The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-17
CABINET OFFICERS
MEET THE PRESIDENT.
Loss Of the Maine the Only Topic
White House Reception
Abs nd0ned.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1s.-The president
and several OF his cabinet associates held
an extended conference about noon. IL wa,
not cabinet meeting. as no notice had
been sent out. and only Secretary Of the
Navy Long. Secretary Gage. Attorney
General Grtggs. Postmaster General Gary
and Former Attorney General McKerlna
were present The disaster 10 the Maine
was the only topic considered. /, was de-
t.rmined to abonaan the reception a. the
White House tonight and also the reee9-
tion 20 the general public tomorrow night.
Aooatsis a clock the cabinet officers casse
from enc presidents office one of then,
stated that the president had given drac-
tions that all official information reiat-
tins to the disaster should De given to the
public. He added that a private Dispatch
To Secretary Long. signed Ray stated that
the loss was over 20. but this vas not
Official and Mr.. Long considered the estl-
mate too high. This was before Capt
sighee's dispatch WAS at hand. placing the
host and missing at 23T
The cabinet officer stated that there
wsra many evidences that the disaster was
tho result Of accident, Up to the present
time he said. no orders for sending an
other American ship 90 Havana had been
Issued con~ai General Lee had casled
that tho Spanish authorities had expressed
90 him the4r profound regret az the occur
renee.
Another cabinet official stated that ore
Of the dispatches stated thar Capt. slgs-
bee was the last 10 leave the ship.
Among the matters discussed 5y the
president and BLENDERS OF the casines was
thu question OF the expedisacy OF lmmed..
ately sending one or more ships 10 Hia-
sana 70 .aAe the place Of the Maine Tho
conclusion is understood 70 have bean
reached that a. present such a course is
not desirable
Secretary Long sent this telegram:
''sigsbee L. : s Maine. Havana. The
precedent directs me 70 express fer hinselr
and sae people Of the United States hls
profound sympathy with tho oTiceTs and
crew 81 the Maine, and desires that no @x-
rfnse be spared III providing Tor thu sur
sisefs ana care az the dead
Both Secretary Long aua Assistant See
rotary Roosevelt called a consultation In
the forenoon 81 al the chiefs or the navy
department ana several OF ms officers Of
hiah rank indirectly attached. like Gem.
meiere schley. president or the light
house board. W.T., has brilliant reputation
gallant officer and is possessed II
great discretion. The purpose or these.
consultations WAS 70 seeure the best expert
testimony as to The p.obAbi@ cause u tae
disaster. while at he same Glgne Ascer-
tatgstng Re- whss extent the naval situation
has been Affected by tie lose - the Main
\ good dsai - alsauiet wsS exntbited
when II was shown that the loss OF tas
aae kagtAysasp had daue a great deal 20
destroy the tA2nce Of power Theoretical
- between tAs f4a Ste@ os Staafn asa tna
United States the asvy betug reduced -
stS setsice@&ie SHIPS, as against seven in
the Spanish fest
Every confidence was feit IN the es,ast-
rssUs ia the comma udeT II fhr Maze
Cant SiESaeu. ard nugH 81 Is realty IS
t2olAsAs8 essrvwtse theirs IL every sftzncss-
ttea "a charge she accident Il scc,sgsns
s. vas that destroyed the Marie. 80 some
e1nse eeYcnd tha usual rarxe Of human
discretion.
The coast survey steamer Baeha = rav-
sseg at Key West The ssgsevtstsrAent
C the serVex lost no ttsne sh.s ra,rn.nx
n inviting Secretary IcnT - make anx
Use ef ihe vesssi n fAis emergency taat Re
might desire.
85S iaNttsfi9n vas gratefully accented
and see bSche has beca orstseed 20 pro