Evening star., 1898-03-25
PRESIDENT HAS 1T
Report on the Maine Disaster Taken
to the White House.
NOT OPENED BY SECRETARY LONG
Going Over the Document With
Judge Advocate Mark.
CONSIDERED BY THE CABINET


Mckinley at 9:i2 O'Clock this morning 1t
Was handed to the President by Lieutenant
Commander Mark personally, Secretary
Long leaving that honor to the officer who
brought and guarded the report for so
many miles.
At the Navy Department.
The document brought to the Navy
Department about . O'Clock by Lieutenant
Commander Mark, the judge advocate of
the court, and Lieut.. Jungen, one of the
survivors of the Maine, who were of the
party that brought it from Admiral Sicard
On his flagship New York at Key West.
They spent the night quietly at the Ebbitt
House, and, after breakfasting, this morn
ing proceeded to the Navy Department.
They were in civilian dress. and attracted
no special attention as they walked from
the hotel up the avenue past the White
House 10 the Department. Lieut.. Jungen
carried the report in canvas bag or hav-
ersack slung over his left shoulder.
1t almost exactly o'clock when
they reached The department. In accordance
with the invariable custom in such cases,
they went first to the office of the judge adj
vCcate general of the navy and reported
their arrival with the record of the Maine
court of inquiry. The usual course of pro-
cedure in such cases is for The judge adv o.
cate general 10 review the proceedings and
findings, 10 see that they are regular and
in accordance with the law and the regu-
latiOns of the navy. with special view to
see thai the finding is justified by the evil
deuce. Owing to the vast Importance of
this case. however, the usual formaiities
we're waived and the judge advocate gen
eral did not open the package containing
the report.
Delivered to the Secretary.
messenger was sent to the Secretary's
Office to see If he was there and ready to
receive the bearers of the report. An af-
frmatve reply was received. whereupon
Lieut.. Commander Mark. accompanied by
the judge advocate general and his messen-
ger, the latter bearing the report proceeded
down me corridor to the Secrctary's office.
1t was then about $40 O'Clock. Secretary
Long, who vas seated at his desk engaged
in the consideration of his mail, arose ard
greeted Lieut.. Commander Mark cordially.
That officer then took the report from the
messenger and formally delivered II by
pacing it in the hands of the Secretary of
the Navy. The judge advocate general
and his messenger remained only few
minutes. leaving Lieut.. Commander Mark
alone with the Secretary.
Secretary Long and Comm ander Mark
did not exchange wcrd concerning the
contents of the report The meeting in the
Secretary's office purely formal. and
was devoted exclusively to the formal sub
mission by Commander Mark 20 MIR. Long
of the report and the volumnous evidence
acc npanying it. Without commenting on
the purposes of the visit. the Secretary in
vited Commander Mark to wait Until he
had gone through the important dispatches
ard reports arriving during the night and
early morning.
Some of these required speedy attention,
and Mr.. Long called IN his private secre-
t-ry. Mr.. FinIey. and dictated several let
tiers and dispatches before turning to the
Icpnrt He also sent for Capt. Glover.
chief of the bureau of information. and
Capt O'Neil. chief of the bureau of ord
rance. for brief conferences. These over
Nr. Long asked Commander Mark to ac-
company him TO The White House. The
two then preceded 10 the White House 10
deiivcr the report into the hands OF Pres-
cent Mckinley. When the two gentlemen
loft the Secre;&Tys Office in the Navy De-
T&rtnlent they were met by several news
Pspsr men. Secretary Long greeted them
E!cesSI tIg ana said with smile tha: he
Ial not opened the report and really knew
10 -lc.e cor q n! & its cOrtsn $ than they
ciG. WitE that h. and his companion pass
e it thc elevator ard were taken to the
h-s: h5cr. wnert they entzred Secretary
- 70 carriage ard were driven to the
" h.;e House. Lieut.. Com. Mark carried
10 Es2r-t in TIE canvas baa in which it
t-5s brought troil Key Wes,. and the
..zvri \ tary carr ed his familiar small
T.; pcrtfcii) anI a wo d ro l. around
r.hc7 wra pp-,i :arse sheet Of trans-
!'5r' D. p per. such = maps are na'ie of.
- t:.r Nhi,c House.
g ,-.,s n1:n,ae exciting in the arrival
-ci-"It e.: tie White House or in the
-.-c-- in dents. Pre s:Gsnt Mckinley
~, r.-S.- Gar breakfast as early as
rs 49,. - ha1 II ro7,a:nct. IN
.r- :.,,e liz. night. having been en-
-reI>-,cc ~ - u o'clock with
- lima ;.-d + 4 ks. and work
go. or san an hour
~r.:- i-rsai.asj yer. however
ar c',iGCk. and the President
stairs ana began going over the
PAYERS lie was engaged in this
ga Secretary Long and Comma nCier
rived
Seryctary' Long carried the green cloth
iaG Whic.s he carries all the important
-E.-s MS To ts. .-.4trnitted to the Presi-
= - Eer-EnaEsler Mark haid in his right
h-rd he canvas bag containing all the
.1-s--ser.
The canvas bag was ships mail pouch.
Given to the President.
President Mckinley was seated in the
IcEg hallway ir the private apartmt nts OF
the secoud floor when the momentous doe
ument wss turned over 10 him. Lieni.
Commander Mark was introduced to the
President by Secretary Long.
After few words the three repaired to
the library. where so many important con-
f.rcnees have recently been held. There
the report was gone into fully. Comman-
der Mark remaining to answer all ques-
tions propounded by the President and Sec
retary Long, and ready to explain the
drawings, which were made for the court
chiefly Dy Ensign Powelson. The President
and Secretary We're busily engaged when
the cabinet officers began to arrive Sor the
long and grave session which was to de-
termine so much.
Judge Day I'm Conferences.