Evening star., 1898-11-22
Subjects Discussed at the Cabinet
Meeting Today.
A DISPATCH FROM JUDGE DAY
Belief That Spain Will Not Reject
the UItimatum.
A CIVIL SERVICE ORDER

The Philippine situation, the evacuation
of Cuba, civil service and a number of other
subjects We're discussed in the hour and
half in which the cabinet was in session
today The foremost question was natural
ly that of the work of the peace commits
sion ct Paris.
Since yesterday a dispatch has been re-
ceived from Judge Day telling officially the
story of yesterdays meeting of the COM
missioners. After submitting their Iropo-
stion the American commissioners asked
for an answer by next Monday. Judge Day
says officially that the Spaniards replied
that they would be able to give an answer
by Wednesday. This answer Is awaited
with the greatest interest by administrd-
ton officials. 1t is probable that the
swer will be short, and that it will be i'm
mediately cabled to this side.
Think Spain viii Accept.
An official of the cabinet said this after
noon that no word has been received from
the American commissioners indicating
what they believed would be the outcome
tomorrow, except that the proposition was
not received gracefully. Despite this lack
of pointers, the majority of the cabinet be-
lieyes that the Spaniards will not reject the
ultimatum They will accept all of its fea-
lures except that of the offer Of $50, ,0JO, 600.
They Will contend that this figure is too
small and will propose to continue the ne
gotiations if this point is not absolute. The
American commissioners will not bring the
negotiations to an end over the question of
few dollars, and will probably agree that
Spain be allowed time in which to present
facts attempting to show that this amount
of money is too small.
If the Spaniards decline the propositions
outright, in such way to be recognized
by the Americans as final, the United
States commissioners will be ordered home
without loss of time and the conduct of
the war will be resumed. Thay will also be
ordered home if the Spaniards decline to
continue negotiations.
Official opinion this afternoon inclines to
the belief that the Spaniards will accept
the proposition of thu United States except
as to the amount of money, and that their
rejection of this will not be considered
expected that they will ask for more
money. Ii they can establish a better claim
they may get more, but this is not deter
mined.
No additional instructions on any point
have been sent the American commission
erS since yesterday, and there will be no
change in the program, at least for q, few
days. Further instructions will be sent
after the meeting of the commission tomor-
row: A cabinet meeting may be called by
the President if the circumstances warrant.
Evacuation of Cuba.
As to the evacuation of Cuba, the War
Department has received word that the
Spaniards hope to get out of Havana by
the 10th of December. They are straining
every point to do this. The Americans
will be prepared to take charge at once and
to run affairs to suit themselves.
Civil Service Order.
Notwithstanding work on his annual mes
sage the President is giving time to prepar-
ing the details for the PRONUNCIATION of a
civil service order exempting many places
from the present laws. This was spoken of
at the meeting today. The details are be-
ing arranged as fast as possible, ana Il is
now expected that the order will be pro-
mulgated within week.
Judge Days Dispatch.
Secretary Hay took with him to the cab
met meeting today cipher dispatch re-
ceived this morning from Judge Day. presi-
dent of the American commission at Paris,
detailing briefly the action of the commits
sion at yesterdays session, and saying that
after a brief session the commission ad-
journed until tomorrow. The dispatch con-
firmed in substance the press reports of the
character of the American answer sub
mitted 10 the Spanish commission a yester-
days session and makes no reference what
ever to the reported intimation by Senior
Rios, president of the Spanish commission,
that the Spanards had concluded to sus-
of the Ultinatum submitted by the Ameri-
can commissioners fully detailed in
last evenings Star. The official expecta-
tiOn here is that the Spanish commissioners
will make formal reply TO this ultimatum
tomorrow, bat there is d difference of opin-
ion whether they will reject the American
proposals outright or ask for further time
in which to consider the subject and make
their answer.
The consensus of opinion is in the direc-
tion of the latter course of action as the
most probable under all the circumstances
of the case The officials of the admnis-
tration are still hopeful of favorable
termina tion CT the negotiations, and they
will not credit the report of Spain's pro-
posed withdrawal until notice of such ac-
tion has been formally communicated by
the duly accredited representatives of
Spain. There is no expectation of the sub
mission Of such notice at tomorrows ses-
sion, aud tho officials of the State Depart
ment are &C nfident that there will be still
another meeting after that of tomorrow,
even should tomorrow's deliberation indi-
cate that there is hope of Immediate
agreement between the representatives of
the two countries on the vital points at is
sue.
ARRIVED AT MANILA