Evening star., 1936-03-01
Capital Sidelights
BY Will P. Kennedy.

"Lest we forget"-if we ever knew.
Another of the ''unsung heroes whose
exploits would make a thriller" from
which the youth of the land could
draw inspiration was Commodore Samuel
Tucker, for whom the Navy has just
christened one of its new ships. Repre-
sentative Clogate w. Darden tells us his
story. His father came from Scotland
and belonged to that intrepid band OF
sea captains who did so much to develop
the maritime interests of the New Yorld,
and who in later years furnished naval
commanders of great ability and daring"
Samuel Tucker was born in Marblehead,
Mass, 200 years ago. At the age of II
he entered the service of Great Britain
on the sloop of war Royal George. He
was in London at the outbreak of the
Revolution, refused commission in his
majeSty'S service and was forced to
leave the country-secretly. He came
back to America on ship owned by
Robert Morris, through whose patronage
he was commissioned captain by Gen.
George Washington and placed in COM
mand of the armed schooner Franklyn.
He soon was one of the most successful
sea raiders and received special COM
mendation from Washington. Then Sue
cessively he commanded the armed
schooner Hancock and the frigate Boston.
When John Adams was sent abroad
as special envoy in February, 1778, Capt.
Tucker was selected to give him safe
transport. Almost under the guns OF
the British naval forces he joined the
French fleet and there sailed in company
with the interepid hero, John Paul Jones.
Justice Sprague, in an eulogy of Adams
and Jefferson at HalloWell, Me-, in 1886,
referring to Adams trip as envoy, said:
"The public ship on which he embarked
was commanded by the gallant Com
modore Tucker, now living and citi-
zent of this State, who took more guns
from the enemy during the Revolution
ary War than any other naval COM
mander."
"I agree with Chauncey NJ Depew,
who said he would rather have taffy
while he was living than epitaphy after
he was dead" Representative Martin F.
Smith of Washington told his colleagues
in Congress the other day.
X X X
Chairman McSwain of the House Mill
tary Affairs Committee is making it a
and enlisted men (Army, Navy or Marine
Corps who were killed or died in the
World War who may be eligible for ap-
pointment for free education in West
Point or Annapolis. He has appealed
to his colleagues to help him find these
orphans. The law provides for admitting
40 such youths to the Military Academy
and 40 to the Naval Academy.
Maj. Gen. Peter G. Harris, retired, Is
national director for these scholarships.
There are 4,550 orphans of such officers
and enlisted men between the proper
ages of 18 and 81, approximately one
half of whom are boys.
On July next there will be II vacan-
cies for sons of enlisted men and 6
vacancies for sons of officers at West
Point. Only Is sons Of dead enlisted
men and 18 sons of dead officers have
applied to take the examination. That
is 18 officers sons competing for 6
vacancies and Is sons of enlisted men
competing for II vacancies. It Is feared
that many Of these are not sufficiently
prepared to pass the examination. At
the Naval Academy there will be 8
vacancies on July l for sons of officers
and only 5 such sons competing in the
examination, and Is vacancies for sons
of enlisted men with 10 competing in
the examination.
Judging from the records Of previous
examinations, and knowing the high
standard required for entrance, Chair
man McSwain is fearful that number
of these scholarships will remain vacant
"Here is the best chance for free edu-
cation and for a life career of honorable
service that has ever come to group
of young Americans" he emphasizes.
He appeals to clergymen, American
Legionnaires, members of patriotic or
ganizations, school teachers and citizens
generally to help find the right boys for
this great opportunity.
X X y X
cheered by the speed with which they
have disposed of the vexed neutrality
question and the administrations new
farm bill, ia the Senate, congressional
leaders today look forward to an early
adjournment. If they can get away
from washington by May they will be
satisfied. If they can make it a couple
of weeks earlier, so much the better.
There remains the tax bill, to raise some
$500, 100000 new revenue to take the
place of the processing taxes killed along
with the A. A. A. by the Supreme Courts
decision. There remains also new
appropriations for relief during the fiscal
year, 1887. These are the major pieces
Of legislation in sight. No one knows
whether the President will insist upon
other measures before adjournment. But
the prospects for an adjournment
within . comparatively short time are
brighter. ~