Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
Feeling at the Capitol Regarding the
Barcelona Report.
REAL UNDERSTANDING WITH SPAIN
Merchant Ship, 1t is Said, Will
Garry Supplies.
MAINE TO LEAVE HAVANA

Ae Tie opanlSn legatlon no significance
IS attached to the sending of a merchant
ship along with the torpedo flotilla which is
about to cross the Atlantic. 1t is said at
the legation that the sending of the torpedo
boats has been contemplated for a long
time and has been repeatedly announced
through the press. They are, however. small
craft to undertake the hardship of an
ocean voyage, and it is essential that they
be accompanied by larger vessel to serve
as a transport for extra supplies, particu-
larly coal, which the small craft cannot
curry III sufhcient quantities for a long
voyage. Inc merchant vessel will serve
merely as transport. She belongs 10 a
merchant company having a large number
OF SHIPS, SO that one of them can be readily
spared for this service. All of these ships
belong to the auxiliary navy and are sub
9ect 10 call at any time. The one now be-
ing brought into service is a small affair
by no means formidable, and useful mainly
Tor carrying supplies.
No Apprehension Felt.
Inc announcement that the Spanish J,as-
senger steamer Ciudad de CadiX had bean
tuired back by the prefect at Barcelona
10 De armed as cruiser to go to Cuba is
TOT regarded as having any sort of bear
ing on the relations between the United
states and Spain. The reason for a con-
nCent assertion that it has no such bear
ing Is found in the positive knowledge
that there Is now SO good an understana
ing between the two countries that the
administration feels that there is no danger
OIL a hostile demonstration on either side
nor cause for it. The administration is
assured that the Spanish government is
entirely satisfied with the attitude assumed
by TINS government, and there is reason
1or this satisfaC ton since it is not the
intention OF the administration nor of the
majority in the House acting in accord with
the administration, either to intervene or
to recognize the belligerency of the in
surgents. now or at any time in the future
unless events transpire in a manner not at
all to he expected.
A Friendly Understanding.
The disposition that has been made Of
our naval vessels, with an eye to the Gu
ban situation, is thoroughly in accord with
friendly understanding, and it is declared
to be the intention of the administratio ton to
rest satisfied with that unless some overt
act on the part of Spain directed at tie
United States should occur, and such an
act IS not regarded as probable under the
circumstances.
AS TO Congress, action or non-action is
dependent, of course, upon the disposition
or the House. What that attitude is to he
is now definitely settled. The agitation of
the cuban question in the interest of the
Insurgents Is to be left to the minority
alons, and resistance of the minority ia To
be made party ques tion to the extent of
a republican who would vote for aid in
such agitation being pronounced an anti
administration man and being treated as
such.
Democratic Effort Expected.
When the naval appropriation bill comes
up 1or consideration in the House there
Will undoubtedly be an effort mad. by the
democrats and their political allies to take
action with relation to Cuba in that CON-
will ha,,
support, however, and of course will not
De able to account for anything
II Is not the intention of the foreign af-
1airs committee to take any action on the
committee having charge of the suhiect
Of which Mr.. Adams of Pennsylvania is
chairman, do not expect to take any ac-
uon: The time mentioned by Mr.. Adams
as pelng when the subcommittee might
take the question up, is whenever the cor
respondence asked for from the State De-
partment is received and not before 1t is
known that this correspondence will not
be received for five or six weeks and that
when 1t comes (unless something unfore-
seen occurs n.eantfme), 1t Will be found not
to contain enything of great consequence
as calculated to aid to action by Congress.
Acceptance of the Situation.
Certain republican members of the for
eign affairs committee whose constituents
have been importunate in their demands
t6at, something be done for Cuba, and who,
therefore. nave been more or less clamor-
GUS for the fetters to be taken on which
held them back from action, have made IL
known to their constituents that their souls
are burning with enthusiasm for Cuban
liberty, and Will now, it is understood.
content themselves with adhering strictly
to the policy OF the majority without fur
ther fretfalness. They have settled down
to an acceptance Of the situation, knowing
that nothing Is to be DONE
Maine to Leave Havana.
The battle ship Maine WIN be relieved
from her station in Havana In the course
Of q few dayxl It was not the purpose OF
the Navy Deparament to keep the ship
there for any length OF time whenA she
was ordered across the strait. and 1t is
felt that the ships crew must feel uncom-