The San Francisco call., 1898-03-23
Mckinley Holds Confer enCe With Senators
 Allison and German.
Leaders in the Upper House As sure the Chief Executive Prompt Intervention Is
 Needed to Save Cuba.

NEW 4ORh, March ZZ.-A washing ton special to the Herald says: Presi- dent Mckinley immediately after the Cabinet meeting to-day had an hours conference with Senator German Of Maryland and Senator Allison of Iowa, the recognized leaders of the two great parties. The object of the President in inviting these men in conference was to fully. outline his policy to them and to learn from them the sentiment ot the Senate. The President learned from these two Senators that the ma jority of the Senate was unquestionably in favor of Cuban independence and that there was a very strong sentiment for direct intervention. The horrors of a possible war and the vast expense that would be entailed, of course, were seriously considered. Senator Allison remarked that he feared the President would need another $50,000,O00 and probably a great deal more before war was reached.
 It had been determined at the Cab inet meeting that the Presidents mes sage to Congress would not be sub- mitted until next week, as the report of the court of inquiry is not expected to reach Washington before Thursday The President is not disposed to get Congress off his hands" On the con trary, he proposes to maintain the most friendly and confidential relations with both houses of Con~ress, so that in dealing with the pending complications with Spain the executive and leg1sla- tive branches of the Government will work together in double harness
 Allison and German are two of the most conservative men in the Senate and they wield a powerful influence with their associates. They were fn- vited to the White House for the pur- pose of fully informing them of the policy of the administration and to in yoke co-oper5 ton in the Senate in con- sidering the question with due delib- eration.
 President Mckinley indicated very clearly that he appreciates the gravity of the situation. He was exceedingly anxious to know the sentiments of the Senate regarding the independence of Cuba, and he asked his visitors If they thought the recognition of Cuban inde- pendence would bring to an end the distressing state of affairs on the isl- , and; One of the Senators remarked that he feared the case had gone beyond the point where any practical results could be derived from the recognition or Gu ban independence. He went on to say that the whole civilized world seems to be ia sympathy with the United States for its humanitarian efforts in behalf of suffering Cubans. All the world has for several years regarded the United States as exercising friendly and hu- mare protectorate over the CuDanS, andtit seemed to him that nothing but actiEe intervention would meet the de- lnaTFdS of the situation.
 The President was deeply impressed with these statements, in which Dotn Senators Allison and German agreed, and he cited numerous hypothetical cases which might result from the rec ognition of Cuban independence or act i've intervention. His callers full ap- preciated the seriousness of the condi- tions, but invariably came back to the point that intervention seemed to be the surest and most emphatic way of dis posing of the greatly tangled and com plicated problem.
 The horrors of the probable war were also considered, and the vast expense to the American people was also re- viewed with great seriousness. Evi- dentIy disturbed by the frank and strajghtforward statements of the Sen atorial visitors, the President expressed the hope that the problem might be ad- justed without recourse to active inter vention, though he made it known that he was determined that there should be prompt relief to the starving Gu bans, whatever might be the result. He said he was proud of the fact that the representatives of the people in both houses of Congress were giving the ad- IniniStration loyal and substantial SUD- port, and he expressed a hope that no act of the Executive would incite polit- ical antagonism and prevent action in carrying out whatever line of policy may be adopted for the benefit of the entire country.
 President Mckinley and his Cabinet considered to-day the advisability of arming vessels of the revenue cutter service as men-of-war and turning them over to the Navy Department for such duty as Secretary Long might direct This consideration was the re- suit of the presentation by Secretary Gage of a letter submitted to him by Captain c. F. Shoemaker, chief of the Revenue Cutter Service, recommending that the President permit an expendi- lure of S60 GOO from the national defense fund for the equipment or shlps or the service with batteries commensurate with their strength. No action was taken by the President in the matter, but there is reason to believe ne Will. after further consideration, direct the transfer of revenue cutters to the navy, and the expenditure of the necessary money for their conversion into gun boats.
 Captain Shoemaker estimated that there are nineteen vessels on Doth coasts which could be utilized for naval service and of this number thirteen are stationed on the Atlantic coast. There are four vessels in commission which are able to carry strong batteries or four and five inch rapid fire guns. and these soon will be reinforced by two others which are under construction at Cleveland, O., and which can be push ed to completion within a month. Four vessels which the service is particularly proud of and which it's officers say will be better equipped to perform naval duty than the converted gunboat May flower, are the Manning. of 905 tons displacement: the Windonl. of GOO tons the McCulloch. of 12S0 tons. .ara thc Gresham of 905 tons.
 Onondaga and Algonquin are the names of the vessels under construc tion at Cleveland. Each is of 300 tons'l displacement and will be valuable for naval service. it is asserted, should 1 they be properly armed.