The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-21
IS EXPECTED THIS week
The Court of InQuiry's Report
Not Yet Received.
CAN GET MORE WARSHIPS
Chill and the Argentine Republic Would
Sell Vessels to the United States
II They Are Needed-A Cab
met Conference.

Washington, March 2O-President
Mckinley did not attend church this
morning, as is his custom, but instead
spent two hours or more in conference
with several members of the cabinet.
Assistant Secretary Day called about
1880 and remained until nearly
O'Clock. Secretary Long and Secretary
Bliss were the other members present
They remained more than an hour
Commander Clover. in company with
Mr.. Flint, who has been acting for the
government in the negotiations for the
purchase of ships. also called. and were
shown into the presidents private Of
fice
The members of the cabinet on leav-
ing the white house said that there
was no special significance in the meet
ing this morning. The report of the
court of inquiry had not been received,
nor was it definitely known when 1t will
reach here. 1t was said. however. that
1t would probably arrive early in the
week, and as soon as received ii would
be handed at once to the president. and
when it has been read and considered
by the president il would be made pub
lie. Secretary Long. in speaking of the
| report, said that while fully realizing
its Importance, the country, in his
opinion, would willingly accord the
president day or two, IL necessary,
for it's consideration. The indications
seem to be that the report will be made
public by the middle of the present
week.
The presence of Charles r. Flint at
! the conference naturally gives infer
ence that the president and his ad-
visers were discussing the question of
additional ships. Mr.. Flint. whose
commercial interests are largely with
South American countries. is believed
in measure, at least, to represent
| Chilli and Argentina in negotiations
| which are under way for the disposition
of their war vessels. A reporter to-day
| asked Mr.. Flint IL he could say wheth-
| er or not the United States had secured
| possession of the Chilian ship O'Hig-
gins and the Argentine ship San Mar
tino. but he declined to- make any
statenfehS ~ 90 -rNae -pdftcuiar fcaeufe
| of the subject. When pressed Tor in
formation in regard to the matter, he
| replied:
Both Chill and the Argentine Re-
public have the warmest friendship and
| admiration of the United States and
| her institutions. Neither country is
anxious to sell their ships to this gov
| ernment, basing the indisposition on
the belief that we have an excellent
| navy of our own. They want these
vessels themselves. If the time should
| come. however, when ii was apparent
that the United States needs these ves-
sells. they would gladly part with them
| to us"
The attention of Mr. Flint was called
to the published report that the United
States would purchase the Brazilian
torpedo gunboat Tuby. but he said it
was not done so far as he was aware,
as there were no negotiations under
way to that effect.
Aside from the meeting of several
members of the cabinet at the white
house, there were no incidents Of i'm
portance during the day. Judge Day,
Assistant Secretary Adee, Chief Clerk
Michael and other officials were at the
department, but this has been quite
common during the recent months Also
at the war and navy departments a
number of the chiefs of bureaus were
at their desks for several hours, MAIN
! ly for the purpose of disposing of the
business which recently has accumu-
lated so rapidly.
The most interesting topic of the day
was based on the dispatches from Ha-
vana indicating a prospective confer
ence between General Pando and Gen
erals Garcia and Gomez and Others of
the insurgent army for the purpose of
submitting to the latter a formal offer
of autonomy. The basis Of autonomy
as outlined in the dispatches apparently
found no credence with the officials of
the Spanish legation. They stated their
disbelief that conference on the pro-
posed lines was probable and added
that they had no information on the
subject. Minister Polo y Bernabe ex-
pressed the opinion that the report from
Havana was unfounded, as he said the
basis upon which IL was proposed to
grant autonomy was absurd.