Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Cleaned from the beat of the Washing
ton Specials.

dent Is an object of curiosity among the
Republicans and Of anxiety among the
Democratic members of Congress. In a
general way considerable is known IN re-
latiOn to its contents. In the first place,
the President will take an unusually
strong position on the silver question. To
those who have talked upon the matter to
him, he has stated frequently that be pro-
posed to reterate all f the sentiments
entertained in his famous letter last VIM
ter, which urged upon Congress the i'm
mediate necessity of repeating the COM
pulsory coinage act. The President APP
preciates the strength of the silver inter-
est In the House, and he has not gone into
the battle without a full and thorough
consideration OF the chances of success.
WELL KEPT SECRET.
Only a few days ago there died In
WASHINGTON a man who had peculiar
and remarkable experience In connection
with the assassination of President Lin
coin. Now that he has passed away the
facts are given to the public for the first
time. Guests at the National Hotel in
the years since the war have noticed
mild hammered gentleman occupying the
clerks desk. He was the exact opposite
OF the typical hotel clerk. He was reti-
cent almost to shyness at times, but
very popular gentleman, especially with
Southerners visiting the city. The gentle
man referred TO is the late TbOs. Hardin.
Few people who looked at him imagined
that at one time Hardin was the most dan
gerous scout in tine Confederate service;
yet such is undeniably the fact. During
the war he had hundreds of hairbreadth
escapes, Tut ALWAYS had the good fortune
to get out unframed. After the war
closed he came to Washington. He was
the intimate and bosom friend of John
Wilkes Booth. On the night OF the assas-
sination Hardin was the man who pro-
cured Booths horse and had it in readi-
ness for him. although he did NOT know
anything about the intended crime.
After the deed was committed he realized
the danger of his position. Although in
nocent he was sure that in the intiamed
state of the public mind be would prOba-
bly, have to forfeit his life for an act which
was In reality mere kindness to friend.
In the rapid and searching investigation
which followed be was minutely described
under the name Of "Wilson," and Secre-
tary Stanton offered a reward OF $25, 900
Tor him--dead or alive. Hardin disap-
peared, and for a long time was absent
rom the city. When he came back no
one thought of connecting his name with
that of Booth, and the secret has been
come out at his death.
CARLISLE FAvORITE.
Mr.. Carlisle is great favorite in the
House. He is so judicial, so fair-minded
hat he has as many friends on one side
of the House as he has upon the OtherA
He has never used the power of his Office
TO punish or to reward. He has more of
the judicial temperament than is gener-
ally seen in public men. In talking with
him he impresses one more as Judge
than as politician. He has nothing of
the partisan about him, and sees as clear
ly the faults of mis- own side as he does
those of the opposition. He had his son
mere with him last year, but this season
ne and his wife are alone. His son that
was here last winter is Logan Carlisle.
He has gone out to Wichita, Kan, with
his brother, where they intend to practice
law, These two are the only sons OF the
Speaker Instead of permitting them to
come here to 90 into the offices that he
could easily procure for them, he has
given them an education which has made
them independent of Office-seeking. The
two young men have gone to build up
their own fortunes and thus far have met
with great success.
sTANFORD's GIFT.
Leland Stanford, the Senatorial million
aire from California, expects to have a
great establishment in WASHINGTON this
winter. Much has been said recently
about his great gift of $15,000,000 10 the
University OF California A California
Gentleman, and a lawyer, who Is now in
this city, says that he has examined the
papers conveying this alleged bequest,
and be has found that the generosity con-
nected with IL is not of that lavish char
acter which has been so picturesquely de-
scribed in the laudatory articles of the
high favored California newspapers. He
says that in the State Of California they
have law which provides that the State
can accept requests from private indi-
yiduals Tor certain purposes of charity
or public benefit, and that such be-
quests when accepted are free from State
taxation. Senator Stanford made this be-
quest TO the State, but coupled it with
certain conditions. He stipulated that he
should have the election of a trustee or a
director who should have absolute con-
troll OF the bequest, its investment, and
who should decide what should be done
with its income. This director was TO
have absolute control of everything relat-
Ing to this fund. The Senator further pro
vided that the beqUest might be revoked
at his pleasure. The State accepted it
SUBJECT to the conditions. Then Mr.,
stanford named himself as the director.
He by doing this has placed his ST., 100, 600
under cover safe from taxation while he
remains in absolute control of 1t. When
ever II pleases him to put this money
back into his own pocket he can so do.
LIGHTING THE LoBBIBs.
Incandesoent lights are being put in the
House restaurant and in the Hobbies on
the main floor of the House wing of the
capitol. The electric light company will
also put powerful arc lights in the space
over the ceiling of the House where the
apparatus for lighting the hall of repre-
sentatiyes is located, which, it is expect
ed, will make the House more comforta.
bic during night session. The gas lights
her tOtore usrd have given out so much
heat as TO make the hall OF the House al.
most uncomfortable at times.
wAsHIEGTON's POSTAL MATER.
Although the fourteenth city only in
order Of population, Washington ranks
third as far as the amount OF mail matter
handled Ia It's post office is concerned. 1t
is Exceeded in this respect only by two
cities in the United States, New York and
Chicago. In the course Of the last fiscal
year more than 25,000,000 letters were re-
O lived The average receipt OF letters
was 10000 a day. The outgoing mail.
though not counted J.. said to have been
much larger. The Post Office Department
receives apparently more letters than any
other branch of the government. Next
come the Pension Office and then the
Treasury. Tue order restricting tne
ottice-seekers in the matter OF calls upon