The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-10-24
RAUM GETS THE PLACE.
PRESIDENT HARRISON NAMES HIM AS
COMMISSIONERS OF PENSIONS.

Washington telegram.l
The President has appointed Gen. Green
B. Raum of Illinois as commissioner of PEN.
sionS, and he has assumed the duties of his,
position. This action was a surprise, as
Gen. Raum's name had not been promin-
emily mentioned in connection with the Of
fee.
Green Berry Raum is native of Illi-
nois and one of the best known politicians
in that State. He was born Golconda,
Pope county, Dec. 3, 1899. After re-
ceiving common-school education he
studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1858. Three years later he went to Kan
sas and affiliated with the free-soil party.
This made him obnoxious to the pro-
slavery faction and he returned to Illinois,
settling at Harrisburg.
At the beginning of the rebellion he
made many "war'' speeches, and subse-
quently entered the army. He rose to the
rank Of gadier-General and took part
In many important enga gements, partic-
utarly Distinguishing himself in the battle
of Corinth and the Atlanta campaign.
At Missionary Ridge he was wounded,
but Immediately upon recovering resumed.
active service in the field.
At the close of the war he went into the.
railroad business for brief period In
1865 he was elected to Congress and served
from March, 1867, to March, 1862. In.
1876 he was president of the Illinois Re-
publican convention, and in the same year
was delegate to the national convention
of that party in Cincinnati. He was ap-
pointed commissioner of internal revenue
Aug. 3, 1916, and retained that office until
May 81, 1888. During that period he col
lected $3.50, 600, 900 and disbursed $50, 000,
900 without loss.
ing law in Washington. He is the author
of work entitled 'The Existing Conflict
Between the Republican Government and
the Southern Oligarchy.'
The annual report for the fiscal year
1SSS-S9 of the commissioner of pensions
has been submitted to the secretary of the
interior and is now III the hands of the
public printer. Following is a summary
of the main features of the report:
There were at the close of the year 1885,
729 pensioners. There were added to the
rolls during the year the names of 81, 92l
new pensioners and the names of l,754
whose pensions had been previously
dropped were restored to the rolls ma king
an aggregate of $40 pensioners added
during the year; 16, 507 pensioners were
dropped from the rolls for various causes,
leaving a net increase to the rolls of 81, 1853
names. The average annual value of each
pension at the close of the year is shown
to have been $131. The aggregate annual
value of pensions is $64, 340, 552. The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was $S9, 275, 49, The total amount dis
bursed by the agents for all purposes was
$50, l31, yf8. In the aggregate 1,248. l 46
pension claims have been filed since 1861
and in the same period 7S9, 121 have been
allowed
Commissioner Tanner recommends the
establishment of two additional pension
agencies to relieve the overworked offices
at Columbus, Chicago, Indianapolis, and
Topeka, Kan. He recommends that Con-
gress be asked to amend the act of June 6,
1874, so as to extend the benefit of all PEN
sion laws as to rates to all pensioners
whose pensions have been granted by
special acts passed subsequent to said data,
and that the benefit of pension be granted
to the widows of soldiers who died from
causes originating In the service prior to
March 4, 1861, during the time of peace.
He further recommends, as did his prede-
cessor, that the act of March 3, 1877, be
amended so as to grant pension to those
who, having participated III the rebellion
against the United States, subsequently,
enlisted in the navy and were disabled
therein.
The injustice and unfairness of the act
of Congress approved June 16, 1880, the
report says should be corrected. This act
limits the right of pensioners to receive
S72 per month to those who were receiving
$50 per month at the date of said act. No
provision is made therein for granting
said rate to those who were totally help
less on said date, but were not receiving
$50 at said time, and none for those who
have become totally helpless since that
date The anomaly is presented of two
men equally disabled, possibly living side
by side, the one receiving P72 per month
and the other $50 per m onth.
The commissioner asks attention to the
fact that the act of Aug. Z, 1882, which
terminates the pension of a widow on &C
count of immortality, makes no provision
for continuing the pension to the minor
children of the soldier when the widows
pension is terminated. He asks that
Congress be requested to correct this
palpable injustice.
The Commissioner earnestly recon-
mends that whenever an invalid pensioneP
dies the usual pension be granted to his
widow, or if he leaves no widow, then
to his minor children, without regard to
whether or not his death was due to any
ca rse incident to the service and line of
duty.
The commissioner favors granting pen
sions to all soldiers who are disabled. He
says LAS the war period recedes from us
and age and its attendant infrmities
affiict the veteran who served his country
faithfully and we'll quarter of century
ago, it is very serious question whether
the government does him justice in limit
ing the application of the pension laws to
those disabilities only which were contract
ed in the service and line of duty. I ear
nestly recommend that a pension be
granted to every honorably discharged
soldier and sailor who is now or may here
after become disabled, without regard to
whether such disability is chargeable to
the service of the United States or has
been contracted since discharge there
from.
The commissioner also favors a pension
for army nurses and makes an earnest
appeal on their behalf.
Foreign Brevities.
The Vatican will shortly publish all the
documents In its possession supporting its
claims to temporal powers.
COUNT OKUMA, Chinese Minister of
Etoro;c,11 A ffoirc &c 6ooyo c1fnbflI- 1xOr17o1