New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-10
PRESIDENT MAY GO TO CUBA.
A VISIT TO PORTO RICO ALSO IN con-
TEMPTATION.
IT IS SAID THAT Mr. MKINLEY WILL MAKE
A TOUR OF INSPECTION AT THE
FIRST FAVORABLE oPPoR-
TT\ITY
IN, TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBusE.l

Uash,npton Dec "a report that the Presi-
don't Intends 10 visit Cuba and Porto Rico at the
first favorable opportunity became known III 'he
STATE War and Navy departments to-day anu
was quickly made the subject OF serious Speou-
lation among various officials on account ol 'ne
exceedingly interesting questions IL raiseu
Among other things there was spontaneous
revival OF the fiction that the CHIEF EXecutNs
could not pass he boundaries or the OH''eu
States without forfeiting his Office /. Is pe0u'-
lar how persistent is the notion even a'"0N"
higher officials that some constitutional VI
statutory restriction confines the Executive -
American soil when. as matter or lac'' a.
though none OF President Mckinleys preoeceS-
sors have ever left the country during tie'i
terms Of Office their actions were alone aHec'''
by considerations Of propriety or preceuei'
which no one could hold 70 apply IN the prese"'
instance
NO VALID OBJECTION TO THE PLAN
T. was generally recognized to-day that the
President might naturally wish 10 make per-
sonal tour Of Inspection in those ISLANDS as 500"
AZ he could spare time from pressing Pu"'''
/ business In washington. and that no 'dl'u ~"
lection could stand against such TOUT a. "e
was understood 20 contemplate lt Is Po'"''"
o,, bor.o,.or that n would be practically I'M
possible FOR him 10 spare the tf'e r'4U'9"'
e,,ob an ex,onded VOYAGE as that 70 Porto Rlco
before Congress adjourns on March = "''0" -
fortunately. about the best time OF the year 10
make A short stay in the tropics during '''e
first six weeks Of the now year In acdi'oh 10
.ho oo,,,,uous executive routine business the
| social obligations involved in the programme OF
nuhiio recentions and State dinners would 20
/ s,ric, tho President closely TO Washington ana
after next weeks Southern tour he VIII haiu'S
/ find IL possible 20 leave the White House lot
/ more than two days at time before the "e-
! ginning Of Lent in the middle OF February. for
/ the ensuing two weeks with the rush OF legisia-
! ton which marks the closing DAYS OF snort
! session Of Congress there VIII be no leisure lo'
! the Executive and therefore his pennant couid
! hardly Av In the harbors Of Porto RICO pelore
the middle Of March.
| yvt,b Havana only a single nights run for the
| dispatch-hoat Dolphin from Tampa, there might
! be- a chance for the President 20 spend TWO
! whole davs there in a weeks absence Hoi'
! Washington. and remain always In close lele-
g~aphlc communication with the executive oe-
uartments. so that II a critical emergency oo-
/ Cured he could he in railway tram speeulHs
/ toward the capital within twelve hours 40
thought IS entertained, however Of Presiden-
tial trip IN Havana before the Spanish nag Is
/ hauled down on January l.
! WARRANT FOR A VISIT TO HAVANA
! Practical unanimity of opinion prevails amons
/ officials that the contemplated visit OF the Pres
dent 70 Havana has as full warrant as his TIT
. Ia r,r-, F,lca 90 long as the American rag mes
/ ovcr Cuba although a few quibblers may hoio
/ that Porto Rico Itself IS not actually a part ol
/ United States territory until Congress has made
n declaration to that effect. either In so many
/ words or by rafifying the peace treaty OF Paris
/ This fine point IS not seriously raised except r
/ show that Porto Rico and cuba must be CON
/ s!iored Identical In view Of the fact that they
/ are governed precisely alike. by military officers
/ under tho immediate direction II the President
/ as commander -ir-chof The belief is expressed
! that the President would not care 70 set foot
/ IN cuba II Il were held TO ne foreign territory
/ much rs ne might wish 10 see the country. foi
/ that mi-ht 10 a pcrous precedent 10 estao'
/ llsh But no one appears to controvert the
right As we'll as the adyisahility Of an Executive
visit 20 the American possessions provided
(, does not Involve TOO long an enforced absence
+ from Washington.
Before the outbreak Of the war with spair
I the expediency Of a Presidential visit 70 Hawai-
/ was thoroughly can-assed II was held by com
/ petent authorities that the President would mo-
/ he compelled 10 leave the jurisdiction OF th'
/ United states even rnOrnentarily. during sucf
I tour, a. me- would Ne conStluCuN"lF on Amer
/ can territory on National vessel even wher
/ on the high seas In this case however th'
/ long voyage would have required the Presiden
% be without means Of communicating VIII
! Washington for at least a week az time anC
/ even had there been a cable 10 Honolulu h'
! would have been out of touch with the country
for az least two periods If hve days each Thes.
/ considerations prohibited further contemplation
/ - the visit
When tho President Visits Porto Rico am
/ Cuba he will undoubtedly be accompanied b.
| Mrs Mckinley and several members OF the Cab
! met with their wives. and. although the sta,
( - the party In each port visited will not b
/ longer than a single day. absence Of tw'
. weeks from Washington Will be necessary T
i is prona ble that Secretary Alger and severa
/ Army off cars will 20 70 San Juan. Santiago
| Havana and other points In the island befor,
| the President visits those places