Evening journal., 1889-04-10
THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.
An Agreement Between Ger
many and the United States.
FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR LAW.


Bools-The Situation in Panama-ssc-
retary Rusk's First Document.
WASHINGTON, April 10 State department
officials are very reticent about the truth or
falsity OF the report that an agreement had
been reached between Germany and ths
United States that no war vessels are to be
sent to Samoa until after the result Of the
Berlin conference is announced There il
little doubt, however, that both governments
are already committed to such an agreement
Il is understood that the proposition to leave
Samoan waters unguarded by Germany and
the United States and just as they were after
the typhoon had wrecked and disabled the
vessels Of both governments, came originally
from Prince Bismarck and he was promptly
met half way by our government, and that
the proposition was accepted This will
leave the matter in statu quo and the British
government alone to police those waters and
look out for German, American and British
interests until the Berlin conferences settles
affairs.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION VACANCY.
There appears to be a spirited contest in
progress for the Democratic vacancy on the
civil service commission Mr.. Hugh j.
Thompson, OF South Carolina late assistant
secretary Of the treasury. Judge Durham, OF
Kentucky, the present first comptroller OF the
treasury, and Richard Randolph Mcmahon,
of West Virginia, the present deputy second
comptroller, are the principal candidates,
with several others of less prominence in the
field. All have mora or less backing, and for
the past three weeks the president has given
l 4 la
members ia behalf Of some one OF them An
intimation from the president last week that
he would appoint no free trade Democrats om
commissions required by law to be made up
Of Republicans and Democrats but in such
cases he would select protectionist Demo-
crats, has created considerable comment
here. This declaration Is said 10 have been
made to a very prominent Democrat as indi-
eating the policy he win pursue, not only in
the south, but in regard TO national appoint
ments generally.
A NAVAL OFFICER TO BE coURT-MARrIALED.
The secretary Of the navy has decided 10
order "A eourt-martial for the trial Of Lieut.
Com, George NJ. Book, and the detail viii be
made this week. Rear Admiral Harmony
will be president Of court Lieut.. Com
Book Is charged with leaving his ship the
pinta, without permission and returning to
Washington. There are some peculiar feat
ures in the case. Lleut-Com. Book was com
mander Of the Pinta, and a. such he applied
TO the navy department 70 have the boilers
in the vessel repaired before putting to sea
from Sitka, Alaska, where the ship was sta
toned The repairs, il is said, were refused,
and Mr. Book lett his ship in the charge OF
his executive officer and came to Washington
20 represent tine real state OF affairs 70 the
department.
THE SITUATION IN PANAMA
The state department has learned through
Mr. Adamson, the consul general al Panama.
that the disturbances which were feared
owing TO the stoppage Of work on the canal
have not occurred, and that good order pre-
walls in that locality. The laborers who we're
thrown out of work were rapidly leaving,
the whites going TO Chill and the negroes TO
Jamaica. Mercantile failures have neces-
sarily been numerous, and many solvent
houses have closed their affairs as business
could be no longer continued with profit
Many merchants were turning their atten-
ton 20 Porto Rico, where railroad works are
giving employment 10 many hands, while
others are going 70 Nicaragua The consul
also reports that great railroads are soon to
be built in Chill, and that in Jamaica Amer
lean capitalists are projecting extensive en-
terprises Of "A similar nature During the
past year not less than 10000 laborers have
left the canal. The officers Of the company
have directed the continuance of work at
several points on the line but it IS Thought
this is only to prevent questions arising from
total Abandonment and TO protect the prop
erty, which has already suffered from the
depredatons Of thieves, until purchasers can
be found
| IL. ttn,t.
Panama eanal is virtually dead
FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR.
Secretary Window made his first ruling
concerning the foreign contract law by af-
firming decision made by the collector of
customs at New York in regard to Swiss
embroiderer The latter came to this coun-
try to work in the Newark, N j., Embroid-
cry Works, Of which II. B0rneman is the pro-
prietor.
The Swiss claimed that he had paid his own
passage TO this country, but had secured work
with the firm before leaving Switzerland.
The collector held that a contract had been
made between the embroidery works and the
Swiss, and on account Of the secretary's de-
cision be will bring the case 60 the attention
OF the district attorney at New York.
SECRETARY RusKs FIRST DOCUMENT.
The first document published under the au-
thority Of Secretary Of Agriculture Rusk is
, Bulletin No /, about the agricultural expert
ment stations Of the department Of agiicul-
! ture. This pamphlet contains grest deal OF
information relating TO the history and pros
poets of the experiment stations which ara
now conducting scientific and practical ex-
periments or Soils tillage manures, crops,
stock feeding, dairying, horticulture, etc, in
the different states.
NOTES.
Irving NJ Scott, the shiphuider, president
Of the Union iron works OF San Francisco.
says the new cruiser Charleston is ia the
water, and her machinery in good working
order. Her guns have been shipped from the
east and will reach there before Nav l. Her
gun carriages are stll waiting at the Wash
ington navy yard.
Secretary Noble yesterday appointed Adam
Tonner. Of Ohio, appointment clerk Of the
interior department, vice Hassler, resigned.
Charles H. Maull. Of Delaware. 8 special
agent Of the general land office at q salary
OF 81, 800; Jerome b. Satterlee, Of Iowa, a
special agent of the general land Office at a
salary Of $, 400.
The story that has been going the rounds
Of the press to the effect that the president
had rendered the position Of postmaster at
Lexington, Va, to Mrs Stonewall jackson.
and that she had declined it, and that be now
intended TO offer her the position of postmas-
ter at Richmond, Va, Is utterly discredited
at the pcstoiiice department Oalcials in
| position TO know say nothing Of the kind has
ever been contemplated
1t is stated on what is believed to be the
best authority that at the last cabinet meet