Evening journal., 1898-03-24
EAGER FOR THE REPORT
Probable That 1t Will Reach Wash
ingtOn Some Time Tonight.
ORIGINAL PROGRAMME TO EOLD.
Puritan and Terror Ordered to Key West.
Isovenue Cutters to BE UtilIzed-Be-
lief That sicard's Retirement
Ia Ttccor,,,cndcd
Is Recommended,


WASHINGTON, March 24--The feel
Ing was universal throughout official
circles yesterday that the elimination
Of tho Spanish crisis was near at hand.
With the report Of the Maine court Of
inquiry only q little while off, with
tho White House the center of long and
EARNEST conferences between tho presi-
dent and the party leaders In congress
and with exceptional activity toward
emergency preparations In tho war and
navy departments, there was album
dance Of evidence that definite results
regarding the Maine disaster and the
Cuban question in general were about
10 be reached.
Among the presidents callers were
Senators Cockrell Turple and Foraker
General Daniel Sickles, former United
States minister 10 Madrid. and Repre-
sentative william Allen Smith Of Mich
iean, who has recently returned from
trip TO Cuba. The call OF Messrs
Cockrell and Turpie was regarded as
particularly significant, as they are
representative Democrats In the senate
md their visit followed that OF Senator
German. II was generally understood
that In the present emergency the pres
ident desires patriotic unity without
reference to party. Secretaries Long
and Alger also conferred with the pres
ident during the day
Secretary Long said later that the
Maine report probably would reach
Washington tonight. II, however, 1t
did not come before o'clock tomorrow
evening. Mr.. Long said, he probably
would not receive IL until Friday morn
ing. when it would be laid before the
president Immediately. The secretary
did not think the president would give
the document any consideration at a
late hour II was more probable, he
thought, II Lieutenant Mark arrived at
o late hour that he would take the re-
port to a hotel for the night.
There has been no change in the plan
Of sending the report TO congress early
next week. probably Monday, accom-
panied by a message from the prcsi-
dent Il Is definitely settled, however,
that the message and the papers ac-
companying It will relate exclusively
TO the Maine disaster. 1t will not take
up the fearful condition OF AFFAIRS In
CUBA as shown by the reports of Unit
ed states consuls, these being reserved
for subsequent action and a later mes
sage TO congress.
Secretary Long has determined to or
der the double turreted monitors Puri-
tan and Terror TO Key West, where
they viii re-enforce the squadron in
those waters He has also determined 20
bring into service the eight single tur-
reted monitors at League Island navy
yard, Philadelphia, two Of which will
be sent to Boston, two 10 New York
and four held IN reserve at Philadel-
phia. The Puritan and the Terror take
the places OF the battleshlps Massachu-
setts and Texas. recently withdrawn
from the squadron at Key West. II
was stated az the navy department that
this move was In accordance with a
programme previously agreed upon, al
though this programme has not beer
announced heretofore The Puritan by
many experts is regarded as the most
formidable lighting machine In tn,
navy.
In addition 20 it's other preparations
for possible trouble the navy depart
ment took steps toward utilizing tel
Of the seagoing revenue cutters for us
along the Atlantic coast. Captain Shoe
maker. chief of the revenue cutter serv
Ice, conferred with Assistant Secretar.
Roosevelt during the day on the plan
for turning over these cutters TO. tn
navy. They viii be first sent to Nor
folk. where additional guns viii b
mounted. and will then proceed to Ke.
West and become a part OF the squad
ron. Their main service. however, vii
be as naval pickets, a chain OF thes
fleet cutters being maintained outsid
Of the cruisers and battleships.
The revenue cutter service now ha
ready for instant and active service 12
line officers, IA engineers. 900 enlste
men and 10 vessels, of which IA are o
the Atlantic coast. Two others are
course of construction at Cleveland an
with rush work can be completed an
ready for sea In from 80 10 40 day
The Manning. the Gresham, the Algor
quin, the Onondaga and the Windoi
are al new. fast and efficient vesse
and could go anywhere and perfori
any service that any vessel of the
class can perform.
The Manning is considered an
knot boat. All of them. ii Is sal
could quickly he converted into torpeS
boats or dynamite cruisers. Wheth
this last move win be, made is not y
definitely decided. Secretary Long sa
yesterday that it had become evide
that torpedo boats could not be boug
abroad and could not be built SO,
enough in this country. so that ,
might have TO equip other craft wi
torpedoes.
The navy department has opened bi
for extensive improvements at d
Torugas and Key West. a form
transfer having been effected as
CARDS Tortugas which passes from I
treasury 10 the war department The
consist OF two solid steel piers to
constructed at Dry Tortugas, with Z
extensive coalsheds and an elaborS
mechanical equipment for loading ma
vessels with coal. At Key West the 1
provements consist Of a steel pier a
two coalsheds. with similar machln,
for loading warships with coal Z
bids ranged from S1,l510OO for the q,
tire work down TO about 500 0O0
The bidders for the Dry Tortul