Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
SCHLEY CASE IN WHITE HOUSE
viii Not Be Discussed in Detail in Prs,i.
dents Review.
cONsRtssMEN COUNSEL WITH EXECUTIVE
Speaker Henderson Assures President
that Action U~nfavorsbIe TO PPesi-
dents Decision Can BE
4 .BIOeked In House.

-
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-An important
conference was held In the cabinet room
of the White house today. AZ the presi-
dents request he was Joined there shortly
after 10 o'clock by Senators Allison, Aid
rich and spooner, Speaker Henderson and
Representatives Cannon and Grosvenor and
the conference lasted until a few minutes
after noon.
II is something Of a coincidence that
those at the conference today were, with
the exception of the president and sena-
tor Spooner, the same men who took part
In the famous conference a few weeks prior
to the Spanish war, which resulted in the
definite conclusion that congress should
Appropriate $50, 900, 900, to be placed at the
disposal of the president to prepare for
war.
Not since that momenlous occasion until
today have the same men been formally
summoned for a conference at the White
Hdnse. ~''-
Previous to the conference the president
breakfasted al the White House with At
torney General Knox. Postmaster General
Payne and Senator Hanna. When the con-
ference broke up those who participated In
1t were unusually retieent. stt
The fact that the senators are members
Of the steering committee Of the senate
and Speaker Henderson and his, two lieu
tenants who were present today practically
oohtrol legislation in the house. gave rise
-, tie belief. that the consultation referred
TO the legislative program in congress and
might have a bearing upon the shaping OF
Cuban, Philippine and war revenue re-
peal legislation.
There also was an intimation that the
president talked with his hearty leaders in
congress about the Schley case and color
was given to this surmise by a remark
dropped by one OF the senators. But moth
ing definite as TO the purpose or result OF
the consultation could be obtained.
a,.Ways and Means Tariff Case.
WASHINGTON Feb. 15.-The Post omor-
row will say concerning the conference of
the president with republican leaders Of the
house and senate at the White House that
the chief topic was the ways and means
edrnnifttsep bin Tor the reduction of war
revenue taxes The Post VIII say that
Speaker Henderson and Representative
Gfosvenor explained the reason for pushing
that measure through the house without
permitting amendment. the reason being
that they feared the reopening of the whole
tariff question should any other course be
adopted. The Post further will say:
THE conference, Il is understood, resulted
in the president consenting ito2the plans of
the house sleaders and informing them that
he!deslred to have the war revenues reduce
tioh bill disposed Of as quickly as possible.
He shared the belief with the speaker and
Mr.. Grosvenor that delay was menacing
to the chances Of the bill passing.
SIT was decided that a conference of the
republican members of the committee on
pa vo and n~aang ahovId ho hoId toauuaaEotaI..
after the war revenue bill passes the house
for the purpose Of ascertaining how the
members stood on the presidents PROPOSE
ton for q reduction in, the tarln on Cuban
sugar 1t was agreed that this should be
the next important question taken up in the
house. n
Discuss schIey Case.
The Post will also. say:
THE Schley case was also under discus
sion at the conference, the president being
anxious that kis disposition Of the case
should not be followed by action in con-
gross, Speaker Henderson. was able to as
sure the vpresident that. legislation, could
be blocked I'm the house, but Il was pointed
out to him, by the senators that the situa-
tion in the senate was different. the more
liberal rules OF that body allowing any
resolution 70 be considered II it commanded
. majority Vote
The ipresldents views regarding the
sehley case became generally known last
right as*th@ result .of the conference. Il
Il. 6eide that he win not undertake to dis
cuss In his review, any OF the events that
occurred prior to tho battle of Santiago, on
the ground that IL schley's conduct was
reprehensible it was condoned by the Navy
4ebaEtrhent and President Mckinley when
sehisS's promotion was recommended.
ga for'the battle OF Santiago the presi-
dent isttnciined to- the opinion. according
to-hib Visitors. that the Victory was won
by allsthe captains, and that the credit
cAnnotf be given exclusively to schley. al
tRpsssh the latter acted 'coursgeously. and
With Oregon. succeeded in preventing the
escape Of Colon.