The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-25

senate will be resisted. The senate will
not be swept off its feet, but is ready to
act in any emergency"
Vallejo, Cal, March 25.-Great activ-
ity prevails at the Mare Island navy
yard The cruiser Philadelphia has been
hauled from the stream and lies along
side the quay wall near the Charleston.
The gunboat Yorktown has also been
towed to the wall and all three ships
fairly swarm with men at all hours.
The Charleston is rapidly nearing COM
pIetion and will be ready to go into
commission in a comparatively short
time The Yorktown, too, is nearly
ready for sea and the purchase of sup
plies for both is now being made.
washington, March 25.-The report of
the Maine court of inquiry is now in the
hands of President Mckinley The
formal transmission of this momentOus
document was accomplished at $40
o'clock this morning. 1t was delivered
by Lieutenant Commander Mark, judge
advocate of the court of inquiry, to
to the White House and handed to the
president Lieutenant Commander
Mark and Lieut.. Carl Jungen left the
Ebbitt house, where they had kept the
report through the night a few minutes
before O'Clock They were in civilian
dress and attracted little attention
along the street as they proceeded to-
ward the navy department. Lieut..
Jungen carried a large canvas bag. or
portfolio, enclosed by straps, containing
the report. They arrived at the de-
partment at exactly o'clock. Secre-
tary Long already was at his desk in
anticipation of their coming The two
officers proceeded first to the office of
the judge advocate general, Capt.
Lemly, in accordance with the naval
regulations requiring the transmission
to be made to that office. Capt. Lem
ly greeted the officers and together they
went direct to the secretary's office, a
n . "a Wit he
report.
They were ushered into the secreta-
rvs office, where the formal delivery
was made by Lieut.. Commander Mark.
Capt. Lemly then retired, and for 20
minutes Messrs. Long and Mark were
together. The secretary did not, how
ever, open the report.
At 9:35 o'clock Secretary Long came
from his office with Mr.. Mark and pro-
ceeded to the White House. The report
was still carried by the lieutenant COM
mander. while Mr.. Long had in his
hand a long sheet of transparent paper,
such as maps are made on, wound round
a wooden roller. The secretary also car
ried a large black bag. Mr.. Long cor
daily greeted the group # newspaper
cores Ondents, and remarked that he
had not opened the report and knew no
more than they did of its contents.
Then they stepped into the navy de-
partment brOugham and were driven
around to the main entrance of the
White House.
It was 9:38 as the secretary and Mr.
Mark entered the White House doors.
They did not go direct to the presi-
dents office, but paAed through the
private corridor on the first floor and
thence to the blue room, to await the
president. He had been in his office
before their arrival, but at the moment
was in the residence portion OF the
house A few minutes later the Secre-
tary and Lieut.. Commander Mark
Joined the president in his library and
the report of the Maine court was for
mally delivered to the chief executive.
The arrival of the report hardly Gre
ated ripple of excitement at the White
House, except among the group of
correspondents gathered
there.
about o'clock, but as the president
was at breakfast, he retired, but re-
turned about 10 O'Clock. Secretary AL
ger came about half an hour later. and
was followed by the postmaster gener-
al and Secretary Bliss. The other mem
bers of the cabinet did not arrive untf
about the usual hour for meeting, IL
o'clock.
Washington, March 25.-Commodore
Winfield Scott Schley, at present con-
nected with the light house board, has
been ordered to command the flying
squadron at Hampton Roads, with the
Brooklyn as his flag ship.
Commodore Schley received the news
of his assignment at the light house
board, where he was engaged in closing
some of the work of the bureau. He
expects that it will be a day or two
before he finishes his work here and
takes command of the squadron. His
command at present comprises three
vessels, the Brooklyn, Columbia and
all ocean grey hounds, but
in a short time his squadron probably
will be swelled to about dozen ships.
Commodore Schley refused to talk at
a iT7c
squadron might be sent out to inter-
rupt the Spanish torpedo boat fotilla.
He said that was a matter concerning
which he could say nothing at all.
Commodore Sch1ey has fine record
for discretion, good judgment and fight
ing qualities. He was in command of
the Baltimore during the Chilean trOu-
BILE, which threatened to end in war and
had a peaceful termination, which it is
believed was due largely to his tact and
discretion.
His three vessels at present under his
command, are all swift cruisers and
among the others which probably will
be added to his command are the ST.
Paul and the st. Louis, of the Aneri-
can line, which were built so that they
could be turned into etnclent nghtlnS
machines at a few days notice. These
vessels have not been impressed as yet,
but arrangements have been perfected
between the government and President
GrlScOm, so that no delay Will result as
soon as the decision is reached that the
outlook justifies the large expenditure
of money necessary for their transfer to
the navy department
Officers have been Professionally pick
ed out to command these ships, Com
W. H. Emory and Commander
Willard H. BroWnSOn, at present in
Europe, on a special mission for the
government being the officers, who it is
will be assigned to command
of the St. Paul and the St. Louis.
Two battleships are on their way to
add to the fighting strength of the
flying squadron. They are the Texas
and the Massachusetts. One of them
may reach Hampton Roads today and
the other should be there tomorrow.
. The Massachusetts is a first-class
ba tt1eShjD of 10 2RS tons disbursement