Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26

COMMISSIONER RAuM newspapers OF tine
country. The resignation of Mr.. Tanner and the
appointment Of his successor, Gen. Green b.
Raum. seems to mark new era In the admin
istration of this important branch Of the public
service. To a somewhat similar degree the
pension Office, like the Post Office department.
Affects directly large class OF the population
OF the country. Its operations extend into
almost every county, township apd district IN
the United States. Its annual disbursements
amount TO nearly ninety millions OF dollars
and the roll of pensioners has now reached the
number of nearly half a million Last year
some 1900 names were added to the pension
rolls, and the year before the net increase
amounted to nearly 1900. During the past
decade the net annual increase In the number
of pensioners has been about $4,000 While
the business Of the Office has increased to this
astonishing extent there has been correspond
ing expansion in the personnel Of the Office.
Ten years ago the working force Of the pension
Office consisted of some four hundred employees
To-day the rolls of the Office contain the names
of near 1.600 employees. Then the bureau occu-
pied a small building. Today il is housed in
one Of the largest and most extensive buildings
ever erected by the government.
THE NEW HEAD OF THE OFFICE.
Placed at the head Of this important bureau
and with the interests of 80 many thousand cit
liens dependent more or less upon his official
conduct Of the Office, Gen. Raum enters upon
his work backed by the confidence of the pub
lie and the qualifications of good practical
man Of business. His executive ability has
been tested during his term Of service at the
head OF the internal revenue bureau. Since
his retirement from Office he has built up a
large legal practice. Gen. Raum is well known
IN this city, where he has lived for many years.
He has maintained an active interest in politics
and has not allowed his old army associations
to be forgotten. He has O frank. hearty way
of meeting men that suits exactly the sturdy
figure and the strong face which marks the in
dividuality of the man. Although he
has only been at the head Of
the pension Office for few days,
yet the influence of q strong man at the helm
Is beginning to be felt throughout the entire
office. Among his first official acts was to fill
the vacant position Of superintendent of the
building. and already the force of laborers has
been recognized and the entrances and floors of
the building have been cleaned and put in
order. In the same quiet and effective way he
will check the confusion which has prevailed in
the Office and restore the order which belongs
to q well-regulated machine, as the pension
ofhce is under normal conditions. He has shown
his capacity for work by attending to the usual
business of the Office while mastering the de-
tails of q business that IL entirely new. He
works with a system and displays great aptitude
in learning. One explanation is sufficient
When paper is brought to him for signature
In the ordinary official routine he learns what
1t means and no further explanations are
needed. The first thing each morning he opens
his mail and dictates replies and disposes of it
all before he undertakes other matters. Then
the visitors come in and he hears what each
to another. Everything is done quietly and
without aQy confusion