The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
BUT ONE TOPIC.
Concluded from First Page.

of the wreck. Constructor Hoover refused
absolutely to talk about his trip to Havana
work of the board of inquiry or the cOndi-
ton of affairs in Cuba. He said that his
lips were sealed by the conditions imposed
on him and that he did not feel free to dis
cuss any phase of the Cuban question or
the Maine incident. He will leave tonight
or tomorrow for New York.
An unusually large number of senator's
took advantage of the fact that the Senate
was not in session to-day to call on the
Cabinet officers with the hope of securing
definite information as to the Cuban situa-
ton. They succeeded only in learning that
the report of the Maine court of inquiry
had not arrived, but that it was expected
early next week and that it would be for
warded to Congress Immediately on it's ar
rival, unless of an unexpected startling
character. Some of them found the high
officials of the State Department deliber-
ating on the line of policy to be pursued
In case the report of the naval court should
have the effect of entirely eliminating the
Maine incident from the situation. So
strongly was this contingency dwelt upon
that the inference was drawn by some of
the senatorial visitors that the department
had been led to believe, or had even been
informed, that the report would fail to con-
meet the Spanish authorities or the Span
iards with the tragedy. Still the State De-
partment officials did not make any posi-
tive declaration that such information was
in their possession. rather advancing 1T as
tentative suggestion and when pressed for
information this point replied that they
only knew that the report was to come next
week and that they naQ no ADVANCE lHIOT-
nation as to it's contents. They seemed
inclined to seek suggestions rather than to
give out opinions as to plans, apparently
Indicating that no definite course had been
decided on pending the Maine report.
Senator Chandler was In conference with
several of the Cabinet officers to-day, and
after leaving them expressed the opinion
that the report of the naval board of in
curry would not be received until next week.
He thought it would come on Monday or
Tuesday, and was quite confident that the
President would send it to Congress as soon
as received, if of a nature to permit that
being done.
TT is barely possible said the senator,
that the character of the document may
be such as to render it inexpedient to give
1t out until Congress can be made aware
gradually of it's contents If. for instance,
It indicates beyond doubt the culpability of
the Spaniards in connection with the Maine
disaster, it would not be wise to place Con-
gress in immediate possession of the facts
officially, for fear that war would be de-
clared instantaneously and without due re-
gard to all conditions" The senator, how
ever, reiterated his belief which was the
result of his conferences with the executive
officials, that the report and the testimony
also whatever their purport. would be sent
to Congress just soon as this could be
done in the interest of the public service.
He also asserted his conviction that the
Navy Department and the President were
as yet ignorant of the-contents of the
boards findings.