The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-06
FEAR A CLASH WITH FLORIDA.
WARSHIPs MAY BE MADE sUBJECT
TO QUARANTINE.


on an Errand of Mercy to BE Ad-
hered Tc--Rumor That the Govern
ment Is Securing Options on War
ships Not Confirmed.
Washington, March 5.-There is promise
of new and unwelcome development in
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 of Flor
ida indorse 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 enforce the
state quarantine law against all crafts
arriving from Cuba, as measure of pre-
ventien against the introduction of yellow
fever The notice indicates that the law
will be applied to the naval vessels, and
in view of the serious Interruptions sucn
interference with the free movements of
his ship would cause, Admiral Sicard has
reported the facts to the navy department
and awaits instructions. The department
officials cannot tolerate with equanimity
| the stoppage of such craft as the Man
grove and the Fern, on their errands oil
mercy, nor delays that may result In the
prosecution of the work of the wreckers
| engaged on the Names hun and in the
work of the court Of inquiry. The Presi-
dent himself will probably communicate
with the Governor of Florida with view
| of securing an abatement of the law so
far as it is proposed TO apply it to navai
vessels, this being the speedest manner
of dealing with the case although it may
| be stated that the national government
never has recognized the right of any local
authorities to stop its vessels in case their
movement were deemed necessary. The
| warships have voluntarily submitted to
| quarantine when returning from any sup
posed infection, but this was merely a
| concession and not the recognition of any
| lawful right on the part of the state au-
thorities. In view of the fact that the
| officers of our war department, with the
aid of capable surgeons on each ship
| make it 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. AS an evidence
of the care exercised to avoid carrying
contagion the officials point to the fact
! that without suggestion from any of the
| iSdAtI aQliotltACS VI Il fCTNld, AItulTdl
card caused the wounded survivors of the
Maine disaster 60 be detained several days
| at Tortugas before allowing them to go to
| Key West
It is asserted positively at the state de-
| partment that there has been no change
in the plans for the sending of the Mont
gomery and the Nashville to Eastern Cuba
ports with relief supplies for the reconcen-
trados. 1t has been suggested that the Of
far Of q mo From kavv orb
to take some of these goods 10 Cuba would
relieve the navy vessels from the perform
ance of this onerous task, but the deciara-
ton from the state department insures the
execution of the original programme and
the ships named viii sail for Matanzas
and Sagua la Grande as soon as the goods
arrive at Key West from New York. Re-
ports that have come TO the state depart
ment from these places show terrible des-
titution exists, probably nowhere exceeded
on the island, and the officers of the Mont
gomery saw for themselves on their recent
stop at Matanzas the extent of the misery.
1t is said in some of the correspondence
of the officers that they all returned pen
niless from their Cuban cruise, having
been so moved by what they saw that they
gave away all their ready cash.
1t was decided this afternoon to aban-
con the projected order to the flagship
Olympia to return from Hong Kong to
San Francisco. without this fine ship the
Asiatic squadron would be made up of gtn-
boats and unprotected cruisers without
any degree OF defense and no offensive
force against arIhored ships. The cruiser
Baltimore, now at Honolulu, has been Sc
lected to take the powder 60 be brought
TO that port by the Mohican further along
to Hong Kong for the vessels of the Ash
attic squadron Whether or not the ship
will be attached to the squadron perma-
nently has not yet been determined.
The torpedo boat Winslow, which has
been under repairs at the Norfolk navy
yard, sailed to-day for Key West to join
the flotilla.
The continued reports that Spain is buy
ing new ships led 20 counter reports that
the naval authorities here were consider-s
ing similar purchases. In no official quar-
ter at the navy department could this be
confirmed. as steps of this character nee
essariiy would be guarded with the great
est secrecy. There is little doubt, however,
that the department. is informing itself
fully as to the opportunities for purchase
should the necessity for more ships arise.
Thus far there have been no negotat tions
for ships and no options asked on partic-
ular ships Quite number
of offers of ships have been
submitted to Secretary Long by ship
building concerns in this country and
abroad. These have been filed, but be-
yond the acknowledgement of the offers,
no steps toward purchase have been
taken.
Under ordinary circumstances, the navy
department would require authority from
Congress TO purchase warships There IS
no law which permits a larger exercise Of
authority in times OF emergency than az
other times. 1t is understood however,
that the naval authorities feel that such
emergency measures as might be required
would have the subsequent approval OF
Congress.
A precedent is cited as 20 the purchase
Of a naval vessel In a time of emergency
without the assent Of Congress- While
Secretary Chandler was al the head of the
navy department information reached here
that the Greeley Arctic expedition was In
a perilous condition, and that relief was
imperative without days delay, and il
is now a matter OF history that IL the
relief party had been twenty-four hours
later in reaching Greeley and his men the
loffar would have efIccunbad from, ctar.,-