Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24
GOSSIP FROM GOTHAM
Tammany Leaders Holding Back
Lewis Nixon's Committee.
OBSTACLES THROWN IN THE WAY
Police Raising Corruption Fund to
Influence Legislation.
MRS. GRANTS EYESIGHT POOR
MRS. GRANTS EYESIGHT POOR
cial Correspondence of The Evening Star.


NEW YORK, January %. 1901.
Chairman Lewis Nixon of the Tammany
committee of five is not receiving the
hearty support from the Tammany leaders
in his hunt for vice that he was led to ex-
pect. In fact, he is being held back. and
obstacles are piled up In his path in a
way that has worried him greatly. 1t is
said that not all is as harmonious within
the committee as it was at the outset. and
several Of the five not only regret that they
ever assumed the task, but are eagerly
looking forward to the time when the COM
mittee will pass out of existence.
Many of Cookers most loyal followers
now admit that the appointment of the
anti-vice committee was a grave political
blunder. as it has done the organization
more harm than good. 1t has failed TO at
tract the respect of the outside pubic, ana
has made enemies of former friends OF the
organization 1t is now known that Mayor
Van Wyck. John F. Carroll. Police Com
missioner Sexton and Chlef Devery were
very much opposed to the committee. All
the blame is put upon Nixon. It is charged
that he has been too energetic, and 1t is
said that were 1t not for the fact that other
members of the five had put the brakes on
the young naval architect he would have
stirred up more serious trouble for leading
Tammany members. Nixon's friends out
side of Tammany have been urging him not
the organization and not endanger his fu-
ture by making a useless sacrifice Of HIM
self. These friends have bluntly told him
that Tammany was merely using his repu-
tation for honesty to bambooZle the public.
Police Corruption Fund.
Meetings Of two of the police benevolent"
associations-the sergeants' and the cap
tains' (the latter including all the higher
officers)-were held last week, and 1t Is re-
me pi1of i'm,
also has met all meetings being held in the
most secret manner possible. The same
thing took place last winter, when police
legislation was being considered at Albany,
and the fact that the legislation was de-
feated soon after led to a story today that
"it' was being got ready again. 1T" IN
police phrase, is the "fund'-in other words,
the corruption money with which wavering
legislators are convinced as to the proper
way to vote
This years republican majority in both
branches of the legislature is such that the
police, it is said have no idea of trying to
defeat the single-headed commission bill.
They will be satisfied If certain amend
ments can be obtained. The situation IS
rather complicated by the stand taken by
the Patrolmen's Association. Its members
say they have been 'milked too often and
that they will not give up further. With
out the patrolmen's help, though, a fund of
$50, 600 is looked for; this, 1t is reported, Is
to be supplemented by big contribution
from the gamblers, about $4,000. and with
the aid of the policy and pool room men and
other branches of protected vice a mission
airy fund of considerably more than $4,000
is hoped for.
Consul General VasGuez's Views.
Leonte Vasquez, who filed his credentials
as consul general from the republic of San
Domingo a short time ago, says that what
his country needs most is certain legisla-
ton. He believes that the republic IS full
of possibilities for enterprising investors,
but that the present laws with regard to the
entrance of ships and the granting of fran
chises are so absurd to preclude any
company from attempting the Improve
ment of the country
Il have been writing to them constant
ly" he said telling them to open the
door, to make over the laws to encourage
American enterprise to come and develop
the country. l know many people IN this
city who waiting to go when the proper
conditions are procured. The natural re-
sources of the country are rich. We have
there mines of all kinds-gold, silver. tin.
copper. salt. There is whole mountain of
salt, waiting to be carried away. The bus
mess of the country is flourishing. The rev.
olution did not disturb 1t. There were not
enough revolutions to do 1t. The president
killed. and there was disorder for a
few days; then the people from all parts Of
the country fiocked to Vasquez and formed
the provisional government
San Domingo Improvement Company, an
American concern which undertook to
finance the new republic, and Is now having
trouble with the Dominican government on
account of the governments refusal to al
low 1t longer to collect the customs duties.
The San Domingo Improvement Com
pany." said Senior Vasquez, has done
nothing except build a railroad. This 1t
did with government money. But when the
road was in working order President Heu-
reaux presented it to the company, and the
proceeds were pocketed by three parties
the company, President -Heureaux ana
Cosme Battle. a rich man of San Domingo,
who advanced money to the company when
it went to San Domingo without q cent of
capital.
Mrs. Z. 8. Grant.
Time has dealt gently with Mrs. U. S.
Grant In appearance she is still only "eld-
erly." In her manner she Is kind and
motherly, showing a wonderful simplicity
and naturalness when one stops to think Of
the artificial atmosphere in which she has
lived so long. She has recently been en-
gagged in adding the finishing touches to a
journal of her trip to California In 1894
which she presented as a New Year gift to
her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ulysses Grant.
when l am in the vein for it, Mrs.
Grant says, II write with great ease. My
eyes have failed almost entirely, however,
and spectacles being of no assistance,
can't read what I write This makes re-