Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-10

hibited.
Secretary Long was particularly
busy. Before 10 o'clock he was obliged
to retire to his private office and deny
himself to callers. Senators Lodge
and Hale were present as well as Rep
resentative Boutelle, Chairman Crown
inshield, Chairman Bradford, Chief OF
the Equipment Bureau Brownson and
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. Chief
Constructor Hichborn and Admiral
Matthews, chief of the bureau yards
and docks We're also called to a con-
ference by the secretary to deal with
special phases of the question under
consideration, The conference had to
do with preparations for putting the
navy at the highest state of efficiency
and the fact that Secretary Long is
consulting at every step with represen-
tatives of the legislative branch of the
govern ment shows the desire of the
president to keep within the strict
spirit of legislation.
Secretary Long found time to talk
Il moment to Lane who has sub
mitted a proposition for certain war
ships now building in Europe at pri-
vate shipyards. What passed between
them Is not known, but Lare fastened
Immediately to the cable Office at the
conclusion of the conversation to COM
municate with his p incipals in Europe.
The secretary made it plain to the leg
islators at the conference that the de-
partment was very much better
prepared than hos been sup
posed in the matter OF
accurate information of the ship
building in progress in European ship
yards. Many more difficulties exist
than the public is aware of in acquir-
ing such property as warships. Most
OF these craft under construction are
being built under special orders for
various governments, and only few,
and those are perhaps not of the most
desirable type, are in the builders
hands in such shape that they can be
at once disposed of. In the case OF some
European powers under a strong mon
archial form Of gov rnment, 1t is pos
sible that permission could be given
at once for the sale of ship to an
other nation, but in case of more COM
pick forms of government, such as eX-
which have ordered ships now under
construction in Europe, it is feared
that grave constitutional and legal OBJ
jections exist to transfer the rights Of
these countries in their ships to the
United States, necessitating recourse
TO the legislative branches of their
governments for such authorization
This would be time consuming
process.
1t is particularly for acquiring in
formation about ships which can be
bought Immediately that Captain
Brownson has started for Europe. He
is an officer of great discretion, and
has had experience on the board of in
spection charged with the duty of
thoroughly examining all ships built
for the navy which thoroughly famil-
iarized him with all the details of all
types of warships, battleships, arm
cured cruisers, protected cruisers,
monitors and torpedo boats. During
the conference yesterday he was made
fully acquainted with the views of
the secretary and his advisers as to the
scope of his mission and he will lose
no time in starting for Europe. Com
mander Brownson will prosecute his
duties in England and France with the
utmost diligence and despatch. He is
also charged with the important duty
of investigating the practicability OF
the purchase from foreign manu-
facturers OF ordnance material in case
our own supply should prove made
quate.
1t is known positively that negotia-
lions are in progress toward having
the United States 9cquire the two crack
cruisers building for:Japan, one at
the Cramp shipyards in Philadelphia
and the other at the Union Iron works
in San Francisco.
In conjunction with the intimations
OF the spanish government regard
Ing Lee and the class of vessels in
which relief supplies should be sent
to Cuba, third inquiry was made re-
garding Captain Crowninshield and a
request made for information as to
the nature of his recent trip to the
West Indies. The Spanish had been
informed tina Crowninshield on This oc-
casion has been in communication with
insurgents and even went so far as TO
give them indirect aid thru ugh fill
clustering sources. When the matter
was brought to the attention of Pres
ident Mckinley an immediate denial in
explicit terms was returned Spain
thereupon closed the incident with the
acceptance of the presidents state
ment that 1t had been Inisinformed