Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-21
CONF FERENCE HELD.
The President Meets Several
Members of His Cabinet.
NO REPORT RECEIVED YET.
Uncertain When Court Will Make
Its Findings Known.
Question Of Buying Ships Probably Theme
of Cabinet Meeting-Prospectve Con-
ference Between spaniards
and insurgents.

Washington, March 2Q.-President
Mckinley did not attend church this
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
1 o'clock. Secretary Long and Secre-
tary Bliss were the other members pres
ent. They remained less than an hour.
Commander Glover, in company with
Mr. Flint, who has been acting for the
government in the negotiations for the
purchase of ships, also called, and were
shown into the presidents private office.
The members of the cabinet, on leaving
the White House, said there was no spe-
cial significance in the meeting this
morning.
The report of the Maine court of in
quiry has not been received, nor is it
| definitely known when 1t will reach
here. 1t is expected. however, early
| in the present week, and as soon as re-
ceived, it will be handed at once to the
| president, and when it has been read
and considered by the president, it will
! be made public. Secretary Long, in
speaking of the report, said that, while
| fully realizing its Importance, the coun-
| try, in his opinion, would willingly ac-
| cord to the president a day or two, if
necessary, for it's consideration. The
| indications seem to be that the report
will be made public by the middle of the
present week.
The presence of Charles R. Flint at
| the conference naturally gives inference
that the president and his adyi-
sers were discussing the question of ac-
quiring additional ships Mr.. Flint,
| whose commercial interests are largely
| with South American countries, is be-
lieved, in a measure, at least, to repre-
sent Chill and the Argentine republic in
| any negotiations which are under way
for the disposition of their war vessels.
A reporter asked Mr.. Flint il he
could say whether or not the United
States had secured possession Of the
| Gillian ship OHiggins and the Argen-
| tine ship San MARITIME, but he declined
! to make any statement as to that par
ticular feature of the subject. When
| pressed for some information In regard
to the matter, he replied:
"Both Chill and the Argentine repub-
! lie have the warmest friendship and ad-
nriratlon for the United States and her
! institutions. Neither country is anxious
! to sell its ships to this government bas-
| ing 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 published report that the United
States would purchase the Brazilian tor
pedo gunboat Tuby Mr. Flint said there
were no negotiations under way to that
effect
Aside from the meeting of several
members of the cabinet at the White
| House, there were no incidents of inn
portance during the day. Judge Day,
Assistant Secretary Adee Chief Clerk
Michael and other officials, We're at the
| department, but this has been quite
common during the recent month. Also
at the war department and navy de-
| partment large number of 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 Ha-
| wanna, indicating a prospective confer
ence between Gen. Pando and Gems.
Garcia, Gomez and others of the inSur-
gent army, for the purpose Of submit
| ting to the latter a 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 a conference on the pro-
posed lines was probable, and added that
they had no information on the subject.
Minister Polo Y Bernabe expressed the
opinion that the report from Havana
was unfounded, as he said the basis
upon which it was proposed to grant
! autonomy was absurd.