Evening Star Newspaper, March 11, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. gee PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th St., by Eveni Ni "he EGP SSE AT Coney Kew York Office, 49 Potter Buildinz. ‘The Evening Star fs served to subscribers in the eity by cirriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ectnter 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere in the United States «r Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents per month. Seturday = Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added. $3.00. (Entered at the Pot Office at Washington, D. C.. as second-class ma’l matter.) 7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicstion. Che Lveniny No. 14,049. ny WASHINGTON, D. O., FRIDAY, MAROH 11, 1898-SIXTEEN PAGES. Star. TWO CENTS. The-regular permanent family circulation of The Evening Star in’ Washington is more than double that of any other paper, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon. As a medium for unobjec- tionable advertisements it there- fore stands unequaled and un- approachable. TO MAN BATTERIES Troops to Be Sent at Once to New Coast Defenses. MEN ORDERED 10 SHERIDAN POINT Measure for Better Protection of ; Washington. , AFTER RAPID-FIRE GUNS Orders were issued at the War Depart- ment today for manning the newly estab- lished fortifications on the Atlantic coast frcm Boston as far down as Galveston on the gulf. They include the organization of the two new artiliery regiments, Nos. 6 and 7, authorized by a recent act of Con- gress. Tae 6th Regiment will have its headquarters at Fort Slocum, N. Y., and the 7th Regiment its headquarters at Fort McHenry, Md. Col. Williston, just pro- moted, will have command of the 6th Reg- iment, and Colonel Sinclair, just promoted, has been assigned to the command of the ith. The location of these two regiments at the points indicated will necessitate the transfer of the artillerymen now occupy- ing those garrisons to other places. Bat- teries B and C of the 5th Artillery are at Fort Slecum, and Batteries C and D of the 4th Artillery are at Fort McHenry. In organizing the new regiments six men will be taken from each of the batteries new in service, so that each of the new batteries will have at the rate of fifteen experienced artillerymen. Movement in Forty-Eight Hours. The orders for thé®manning of the new batteries demand the utmost promptness in their execution, and it is expected that the movements of the troops to the various places assigned them will begin within the next forty-eight hours. Inasmuch as the new fortifications are not provided with either quarters or barracks, it will be necessary for the troops ordered to them to go into camp and live just as they weuld in case of active military opera- ticns against an enemy. The new fertifications on Long Island Fead, at the entrance to the harbor of Beston, will be guarded by a battery of the 2d Artillery, now at Fort Adams, R. I. For the operation of the big guns on Sendy Hook, New York harbor, two bat- teries now at Fort Slocum, ore at Fort Hamilton and another at Fort Wadsworth Will be utilized. It is expected that the Sendy Hook garrisen will be established at ence. Fort Monroe, Va.. is probably the strong- est and best equipped station on the At- lantic coast, and the garrison there will be called upon to supyly men for other fcrtifications, but not to an extent that will weaken its own efficiency. One bat- tery of the Ist Artillery at Fert Monroe will be transferred to Fort Morgan, Ala., which, in conjunction with Fert G commands the entrance to Mobile hay. Another battery of the Ist Artillery will be sent to Tybee Island, Ga., for the vro- tection of the mouth of the Savannah river. The garriscn headquarters, band, and one battery of the Ist Artillery stationed at St. Francis barracks, St. Augustiac, Fla., wili be transferred to duty at Sulli- van’s Island, Charleston harbor. The gar- risen at St. Francis barracks will be abandoned. Battery I of the 2d Artillery will be assigned to duty at Fort Casweil, opposite Smith Island, ncar Wilmington, N.C. E Ordered to Sheridan Point. For the better protection of the national capital, one battery of the 4th Artillery at Fort Monroe has been ordered to Sheridan Point, Va. This fort is nearly opposite Fort Washington, and in connection with it commands the apprcach to Washington by water. The batteries of the 4th Ardl- lery, stationed at Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, will te distributed between Fort Delaware and Fort Mott, N. J., thus pro- viding for the protection of Philadelphia, Trenton, Camden end other cities in that vicinity. Fort St. Phillip, on the Mississippi river just below New Orleans, will be garrisoned by a battery of the Ist Artillery, now at Jackson barracks, New Orleans. The other battery at Jackson barracks has been assigned to duty at Fort Point, harbor of Galveston, Texas. Arrangements have been made by the ebief signal officer of the army, by au- thority cf th2 Secretary of War, to es- tablish immediate telegraphic and tele- phonic connections between all the new stations en the coast to which troops have been assigned. All the movements indicat- €d above are the results of the recent tour of inspection of Gen. Merritt, commanding the Department of the East, in which all of them are located. Rapid-Fire Guns to Be Secured. Secretary Alger has authorized Gen. Flagler. the chief of ordnance, to at once make arrangements for procuring a large rumber of rapid-fire gurs fur seacoast de- fenses. This action is taken without wait- ing for the allotment among the various bureaus of the War and Navy Departments of the $0,000,000 voted for the national de- fense. The Secretary felt that there was no warrant for further delaying the neces- Sery steps for the procurement of these guns, as it was felt there would be no trouble in arriving at an equitable adjust- Went of the meney available. Ever since the battle ship Maine was wrecked in Ha- Vana Rarbor the erdnance department has been hastening the delivery of guns al- ieady finished. and making arrangements for the supply of such a number of addi- Uonal ones as the officials felt warranted in ordering without the additional funds, which have since been put at their disposal. ‘The ordnance bureau will take all these rapid-fire gums that cam be procured with- in a reascnable time, and they will be ship- ped to the seacoast fortifications as rapidly as possible. They constitute what 1s known as the auxiliary defense for the fortifications, and ere a material assistance to the big guns, are necessarily slower of movement firing. They aiso give invaluable as- sistance in keeping the enemy’s ships from the vicinity of submarine mines and other obscured works of defense. Contracts for Gun Carriages. Contracts for the delivery of carriages for these rapid-fire have also been authorized and will be shipped to the for- tifications as coon as completed. The car- rieges can be made and delivered in much quicker time than the guns, so that expe- dition In the manufacture of the latter is what the officials of the ordnance bureau are urging. Quite a number of establish- ments througout the United States have reeponded to the department's inquiries as to whether they can assist in making these gins. They include the army gun factory, the Bethlehem iron works, the Griggs Ord- nance Company an@ the American Ord- nance Company. The guns are mounted without much trouble, and the carriages are made in less time than the.guns, so that haste in the manufacture of the latter are the essentials in the present crisis. It is now admitted by the ordnance of- fic‘als that directions have been given to the varicus government arsenals and arm- ores controlled by the government to in- crease the working force to the fullest practicable extent with a view to hurrying the completion of existing projects. Like- wise all firms having contracts to supply the government with ordnance have been requested to work their men night and day in order to finish the work in hand and to arrange their business with a view to in- creased orders. Securing Small Arms. ‘The acquisition of small arms and am- munition is also recefving the active at- tention of the War Department officials. Gen. Flagler, the chief of ordnance, Is tak- ing these steps at the direction of Secre- tary Alger, who has, authorized such ac- tion without ae allotment of the $50,000,000 approp! by Congress. Extra ammunition orders have been al- ready placed with the Union Metallic Cart- ridge Company of Bridgeport, Conn., and the Winchester Arms Company of New York. The negotiations for the supply of large numbers of small arms, army equip- ments and accovterments are now in pro- gress. The bureat officials have not yet irdicated the exact number Which will be ordered, but they do not conceal their opinion that it wil: aggregate considerable. The companies makirg arms, equipments, ete., have been given the cue to make all they can. Communication Between Forts. General Greely, chief signal officer, has been given authority by the Secretary of War to proceed without regard to ordinary restrictions in establishing rapidly tele- graphic connections between the seacoast fortifications. So it will not be necessary to invite proposals for furnishing supplies and to follow the ordinary and slow meth- ods of procuring the telegraphic material and doing the work. Tunis rather extra- orcinary authorization was conferred upon General Greely after a forcible presenta- tion by him to the Secretary of War of the pressing demand for modern means of communication between the forts. He shcwed that even in New York harbor, where the War Department has devoted its best energies to the perfection of the forti- fications, it requires three-quarters of an hour’s time to pass a message from one battery to another. Fort McHenry, Bal- tmore, the main defense of that city, is worse off, while strange as it may seem the only method of communcating between Washington and its most important de- fensive work, Fort Washington, on the P»- tomac, is by means uf a messenger. Conference at the Navy Department. The representative of the Carnegie Steel Company, Lieutenant Stone, was at the Navy Department today in conference with the officials respecting’ the naval work in progress. The officers of the navigation bureau were busy translating cipher mes- sages today. It was said that all of these had come in over night, and presumably they relate to the purchase of ships abroad. Before leaving for the cabinet meeting Secretary Long said that he had so far re- ceived no report from the court of inquiry, nor had he ordered the fleet in China to the Philippines. The Secretary spent a good deal of time this morning in consultation with Assistant Secretary Roosevelt and Captain Bradford, chief of the bureau of equipment, concerning the supply of coal to the vessels now cruising to the souin of Cuba. A telegram received by Captain Lemly from Charleston announced the sauing from that port yesterday of the big derrick Chief in tow of the Underwriter, bound for Havana to assist in the wrecking of the Maine. Moveme: of the Ships. The two gunboats Wilmington and An- napolis reported to the Navy Department ever night from the Caribbean sea. The fermer sailed from St. Lucia for Barbadoes end the latter from La Guayra for Cura- coa. The torpedo flotilla at Key West will soon be reinforced by two fine boats which have been under repairs. ‘the Winslow sailed this morning from Charleston for Key West, and the Foote from Norfolk for the same port. The commandant of the Mare Island navy yard reported that the cruiser Mohican had sailed today with her cargo of ammunition, which she will tranship at Honolulu to the Baltimore for the Asiatic squadron. The naval officers who are endeavoring to effect the purchase of ships’ abroad have encountered an obstacle that promises to give some trouble. This is found in the difference between the calibers of the guns mounted on foreign-built ships and the United States navy stendards. Not only do these guns differ in caliber from our ; own in most cases, but as they are almost altogether designed for the use of smokeless powder, their combustion chambers are too small to use the ordinary brown powder with which the American navy is still sup- plied. This obstacle is serious, but not in- surmountable. It will require the procure- ment in Europe of a large quantity of am- munition in special sizes for these ships, for it would require a good deal of time for our domestic ammunition makers to change their plants and make the special sizes. ‘Torpedo Beats to Be Accepted. The Secretary of the Navy has waived the usual formalities in the case of the torpedo boats Gwin and Talbot, and has directed their immediate acceptance for the use of the naval service. These vessels were built by the Herreshoffs of Bristol, R. L, under contract with the government, and wer? tested as to speed and general seaworthiness over the Newport course. They each exceeded their contract speed requirement of twenty knots p2r hour, and are believed to be otherwise fuily up to the requirements of the con- tract. It is said"they can be put in condi- tion for active service within a few weeks in case of necessity. Negotiations With Japan Of. The negotiations for the purchase of the two Japanese cruisers now building in this ccuntry are off, and the preseat indications and Japan, it is felt that the needs of Japan are a3 urgent as those of this country. Marines to Be Enlisted. Col. Heywood, commandant of the THE PRINCE IS HERE Belgium’s Prospective Monarch Seeing National Capital Sights. HE 18 SIMPLE AND UNASSUMING President McKinley Will Entertain Him at a Notable Dinner. TRAVELING INCOGNITO Prince Albert of Belgium reached Wash- ington yesterday afternoon, as announced in The Star, shortly before 4 o'clock. He ‘was accompanied by the Belgtn court phy- sician, Dr. Melis; his aid-de-camp, Lieuten- and Colonel Jungbeuth; Count de Lichter- velde, the Belgian minister, and two ser- nts. There was no formal reception at the depot, as Prince Albert is traveling in- cognito, President McKinley sent his car- riage to the depot, however, and the com- pliment was keenly appreciated by the dis- tinguished visitor. Entering it with Count de Lichtervelde, Prince Albert was driven to the Arlington, the others following in the Belgian minister's carriage. The party did not register. The prince was pleased again when ke saw the flag of his native ccuntry floating over the hotel, and ap- peared to be in great good humor over the quiet courtesy surrounding his arrival. He dined with Count Lichtervelde last evening at the Metropolitan Club and met many dis- tinguished men in public and soctal life while there. He impressed every one with his simple and unassuming manners, and his freedom from ostentation. This morning he partook of breakfast early and afterward left the hotel in com- pany with his physician and took a brisk walk through Lafayette Park and some distance into the mall. ‘The morning meal, as well as luncheon today, was partaken of in the public dining reom of the hotel, the prince not caring to avail himself of che private service which had been placed at his disposal as in the case of other distinguished foreigners. This evidence of democratic tendencies on his part and his apparent carelessness about exclusiveness in his movements created much approving remark among the guests of the hotel. Received by the President. Prince Albert was rec2ived at the White House at noon. The reception took place in the blue room, those present being Presl- dent McKinley, Col. T. A. Bingham, Prince Albert, Count G. d> Lichtervelde, the Bel- gian minister, and two attaches of the prince's suite. Col. Bingham, as the President's military attache and representative, went to the Ar- lington shortly before 12 o'clock in the Whit? House carriage. Col. Bingham wore full uniform. The prince entered the car- riage, accompanied by Count Lichtervelde and Col. Bingham. A second carriage con- tained the other members of the party. Th2 party drove ftom the Ariington and entered the rear of the White House. Owing to the fact that preparations are b2ing made in the front of the Executive Mansion for the dinner tonight it was decided to usher the party in from the rear. President McKin- ley left the cabinet room and went to the blue room. The President's greeting to th3 prince was in that cordial manner which has made the President so beloved. Took a Drive. A brief conversation followed, ang then the President corfduct>d the prince to the White House carriage for a-drive over the city. Those in the carriage were the Presi- dent, Prince Albert, Col. Bingham and Count Licht2rveide. It had been decided that the President should show the prince some of the sights of the city in a short drive. The President was absent from the White House less than an hour. On the way back the princ> was left at his hotel. Dering the drive the President pointed out and explained many places of note, in which the prince expressed deep inter>st. The conversation between the two was in English, the prince speaking the language w2Jt enough to understand all said to him. Preparations at the White House for to- night’s dinner are about completed. Social Attentions, _ While there is a great desire on the part of people prominent in social and diplo- matic circles to extend hospitality to Prince Albert, the fact that he is visiting the coun- try as a private gentleman will preclude this wish from being realized. ‘The only fcrmal affairs that he will attend here will be President McKinley's dinner tonight, the dinner of the Belgian minister at Rau- scher’s tomorrow night, and the reception at Vice President Hobart’s Monday night. He will devot2 tomorrow to sightsezing, and in the afternoon will witness the Cos- sack drill of the cavalry at Fort Myer. It is probable that he will visit the Congres- signal Library Sunday and see the work on the great guns being manufactured at th> vavy yard Monday. it is the present intention of Prince Al- bert to return to New York Tuesday, and after a few Gays’ stay there go south, visit- ing the leading citi2s, including Birming- ham and New Orleans, and then visit Florida. His plans in this respect are sub- ject to change, however, and his stay in Washington may be extended until Thurs- day. ‘After his inspection of the south is con- cluded he will pay a visit to the Pacific coast and return to the east by way of the northwest. In a word, he will do the coun- try thoroughly, paying especial attention to its manufacturing enterprises and national, state and city governments. It is his pur- pose to prepare his itinerary so as to re- turn to his native country by July 1. Afraid They Had Lost Each Other. An amusing incident occurred at the Ar- ington yesterday afternoon when the prince and his party arrived. The fcrmer was received at the ladies’ entrance on ‘Vermont avenue near I street and con- ducted to his quarters. The valets, after attending to the baggage, were assigned to rooms and were shown to them by a bell boy. In a few minutes both were back at the hotel office. They were plainly excited, and their ignorance of English made them more so. “Rums! Rums!” ejaculated one. This was taken by Clerk Breast to. mean that they were not pleased with their rooms, and Manager Bennett was so informed. With his characteristic coolness the man- ager declined to entertain the idea that the valets were dissatisfied. And he was right. Inquiry in French developed that the valets wanted to go to the rooms of the prince, in order to atténd.to his wants and assist him in changing his tweed traveling suit for something more appropriate. The valets were accordingly shown to the apartments of their master, and he was as glad to-see them as they were to see him. The prince was disturbed at their non-appearance and for a time feared they might have lost their way between the depot and the hotel. THE NEW SPANISH MINISTER fear Polo y Bernabe Recsived ty Secre- tary Sherman, Will Be Presemted to the President Tomorrow Morning—Interest in* the Addresses, Senor Polo y Bernabe, who-succeeds Sen- or Dupuy d2 Lome as Spain's diplomatic representative in the United States, was formally received in his official capacity by Secretary Sherman and Assistant Secre- tery Day at the State Department at 11 o'clock this morning. Hé was accompanied by Senor du Bose, who bas had charge of the Spanish legation since the departure of Senor de Lome, and was by him introduced to the Szcretary and assistant secretary of state. : The two gentlemen came at the hour in- dicated, by appointment, and were received immediately upon their arrival at tha de- partment. Their visit was comparatively brief and the conversation was purely per- NO PLAN OUTLINED The President’s Course Regarding Cuba Not Definitely Fixed. GUESSES MADE BY HIS FRIENDS Views of a Senator Close to the Administration. THE $200,000,000 GUARANTEE a That President McKiney will intervene in the affairs of Spain in Cuba is all that any man is able to accurately state today, and the official belief that the President will sooner or later take this step has been given in The Star, exciting general atten- tion in all portions of the country. There is no reliable information concerning the functory, being devoted almost entirely to |.details of the method of intervention to be the consideration of th> arrangements for the minister's formal call upon the Presi- dent for the presentation of his credentials. This ceremony would have been observed today but for the fact that the President was engaged with his cabinet at the time usually allotted to such functions. Various other reasons are given for the failure to present the new minister. The State Department reason is that the form- al exchange of greetings between the Presi- dent and the new minister had not been prepared. These greetings will be carefully Prepared, and their construction may mean much or little. Arother reason is that Senor Bernabe desired a postponement of the introdue- ticn. He may, it is said, be awaiting in- structions from his government as to the marner in which his words to the Presi- dent shall be couched. Sccial authorities around the White Hcvse say that no arrangement had been made for the attendance of the minister at tonight's dinner to Prince Albert. If he had been presented today there might have been an opinicn that he should be present. Until he is formally presented he has no official standing. To aveid any appearance of discriminating against Senor Bernabe the presentation went over for a day. 1t was arranged that Minister Polo should be given an audience by the President at the White House tomortow morning at 11 o'clock: He will meet=the Secretary of State at the State Department a few min- utes before the hour fixed for the audience with the President, and will accompany him to the White House. In view of the strained relations now ex- isting between the United States and Spain, more than usual interest attaches to the addresses which will be exchanged between the chief executive and the Spanish minis- ter on this occasion. ‘These addresses will be prepared with unusual care and will be watched with considerable interest, inas- uch as they will pe significant of the sen- timents of the representativés of the two governments on thé vital questions now at issue between them. Senor Polo's Caréer. Senor Polo comes of a atftinguished Span- ish family. His father, Jose Polo, was an admiral in the Spanigf'navy, and, after serving his ccuntry on the sea, entered the’ diplomatic circles. He was tintstet to the United States from 1§71 (to 1875, which period was marked by the Virginius episode which nearly resujted in a rupture between this country and Spain. The present min- ister entered the Spanish diplomatic circles while his father was minister to the United States. He was promoted in 1875 from at- tache to third secretary of the legation at Washington, end remained in this city un- til 186i, when he was transferred to duty in the foreign office at Mafirid. In 1882 he was appointed second secretary of the le- gation at The Hague, and returned to duty in the foreign office in 1885. Shortly aftet that he was elevated to the rank of min- ister, in which capacity Re was first ac- credited to Egypt and then to Brazil, being recalled from the latter country to become chief of the commercial branch of © the Madrid foreign office. He has made a study of commercial re- laticns and has written several ‘treatises. His rise as a diplomatiet has been rapid, and his selection by: Premier Sagasta to the important port at Washington is a high compliment te his ability, tact and sagacity. Senor Polo is only forty-five years old, but he has the appeararce of am older man. A few years ago he married the daughter of Seror Mendiz de Vigo, Spauish minister to Germany. The senora: is: much younger than he? husband, and is described as one of the greatest beauties of Spain. She is now on a visit to her father in Germany, but ts expected to Join her-husband In this city in May. $e —_______ CONVICTS MAKE BOGUS MONEY. Their Plant Discovered 4n California State Prisom. FOLSOM, Cal., March <1.—A counter- felting plant has been digcovered within the walls of the state prison: The work was done in the engine room by convicts i. H. Coyne and James Brown, and so far as krown only ni¢kels were coined, presumably because no sil¥er could be ob- tained. The men were detected in the act of manufacturing bogus égins by guards who: had been told of:what was going on. When the officers rushed in Coyne and Brown teaped through a window and threw their dies and crusibles inte a canal lead- ing to the American river. A large number of well-executed 5-cent Pieces were found. They were made from Babbitt. metal taken frogi the engines which run through the prigon grounds for the purpose of hauling rock from the quarries. It is thought tl molds Several of the bogus coims have been found in circulation in the towh of’ Folsom. ——— STEAMSHIP PARIS OVERDUE. . American Liner Shoulf: eC the Needles Wweanenes fompcaee LONDON, March 11.Pheré were many. inquiries today at the‘office 6f the Amer- icen Line Company for news of the Amer- ican liner Paris, Capt. Watkins, which stiled from New York on March 2, ani wkich was due to arrive‘at tie Neqdles at 9:35 a.m. on Wed: '¥ Jasf in order to equal her best record. A vestel supposed to the Paris was s ghted yesterday in the off the Lizard, but the American line are now con- vinced this steamer was the Paris. Veterans~Ready to Fight Spain. OAKLAND, Cal., Margh 11.—The vet- in Oakland t the dies or |e: pursued. Thoze who have studied the methods of President McKinley, and who have given attention to his relation with public men of his cwn party, are satisfied that tne President has never outlined a plan of ac- tion as to intervention or any other method. His best and closest friends say that under existing circumstances he can not have outlined a detatied plan. No man, they say, with taany questions yet to be settled, and the outcome of these doubtful, could, with certainty, say that his intention is to do this or that. A partial plan might be map- ped out, based on calculations, but even these are likely to go astray. President McKinley is not the man to declare that he will do something which he can reasonably estimate may be impossible of fulfillment. Notwithstanding all the impossibilities presented, these friends of the chief execu- tive say that intervention in some form can be relied on. It can be safely asserted that ultimate action will be satisfactory to the people of the country. Report of the Board of Inquiry. The report of the board of inquiry is ex- Pected next week. It is outlined by some of the journalistic prophets as the Presi- dent’s plan to submit this report to Con- gress, along with the consular reports whica have been withheld so long. These, together with other facts, will, it is said, be presented in a message, which will sug- gest to Congress the advisability of taking action to end the war in Cuba. The details of this alleged “plan” of the President are thought to disprove it on its face. Such ac- tion by the President, followed by the ac- tion of Congress in either granting belliger- ency or declaring the independence of the island, would certainly be a declaration of War, it is claimed. It would mean the be- ginning of war within a week or shortly afterward. This, too, when the government may not be fully prepared for a fight. One Senator's Views. A senator, who has long been known as close to the President, gave a representa- tive of The Star his views as to the future, remarking that they were his own views and not those of the President. The sig- nificance of what Hé says, however, fs tobe found in the fact that up to Sunday he had not balieved that there was any chance of a conflict with Spain out of any cireum- stances. His change in belief is shared by nearly every other republican who formerly held similar views. Not one man these days, from Senator Elkins down, is positive of his beliefs of a week ago. All of them are doubtful, believing only that peace will be maintained somehow. The senator referred to thinks that noth- ing will be done by this country until the report of the beard of inquiry into the Maine disaster is made known. Upon that report being received the President will, if it shows an vufSide cause, immediately ask of Spair. an apology and indemnity. This makes the first probability of war in the possile refusal of Spain to comply with our demands. Should Spain comply with the demands, that will still leave open the question of the situation generally in Cuba. He did not believe that in making demands upon Spain for indemnity the President will intimate anything about closing the war on the islands. Following Spain's settlement,however, the President will make representations to Spain as to the sttuation in Cuba. He will say to the Spaniards that he hopes there will be a settlement of the war within a short time.. He will even go so far as to put a time limit on this settlement, a short imit at that. If Spain does not consent to close the war that will mean immediate in- terference, and again the probabilities of war. ‘The senator also believes that if Spain abandons autonomy in Cuba the President Will instantly say that the murderous rec- erd of Weyler shall not continue, and will interfere to put a stop to this. In cither of the three things mentioned the serator sees probabilities of war unless the President can handle Spain better than the general public believes she can be han- dled. That the President believes he can bring about the desired end without war the senator does not doubt. ~The senator went on to say that even if the President had made @p his mind that war ‘will result from some move or the other he will probably not make that move until everything is-in better condition to mect a conflict. At the rate things are now imbving it will not take long to be ready. ‘Would Favor a Guarantee. Senator Elkins said today that if Cuba cculd be freed, and peace could be pre- served by this country’s guarantee of $200,- 000,000 Cuban bonds, he would unreservedly give his consent to such’a transaction, “It would be worth five times that much to us,” he said, “in the reopening of free mmercial relations between Cuba and the United States and in avoiding war.’ ‘ Benator Elkins said he had no idea that the President’s intentions are in the direc- tion of a bend guarantee, as he had not talked with him on the subject. ‘ Discussed by the Cabinet. The cabinet session today was devoid of results, sc far as consideration of the for- eign situation was concerned. The official fathers had little opportunity to talk on the subject, as the appointment for the re- ception to Prince Albert had been fixed for 12 o'clock. The arrangements for this re- ception had not been fully completed when the cabinet mat, and there was frequent interruption in the room. The discussion of the Spanish situation was, therefore, desultory and disconnected. Th: cabiret members left the White House with the is nothing Spain means to have war she will not be allowed to take her own time about it. Two good reasons exist why this govern- ment should want to close the matter at once. After the rainy season begins in Cuba Spain will have a terrible ally in the fever which would attack unacclimated troops landed in Cuba, and if time is al- lowed for the torpedo fieet of Spain to reach Havana it will add more to the dif- ficulty and danger in the capture of Ha- vana, in war, than the presence of Span- ish men-of-war. If war is to come it is desired that it should come before the tor- pedo fleet arrives, and early enough to be conclud>4 before the unhealthy season, It is said at the Capitol that the report of the board of inquiry is expected next Week, and that there is not the least doubt that it will show that the destruction of the Maine was the result of foul play. On receipt of this, it is predicted, the President will demand of Spain not only reparation for this outrage, but will insist upon the restoration of peace in Cuba at once. If Spzin yields to all demands war will be averted. Otherwise there will be war. The intention is said to be to recognize the independence of Cuba as soon as the report of the Maine board has been re- ceived, and the preliminary steps in the Cirection of communicating with Spain have been taken. The President is said to be exhibiting considerable uneasiness about the safety of Americans in Cuba. People with whom he has talked on tht Cuban question say that his conversation indicates anxiety on this point. Senator Proctor’s Cuban Trip. Jj is regarded about Congress as reason- ably demonstrated by Senator Proctor’s course in respect to his visit to Cuba that he went there, in a manner, as the agent of the President. The President shows anxiety not to be led into forming an ex- 2egerated notion of the desperate eondition of affairs in Cube. He seems to want to multiply and strengthen the evidence upon which his judgment is based, ahd no doubt is felt that he availed himself of the oppor- tunity of securing a personal report from Senator Proctor, in whose friendship for himself and in whose judgment he has great confidence. As an evidence of tuis is cited the fact that, while Mr. M. M. Par- ker, who accompanied him, has spoken Pub- licly of what he saw in Cuba, Senator Froc- tor has declined to do so, for the reason given that it would not be proper for him to do so. The only thing that could make it improper for him to speak freely would be that his mission was, in a way, public and to be made the subject of a report, offi- cial or semi-official. if heawere making an investigation en- tirely on his own account there would be no recognized impropriety in his talking about what he saw. Another indication of a purpose in his visit beyond the mere ratification of his own curiosity or to add to his information is that he devoted himself to the tesk with tireless energy at all sorts of hcurs and went carefully over a territory beyond what was neces- sary to acquire general knowledge of the Situation. Moreover, he placed himself di- rectly under the guidance of Gen. Lee, and Was more careful than would be necessary for a visiting senator to observe official proprieties. 1f he had been an accredited diplomatic agent he could not have been more punctiliously careful. It is believed that the report he will make to the Presi- dent will strengthen the President in his contemplated representations to Spain that peace must at once be restored. SHOULD OBTAIN PASSPORTS. Gen. Lee's Advice to Those Intending to Visit Cuba. Consul General Lee in a communication to the Secretary of State says he has in- formation from the passport bureau in ‘Havana that no changes have been made affecting passports beyond holding the Passports for vise for twenty-four hours before delivery. “Although Americans and others,” he says, “are allowed to land without passports, no one can leave port or obtain a passage ticket by an outgoing vessel without presenting a passport duly visaed by the government, which is kept by the consignees of the vessel for police inspection on board, when it is then re- turned to the passenger if in order.” The consul general recommends that all Americans intending to visit Cuba should provide themselves with passports from the Deparcment of State, which will serve to identify them properly while in Cuba and greatly facilitate their departure when ready to leave the island. COURT-MARTIAL ORDERED. Civil Engineer Menocal to Be Tried. The Secretary of the Navy today ap- Ppcinted a court-martial for the trial of Civil Engineer Menocal on charges grow- ing out of the bad work done on the New York dry dock. The court is to meet at the New York navy yard on the 15th in- stant, and Lieutenant Lauchheimer, U. 8. M. C., will act as judge advocate. =a THE WATER DURING FEBRUARY. Report of Capt. Gaillard in Charge of the Washington Aqueduct. Capt. Gaillard, the engineer officer in charge of the Washington aqueduct, re- ports the condition of the water distributed to the citizens of the District, at different points of the system, during the month of February, as follows: At Great Falls, very turbid, 7 days, turbid 6 days, slightly turbid 5 days and clcar 10 days. At the Dalecarlia (receiving) reservoir, effluent gate house, very turbid 9 days, tur- bid 8 days, slightly turbid 2 days and clear 14 days. At the distributing reservoir, effluent gate house, very turbid 8 days, turbid 2 days, slightly turbid 3 days and clear 15 days. progress is reported in the work of repairing the Conduit road. The operations during February were confined to the Great Falls and distributing divisions. and a total of 662 cubic yards of flint stone were placed on the road during the month. It is pro- posed to continue the work of quarrying and crushing stone for the repair of the road during the present month. —_———_—_-o—____ IN CASE OF DEATH. ‘Providing for Succession to the Presi dent-Elect. ‘The Senate committee on judiciary today completed its consideration of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States providirg for the succession to the presidency in case of the death of the President-elect before his inauguration. The amendment was modified so as to em- power tc legislate on the subject. DANCE AS THEY WAIT Spaniards in Cuba Make Merry in Face of a Crisis. es THE CUBANS DO NOT PARTICIPATE Spain's Display of Naval Force Has Calmed the Populace. YET STORM MAY BE BREWING (Copyright, 1898, by Chas. M. Pepper.) Special From a Staff Correspondent. HAVANA, March 10, via Port Tampa, Fla., March 11.—Havana is not depressed at present, nor is it cheerful. The city is simply waiting for something to happen. The statement that thirty-five balls were given last Sunday night is correct. The Spanish citizen who told me was able to name most of them. Making up the to- tal, he included some events that, under any circumstances, would hardly be owe ed as indicating healthy social life. But these were few. The French, German and other societies gave balls. The Spanisi clubs and casinos gave balls. The gaiety was not simulated, yet there was very little of it. Havana has not reached the stage of frenzied indifference, where its People can dance as part of the Paris pop- ulation danced when the Germans were entering the city. The people here dance without spirit, as though there were noth- irg else to do. Few Cubans Were Present. I do not think that thirty-five balls on a Sunday evening in this critical period can be taken as conclusive proof that the public mind is calm. The Cubans gave no dances, and few Cubans attended those that were given. They are thinking of something else. The shadow in the re- vival of Weyler lies over them. The mid- night arrests may not continue long, but those already made have been sufficient to serve as a warning. I do not know how many of these “conspirators” have been dragged to prison since the first sweep was made and eighteen Cubans were si ed on the information of the secret po- fice, nor is it possible to state positively whether some of the prisoners have al- ready been deported to the Isle of Pines and to the penal colony of Chafarinas in Africa. The authorities indicate that de- portation is the policy, because otherwise imprisonment would necessarily be, and they are good enough to show the world that Spain has no conception of Mberal government. If people can be arrested, their homes in- vaded, their papers seized and they be im- prisoned without semblance of judicial process under autonomy, their good sense in rejecting autonomy when it is offered them merits praise. The arrests affect many Cuban families—naturally the friends and relatives of the prisoners do not feel like dancing. Few Americans took part in the series of festivities which marked the closing of the carnival period. I am afraid that in many places they would not have been welcome; nevertheless, nothing like a show of ill-feeling has been witnessed. Instances of Forbearance. This week the probability of the volcano breaking out into an insurrection has not been worth worrying about. Instances of forbearance have been noteworthy for sev- eral days. A drunken American sailor ranged the streets proclaiming his pride in the United States and inviting the whole Spanish nation to whip him. Though he cccasionally turned up with his eyes fresh- ly blackened, his encounters with the Span- ish people had no more serious effect. When the police finally took charge of him they let themselves be bit and clawed with- out provocation. The consulate was finally able to ship this drunken sailor home. His failure to provoke an anti-American riot is worth recording. There are also many instances of official civilities. Negroes and white Americans are not welcome in most places, though nothing like cpen animosity is shown. In going about among the retail shops which are the habitations of the volunteers I have seen no sign of hostility. They take the stranger's money and ask him to return for future purchases. A better test is found in the cafes. Sev- eral evenings I have dropped into two of these which are most frequented by the Spanish classes. It was in one of these the night following the Maine disaster that “Chicken a la Maine” was placed on the bill of fare. The other has a nightly gath- ering of amateur artists, whose views on current events ar2 reflected in pencil draw- ings on the marble-top tables. For a fort- night these drawings have been of ships. Sometimes simply a wreck of one. A rude attempt at caricature the other night rep- resented Uncle Sam with a pig under his arm, one foot in Cuba, the other in Key West, and the wrecks of two ships. I do not know whether the artist had a notion of blowing up another American ship or not. That was the impression the picture gave. Artists Sometimes Scowl. In these two cafes I have found a little more scowling than usual, but have met with no comment even when stopping to examine the drawings. An explanition of the lack of anti-Amer- ican Gemonsirations may perhaps be found in the feeling of satisfaction which the Vizcaya and the Oquendo cause to the bor should cause this impression. The Viz- caya and the Oquendo make a fine show- di i