Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-07

gress. The different bureaus receiving
this money are: Ordnance, 1929, 767;
engineers, A,425,000; quartermasters
$5O0,0O0: signal Office, $12O.400. OF the
entire amount allotted. 1927, sos has been
expended, but much of the work begun
and the ammunitions of war bought is
by the contract system, the govern
ment is liable for considerable Of the
remainder.
The state department officials are an
ticipating with much interest and con-
siderable apprehension of the probab bill
tiles of the coming Faster holidays in
Spain and Cuba. 1t is at such times
that the people. especially when great
rational questions are uppermost in the
public mind are apt to give way 10
their feelings and indulge in riotous
demonstrations. These holidays will
begin tomorrow, which Is Holy Thurs
day. and continue for several days.
Most of the business houses and all
| the places of amusement are closed
from Thursday to Sunday, and consc-
quently many idle people assemble at
public places and on thoroughfarcs.
ON Sunday, many of the shops ar"
noon to permit the employees to indulge
| in the various sports and to attend the
bull fights which are so popular in bot h
Spain and Cuba. In view of the very
strained relations existing at this time
between Spain and the United States.
the assemblage of large crowds in
public places may. it is feared, lead 90
uprisings and to demonstrations
against American citizens who may re-
side in Spain or Cuba
The navy department has about cX-
huuSted the European ship yards for the
purchase OF ships for the navy. The OIL
CialS are still keeping watChfui eye
for the acquisition of any vessels that
possibly may be obtained abroad but they
do not believe that if war occurs soon any
can toe obtained. In many cases whore
ships We're in process Of construction the
department has Obtained rcfuSdlS on
them which will preclude the acquisition
| by Spain should an attempt ho made by
that nation To get them.
The purchase Of coal 10y til" American
fleet IN Chinese waters Is simply in ac-
cordancc with the desires of IN" depart
mcnt 10 keep full supply on hand ana to
he ready for any emergency mat may oC-
eur. The British ship Nanshan. which
the United States has bought is Il collier
resigned to carry coal for the fleet. Shc
has 3o" tons of coal aboard and is now
with the ASiatiC squadron.
a telegram today. announced the lie
parfurc of the battleShip Texas from New
York. to Join the flying squadron. Sig
niiCcnt developments ar" expected ia fol-
low the arrival of the Texas at Hampton
Roads. The lying squadron under com
mand of Commodore SchleN Will then b'
ready for any service that the department
has mapped out or may map out for IL.
The war cloud has Led 70 discnntin-
uancc of the Presidential public rVC"p-
tions for the time being. These rCC"r-
tions haze been usually held ri-weekly
ana have been a source OF delight to the
army officers. who flock Ia the nation :
Capital Today the first contingent "f
strangers that put in an appearance at
the White House were notified that Their"
would not he Il reception. today. and sub
scquently 1t was announced there would
be none during the week. With the con-
tinuance of a grave crisis or worse the
outlook is that the public receptions will
be indefinitely postponed.
The President has borne up well
against the trying events that have made
great demands on his physical endurance
though he shows TO some extent the eff
fleets of the long hours of elaboration
over the situation.
The most careful 'investiga in off
cial circles, tonight, failed to develop any
thing in support Of the theory that the
delay Of the Presidents message was due
tn the situation at Madrid rather than
that ut Havana. When the announce
mcut was first made today that the
message had been withheld, the Inference
was drawn in some Congressional circles
that the delay WAS partially inspired by
the attitude of the Queen Regent. who
was reported willing to yield everything
demanded by the United States. provided
it could be done without precipitating
popular disturbance in Spain. Press dis
patches of pending cabinet crisis in
Madrid tended to confirm this
Those closest 10 the President refused
Tl,J rt-