New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-09
OUTLOOK MORE PEACEFUL
BUT ACTIVITY NOT RELAXED
THE ADMINISTRATION BUSILY PREPAR-
ING TO MEET ANY EMERGENCY
PLANS FOR UTILIZING THE $4,000 900 DEFENCE
FUND WELL UNDER WAY - COMMANDER
BRowNSoN GOING TO EUROPE WITH
VIEW TO FIrRCHASING WARsHIPS-


VIEW TO PURCHASING wARsHIPs-
BUSY DAY AT THE NAVY
AND WAR DEPARTMENTS.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
Washington. March S.-Though a far more
pacific turn given to-day to the feeling
here BY the assurances received from Madrid
that the Spanish Government disclamed all in
tenton Of forcing Consul General Lees depart
ure from Havana and regarded wholly salts
factory the arrangements now completed for
transporting from this country to Cuba the pro-
visions collected for the starving reconcentra-
dos all branches ~ the Government bent them
selves steadily to the work Of preparing to meet
the National emergencies which may arise at
any moment through further tension in the re-
lations between the United States and Spain.
PASSAGE OF THE DEFENCE BILL.
The House Of Representatives. spurred to
ton yesterday by the prospect Of friction with
the Madrid Government over General Lees re-
tention in Cuba, took the decisive step recon-
| mended to 1t Jointly by It's own leaders and the
Administration. and voted without a note OF
dissent the s5OOO0OOO emergency fund asked
Cor by the President for the purpose Of strength
enlng the OF National defence. The de-
bate in the popular branch TO put this ample
fund Immediately at the disposal Of the Ex-
ecutive disclosed the same cordial spirit OF
patriotic unity and unhesitating confidence as
displayed yesterday in the brief denonstra-
tion over the Passage Of the Artillery bill. All
parties and factions in the House joined in CIV
Ing the emergency appropriation Jealous and
unconditional support. and the absolute so-
darity Of the vote cast--31l Representatives. go
ing on record for the measure and none against
it-enphasized most gratfyngly the impulse to
harmonious co.. o-operation with the Administra-
ton which has mastered men Of all shades Of
opinion In both houses OF Congress.
As the Cannon bill did not reach the Senate
until late In the afternoon II was not acted
on in that body to-day. The Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations has. however. already de-
ciGed to report it favorably Tomorrow and
there seems to be question that it will be in
! the Presidents hands for approval by o-norrow
night.
PLANS FOR EXPENDING THE FUND
At the War and Navy departments to-day and
! in the meeting Of the Cabinet, plans eagerly
discussed for expendng the major part Of the
| appropriation promptly and patrioticaly vot-
| ed by Congress. AS one result Of to-day's and
! Yesterdays legislative action. n trusted officer
| Of the Navy, Commander Brownson at present
a member of the Naval Board Of Inspection,
was dispatched at to Europe to examine
the warships and material available there
for purchase. Commander Brownson will sail on
| the first steamer from New York, and will act
! as the Navy Departments chief agent abroad in
| all proposed negotiations for vessels NUM-
| tions. The War Department has similarly been
directed to contract for guns, projectiles. ammu-
milton and supplies needed to put the military
service on an effective basis
| Indeed, IL will be the general policy Of the Ad-
ministration to push ahead the present scheme
| Of nrapa or
! this country's relations with Spain may take in
! the near future. Just now with the issue raised
! by Spains indirect demand for General Lees
recall abandoned and all difficulties over the
transportation Of supplies for the Cuban suffer-
ers adjusted, definite crisis Of any sort seems
to threaten. But so clouded is the situation and
! so incalculabe ara the opportunities for friction
| that a prudent policy constrains the Administra-
tion to insist adequate preparation for
as the surest and most trustworthy safeguard
Of peace.
DANGERS THAT STILL THREATEN
The report Of the Board Of Inquiry on the
Maine disaster remains TO be considered and
! acted on within the next few weeks and behind
that turks the present possibility OF neces-
! sary Intervention TO solve the problems which
| Spanish administration has far been helpless
10 master in Cuba With so many uncertainties
/ ahead, the EXECUTIVES programme 10 compel
peace or rebuke aggression by getting in readi-
ness the Nations military resources will Justly
be pursued with vgor and steadiness and its
results will doubtless become more and more
apparent daily from this time on.
/ one incident OF the new programme was the
recall to-day OF the armored cruiser Brooklyn
| from La Guayra to Hampton Roads. at which
point she will be held as a reserve either for the
Key West squadron for possible near
/ the approaches to North Atlantic ports. The
Brooklyn was to have gone to Colon the last
/ OF this week. and all mail for some time intended
/ for the ship has been forwarded to the American
/ Consul there The change in her programme
/ was not determined upon until yesterday, when
a decision was recched that in the event OF sud
den hostilities armored vessel Of her speed
! and formidabty would be essential along the
unprotected coast line while the battle ships
! remained near Havana. the Brooklyn is most
/ adaptable 10 be hurried from Hampton Roads
! to New-York or Key West. as occasion
! quires.
PLANS FOR A FLYING SQUADRON.
There has also been talk of organizing a fly
ing squadron. composed altogether Of fleet cruls-
/ ers. four in number including the Minneapolis
and the Columbia and having them ready to 60
to sea at a moments notice. in pursuit OF an
/ enemy's ship. relying the big tle-ships for
| the home guard This. however. has not been
/ decided upon. II such squadron should be
/ necessary eventually, 1t is the purpose to add
| the auxiliary reserve steamers Of the American
! Line the st. Louis, the St Paul the Paris and
the New -York-to the feet. and twas determined
/ to-day that these vessels could not be secured
/ and fitted with the thirteen rapid-hre 6-inch
rifles each will carry in less than months
/ time
As an instance Of the earnestness with which
/ naval preparations are progressing. 1t may be
said that the Cramps have been informed that