Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-10-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washinqton, oct. 81.

TO De commissioner OF pensions Is a
great surprise even to the senators
from Illinois, who knew no more than
the public of the presidents inten-
ton. 1t is stated that Representa-
tive Cannon and Secretary Rusk were
the principal movers in the case.
Viewed from political standpoint the
selection is as good as might have
been made. Major Poole, of New
York, was unavailable, and Senator
Hiscock should have known it. He
literally opposed Tanners friends in
March and his appointment would
have been distasteful to them. Be-
sides, there was no reason for be-
lieving that Major Poole was compe-
tent to conduct the business.
One of the candidates, Mr.. Merrill.
of Massachusetts, killed his chance
by the too liberal use of his mouth.
1t seemed necessary to President
Harrison to appoint some man who
would have the respect of the Grand
Army and the confidence of the tax
payers. Such a man is Gen. Raum.
He is identified with the conservative
wing of the Grand Army and is OPP
posed to service pensions, as was the
last time he spoke openly on that
subject. His long and honorable
record as head of the Internal Reve-
nue. system and his zeal in the prose-
cutions of all violations of law are
the assurances that he will not make
brass band prize distribution scheme
of the Pension Bureau.
In an interview last night Mr..
Raum expressed himself as follows !:
81 go into the office untrammeled by
any preconceived notions. l will find
the laws there and will try to execute
them fairly and satisfactorily alike
to the people and the soldier. The
commissioner is an executive, not a
legislative, office. My record in the
internal revenue bureau will give the
public some idea of my methods and
my military record will, l hope, give
the soldiers some assurance of my
fellowship with them. AS to the pre-
else matters of policy, L prefer to be-
come acquainted with the duties of
the office before announcing any plan
of procedure. In fact l have not
had time to look over the field for l
had no intention of my appointment
until Thursday, when a cabinet ofiic-
er told me / might look for it,"
He was born in Golconda, Illinois,in
1929 and was admitted to the bar in
1868. In 1856 he removed, with his
family, to Kansas, from which he
was driven in less than year by the
wrath of the pro-slavery faction,
whose wrath he had reused. He en-
tered the army from Illinois, as Ma
jor of the Fifty-sixth Illinois Regi-
ment, and was afterwards made a
brigadier general of volunteers.
In 1866 he obtained charter for
the Cairo and Vincennes railroad, of
which he was the first president. He
served in congress from 1866 to 1869.
He was appointed commissioner of
internal revenue in 1876 and retained
the office until 1888. During this
period he collected $3.50, O,000,00 and
disbursed 800, 900, 900 without loss. On
his retirement from office Gen. Raum
remained in the District of Columbia
and entered upon the practice of law,
the practice being mostly before the
departments. He is closely identified
with the interests of the District of
Columbia. The greatest objection
that can be found against Mr.. Raum
lies in the fact that he has been a
long time out of practical politics, ,and
in fact, has been of very little use
to the party in the last few years. In
this instance, however, President Har-
rison had to look for the best man
rather than offer the position to the
first politician who could show recent
services. In this respect the appoint
ment resembles many of Mr.. Cleve-
lands selections. 1t may be we'll to
remember that the position is the
most arduous and ungrateful under
the government.
The congressman are beginning to
arrive in town from different direc-
tions to furnish up their houses (such
of them as do not exist in boarding
houses) and prepare for busy ses-
sion. All are agreed that the Fifty
first congress will be of tremendous
Importance and will be essentially a
workind congress. Anything else is
impossible. The republican party
has the responsibility of all depart
ments of the government, being ev-
erywhere in power. They must be
held liable for any delay in necessary
legislation, for any excess of appro-
priations and for any insufiiciency.
The tariff must at once receive at
tention. All the leaders are agreed
as to that. The matters of civil ser
vice law, interstate commerce, trusts,
the educational question, the Austria
lian ballot or some other election sys,
TEN, and the vexed subject of subsid-
les will vex the congressional brain.
Save money and time by having Laxador always
on hand and using it for the numerous diseases
which more or less trouble families at times. Sold
everywhere. Price only 26 cents package.
Music.-They had been to the opera and heard