Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-22
NOT BEFORE MONDAY
Congress Must Wait for the Report
on the Maine.
THE PROGRAM OF TIE PRESIDENT
What is Believed viii Be His
Course in the Matter.
MEETING OF THE CABINET

Secretary Long stated today that the re-
port of the Maine court of inquiry would
arrive Thursday or Friday, but would not
go to Congress before Monday
The House military affairs committee or
dered a favorable report on the army reor-
ganization bill.
The Senate naval affairs committee heard
number of arguments in regard to a float
Ing steel dry dock at New York.
The Cincinnati, Wilmington and Castine
arrived at Port Antonio, Jamaica. 1t is
locked upon as a significant movement
The government failed to secure the war;
ship Dupy from Brazil.
A board has been ordered to examine the
condition of Admiral Sicards health to de-
termine whether successor to command
the North Atlantic squadron should be Sc
lected.
of the Navy, returned from Key West 1t
is asserted that he did not go after the re-
pert on the Maine and did not obtain it,
The report of the Maine court of inquiry
was signed by Admiral Sicard today and is
now en- route here.
1t was reported that Senior Polo, the
Spanish minister here had cabled his gov
ernment that the court found the accident
due TO an external explosion, but Senior
Polo denied having done so
Gen. Pando practically acknowledges the
utter and final defeat of the plan of auton-
omy.
1.-The report of the Maine court of inquiry
will go to Congress not earlier than Mon
day. The report will arrive here Thursday
or Friday. probably Thursday"
These statements were given tc Star
reporter today by Secretary Long as he
left the cabinet meeting, md epitomized the
agreement reached by the President and
cabinet.
Secretary Long said in explanation, that
he did not know exactly the time for the
arrival of the report, but knew only that
the agreement had been reached in cabinet
session that the report would not go to
Congress before Monday.
1t is understood by officials that the en-
tire testimony and the findings of the court
will arrive here at the same time, and that
beth will be sent to Congress together
Whether the President will send a message
to Congress with them will depend wholly
on the character of the courts verdict and
the developn ents between the reception of
the verdict ard it's appearance in the legis-
lative body of the country. In fact, the
position of this country and the history to
be made for the future will be determined
in the period between Thursday Friday
and Monday.
1t is pretty well settled that within the
period mentioned President Mckinley will
&c over the findings of the court, together
with the testimony. He intends to look
well into the whole matter. Probably
day after giving the verdict and testimony
thoughtful, earnest and solemn considera-
tion he will make some demand upon Spain,
that is, taking it for granted that the re-
port will show outside explosion.
Only the theory of an external explosion
is before the President. He is still in
ignorance of what the verdict will be, AMI
stated so today to members of his cabinet.
He would not. he is quoted saying, ac-
cept advance statement of what the
court will report.
Provided the findings of the court reach
here not later than Friday morning, 1t is
Believed, judging from the Presidents
usual custom. that he will give it as much
consideration as possible up to the time the
cabinet meets Friday. If the theory of an
outside explosion is advanced the Presi-
dent will have made up his mind to some
extent to what he intends to do. He
may outline his intentions to the cabinet,
which will join him In giving consideration
TO the verdict. In all probability the cab
iret session will be the most prolonged
and solemn since the days of the war. The
President never repels suggestions from
any source, but always like to hear the
opinions of his cabinet advisers. Up to
this time he has conducted the entire affair
uLaided, but now it is believed he will ep-
preciate all the suggestions made to him.
BY Friday night or Saturday morning the
President will have determined on the at
titude of this country, and what his future
course will be. There is no doubt that his
cabinet will be with him. One of them said
today: He is cool as January MORN
ing. and. the more / see of him the more
am impressed with him."
The Presidents intentions will be COM
municated to Minister woodford at Madrid,
who will lay them before the Spanish gov
ernment. 1t is probable that, in advance
of the demands to be made, the Spanish
government will be informed of the find
ings Of the court. This will be courtesy,
at least The Spanish ministry will have
time to decide the answer II will make be-
tween Saturday and Monday. but, II it
delays the answer long time, the Presi-
dent will probably send the papers to Con-
gress anyhow. He can do this with a
brief message calling attention to what
has been done. II the answer of Spain has
arrived it may be given. If it has not he
will outline the situation to that time.
Probable Course of Events.
The foregoing is not an official program
That is. no program could be discussed, in
view of the uncertainty. but it is thought
by members of the cabinet to be the prob
able course Of events. Any program which
might be outlined. they say, Is likely to
be altered by the nature OF the report
No suggestion was made to the cabinet
that Spain will demand arbitration. In
fact. no such intimation has been received,
and the President would have refused to
consider 1t had the intimation been sent
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