Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-25
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Daily = eagle
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Ex-ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND'S
PRIVILEGES AS A SPORTSMAN.
The WilIards, the Richest Real Estate
Owners in Washington, and Their Ec-
centricities-Mr. Wanamaker's Delivery
Department-Societyo of Other Days.

Department-SOciety of Other Days.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept, Gx-Attorney Cen
eral Garland is a great hunter. His vaca-
lions are usually taken in the early summer,
and spent at his country home, Hominy Hill,
Ark. In connection with his hunting pro-
pensities the former attorney general has just
had queer experience. Having performed
some legal services for the state of Arkansas,
be put in a bill of 81 800 therefor, and this
bill came up in the legislature, where spe-
cial appropriation was proposed for his bene-
fit But unexpected opposition appeared. A
number of the old granger members of the
legislature put their heads together and COM
pared notes after this fashion:
II don't know about this thing of paying
Garland s., 800 for 'tendin' to a state law
suit" said one Pears to me that's pretty
steep bill, even if he is a great lawyer"
Seems so to me. too" chimed in another.
"All that Garland is he has been made by
the state of Arkansaw, an it isn't just the
right thing for him to charge us such big
bill for legal services"
THAT'S So" echoed third member. 'Gar-
land has left the state, and only comes out
here to hunt and have good time. His home
is in Washington, and I'm afraid he isn't one
of us any more"
Thus the discussion ran on, and as member
after member ooncurred in these views the
outlook for Mr.. Garland's bill became very
dark, indeed Finally some of the attorney
generals friends came to the rescue. They
begged the objectors to remember that Gar
land had worked hard for the state, and was
entitled to his pay like any other laborer.
Garland is good fellow" they declared,
''and you ought to be willing to do something
for him, even if you can't pay him the full
amount of his bill"
Then the old grangers put their heads to-
gether again. They still persisted in declar
ing the bill excessive, but admitted Garland
was good fellow and that something ought
to be done for him.
''Tll tell you what we'll be willing to do"
said leading granger, finally. 1--WE don't
want TO be hard on Garland, and are willing
to help him out He is very fond of coming
down here and hunting deer with dogs. Now,
we don't believe in hunting deer with dogs.
When we 60 after deer we still hunt. Besides,
Garland wants TO hunt in the middle of tha
summer and in the fall. That il against our
game laws. So | think the best thing we can
do is to pass law giving Garland the privi-
lege of hunting the year round, and let that
pay his bill against the state"
Enis proposition was favorably received,
and bill giving the former senator and at
torney general extraordinary hunting pIivi-
leges was introduced and passed. Mr.. Gar
land is now at Hominy Hill, whence he forays
out every day with gun and dogs, doing his
best to get g, 500 worth of sport out of the
woods.
The richest real estate owners in Washing
ton are the Willard brothers. They own
Wizards hotel, the Ebbitt house, all the
buildings along Newspaper row, and great
number of residences and business blocks.
The Wizards are queer men. They are
strange combination of cupidity and good
principles, and are rich enough to be able to
afford good many eccentrcities Wizards
hall, in which the Peace convention of 1862
was held, is owned by them. Il brings them
little or no revenue, and probably costs more
for maintenance and repairs than they get
out Of it. The building has an admirable
site, and if torn down and replaced by mod
ern Office building the property would be
very lucrative. But the Wizards like the
OLD hail. with its historic associations, and
while they live, or either of them survives,
not brick or stone OF it viii be touched. Ii
the Wilards do not like a man they won't
rent it TO him.
Ii they do like man, they viii be unto
him model landlords, promptly making all
repairs, even at an expenditure far greater
than landlords are usually willing to incur.
All they ask is that checks for the rent be
sent them on the LIST day of the month. The
ID of the month win not do just as we'll The
Wizards viii give no leases. They have but
one price for their buildings. Structures
which they own have stood vacant for years,
simply because nobody will pay them their
price A slight reduction Of the rent would
secure good tenants. One of the most desir-
able buildings in Newspaper row has two
floors For some reason or other the VIII
lardS want to rent this house entire to one
tenant They have had dozens of offers for
the two floors separately, which would give
them larger rental than they SIX for, but
they have permitted the building to stand
vacant for ten years, and it will so stand as
long us the Wizards live, unless somebody
comes along and takes both floors on the
terms asked.
At the corner of New York avenue and
Fourteenth street is a vacant lot about which
a good story is told. 1t is owned by one of
has been anxious 10 buy the vacant lot, which
runs alongside Of his Office and residence, TO
permit OF an enlargement of his house Some
time ago he opened negotiations with Mr..
Willard. The larter's price was little TOO
high for the doctor, and no bargain was
made After the lapse of a few weeks the
doctor tried it again, but was met with the
fat statement that the lot was not for sale
at any price. Thus discouraged, the doctor
offered Willard his former price, and fol-
lowed this up with the offer of figure nearly
a thousand dollars above the value originally
set by the owner. But the lot was not for
sale As the sequel shows, MIR. Willard had
taken ofense at something said during the
negotiations, and had resolved not to sell at
any price Probably check for half mill
ion dollars would not have tempted him.
4 few weeks afterward the doctor was
much surprised TO see a number of teams
hauling stones upon the lot In day or
two more the lot was literally covered with
gravestoneS. Willard had rented the ground
10 Manning, the monument dealer, for a
merely nominal sum, and, thus surrounded
by gloomy reminders of the futility of physic
and certain fate Of all things human, the doc
tor has concluded TO move his Office. He
saws it was not pleasant for his patients TO
sit and look out upon I field of mortusTy
monuments.
Postmaster General Wanamaker is attract
ing a great deal Of attention just now with
his plan 10 give the people the advantages Of
a postal telegraph Wanamaker is at his
best in such AFFAIR." being very poor poliri-
clan ard very good business man A large
ri Of NOR a