Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-10
THE NAVY TO THE RESCUE.
American Interests to be Protected at
Samoa, Hayti and the Isthmus.

American Interests to be Protected at
Samoa, Hayti and the Isthmus.
The government is experiencing the novelty
of having three foreign danger points to watch
at once, and all of them being considerably dis
tant from our borders it is necessary in order
to protect American interests to have recourse
to the navy. The Haytian Isthmus and Samoan
difficulties coming all together render the
vigilance difficult in view of the limited num-
Der of vessels at the disposal of the Secretary
of the Navy. 1t has been his good fortune,
however, to have three vessels, conveniently
located, practically ready for sea- The
Atlanta, which is about ready, will be
sent from New York to the assistance
of Admiral Luce at Port-au-Prince, where
matters are assuming a very dangerous
outlook. The Vandalia, at San Francisco, is
also practically ready to sail, and will be Or
dered, it is understood, to Samoa to reinforce
the Nipsic. The American interests on the
Samoan islands are not very extensive, our
only property there being a coaling harbor
that was given to this country a number of
years ago. 1t seems, however, to be deemed
wise for the United States to be represented
among the Germans English and natives by
more than single ship. The Mohican, now
at Mare Island CAL, will be ready, it is
thought, in about two weeks, and she will then
be dispatched to Panama. The Trenton is at
present on the eastern side Of the isthmus.
There is great fear that the unsettled state of
things in the region of the unfinished canal
will lead to serious outbreaks among the thou
sands of ignorant laborers employed on the
work, and, judging from former experiences
at that point. it is well that this country should
have forces on both sides of the isthmus.
Cannot be Blinked Out of Sight.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Your editorial of yesterday ON the purchase
of school-house sites by the District Commits
sioners treats the subject fairly, and 1 believe
reflects the sentiments of all honorable citi-
zens. agree with you that the President can
not be held responsible for the action of the
Commissioners in this matter up to this hour,
as he has not the time to devote to an exami-
nation of all the details of District affairs
But with the facts connected with these trans
actions staring him in the face, should he re-
appoint Commissioner Webb, whose term of
Office expires next Sunday, then the President
becomes involved in the transaction and will
be held equally responsible with the Commits
sioners.
1t will not do to try to belittle this business.
1t is serious matter and cannot be blinked
out of sight. l don't know how much Mr..
Cox has made out OF his position as middle
man for the Commissioners. but learn from a
pretty reliable source that it is considerable.
In the of Weller & Repetti, they held
some building lots belonging to an invest
ment company which they offered to the Dis
trict Commissioners for 374 cents per square
foot. This was their asking price, put ON their
bulletin board and Autographed on their plat
of the lots for all the world to read. They
would have been glad to have sold the lots for
several cents per foot less, net cash. Instead
Of ayailing themselves of this opportunity to
purchase directly and with discount for cash,
tl.1x IL
stand between them and the seller. This
middleman pays the highest price for the land
IL sold on long time, then exacts from the
sellers agent one-half of his commission, then
turns the land over to the Commissioners for
As cents per square foot, net cash.
1t would seem as if Mr.. Cox ought to have
been satisfied with the S32 he received from
Messrs Weller d Repetti as one-half their COM
missions for the few minutes work he devoted
to this unnecessary business. But instead of
this, however, he, with the consent of the
Commissioners, proceeded to sell these lots to
the District in the name Of Daniel s. Pickerell
his own name not appearing in the transact
tom for 45 cents per square foot, thus realiZ-
ing ~ cents per foot profit, amounting to
S291.A besides the $50 he received as one
half OF the agents commission, making q total
Of S32S. "A; that he received for standing be-
tween the Commissioners and the sellers, or
over ten times as much as Weller q Repetti,
who did all the work, received.
1ut VI nltbsTs. WeDD anu WQeatl6y
try to belittle this matter by saying, that the
sum obtained by Mr.. Cox, was only S323.44.
Well the investment was not large, being only
$2,4O0. 1t will be seen that MIR. Cox's commits
sions Cor whatever it may be called amounted
to over IS per cent on the investment This
would seem to be pretty good pay for standing
few minutes as a go-between, without a dol
lar invested. Where is there any legitimate
business that can make such large profits
without risk or capital? Pho Bono PUBLIco.
Took BACK Hrs ELoPINa WFE.-John Zinner,
Of Jersey City, applied at the Pawtucket, R. l.,
police station Tuesday for an officer to 60 in
search of his wife, who had eloped from Jersey
City with Charles Dolan, abandoning her home
and two children. The officers had seen the
young man about town with Mrs. Zinner. OH
Ger Hackett, yesterday, with Mr.. Zinner, went
to boarding-hous on East avenue, where
they found Mr.. and Mrs" Dolan, who were
taken into custody. A reconciliation was eff
fected, and after talk Of half an, hour Dolan
and Zinner we're ready to return home in COM
pany and the clipping couple, and the, wronged
husband went OF on an early train a.
Mr.. II. q Percy, cashier Of the late Home
savings bank, of Norfolk, Va, who had already
made an assignment Of his entire property ia
that city for the benefit Of the creditors of the
bank, yesterday made further assignment
through trustee, Of his property in Norfolk
county 10 cover his indebtedness direct and 40
A 6re broke ont at rutherford ct lao am.
yesterday, and, before the flames could be got
under control, ten houses were destroyed