the Secretary of
the Navy believes, after looking into the
testimony, that some line of Investigation
should be further pursued.
As before stated, every precautiop that
human ingenuity can suggest will be adopt
ed TO safeguard the report. the main ap-
prehension being that there may somehow
be publication in the newspaper press
that may seriously interfere with the sue
eessful working out of the policy of the
administration. The documents will he
sealed at Key West under the personal OBJ
servation of Admiral Sicard. and the naval
oflcer who takes the papers in his custody
will be expected to deliver the envelope
with seal unbroiSen into the hands of the
Secretary of the Navy.
Interest I'm the Report.
fuphc interest now centers on the re-
port OF the naval court of inquiry appoint-
ed to fix the responsibility for the loss OF
the battle ship Maine, involving as II did
the death of 25S brave American sean,en
The court has practically concluded the
taking OF testimony concerning that most
depiorab!e affair and is now engaged in
formulating its conclusions. Its findings
are fraught with the gravest consequences.