Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1889-10-26
hAUM Sets THE PLACE.
PRESIDENT HARRISON NAMES HIM As
COMMISSION OF PENSIONS.

To the POlIt1Clans-hlS PREVIOUS hecoIu-
The Annual Report of the Pension Office
Gossip from the Nations Capital
Washington telegram
The President has appointed Gen. Green
B. Raum of Illinois as commissioner of PEN
sons, 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
fice
Green Ferry Raum is native of Illi-
nos 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 1853. 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 snbse-
quently entered the army. He rose to the
rank of Brigadier-G General and took part
IN many important engagements, partlc-
ularly 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 a brief period. In
1866 he was elected to Congress and served
from March, 1867, to March, 1861. In
1876 he was president of the Illinois Re-
publican convention, and in the same year
was a delegate to the national convention
of that party in Cincinnati He was APP
pointed commissioner of internal revenue
] hot off
May 81. 1888. During that period he col
lected $3.50, 600, 600 and discussed $50, OO0,-
600 without loss
Since 1888 Gen. Raum has been practic-
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 summary
of the main features of the report
There we're at the close of the year 1885,
129 pensioners There were added to the
rolls during the year the names of u 92l
new pensioners, and the names of 754
whose pensions had been previously
dropped were restored to the rolls making
an aggregate of 53,675 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 $lH1. The aggregate annual
value of pensions is $64, 34t, 552 The
amount paid for pensions during the year
was 1888, 215, 1l3. The total amount dis
| Nv ba r. for oil
%S9, I31, 9iS In the aggregate | 24S. 46
pension claims have been filed since 1861
and in the same period 7o9, 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 +,
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, 1S11, be
amended as to grant pension to those
who, having participated in the rebellion
against the nited States subsequently
enlisted in the navy and were disabled
therein.
The INJUSTICE and unfairAess of the act
of Congress approved June 16, 1880, the
report says should be corrected. This act
limits the right of pensioners to receive
$72 per month to those who were receiving
| Jot ~ Z,
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 SIP per montA
and the other $50 per month
The commissioner asks attention to the
fact that the act of Aug. T. 1882, which
terminates the pension of a widow on ac-
count of immortality, makes no provision
for continuing the pension to the minor
. children of the soldier when the widow 5
pension is terminated He asks that
Congress be requested to correct this
palpable injustice.
The Commissioner earnestly recon-
mends that whenever an invalid pensoner
dies the usual pension be granted to his
widow, or, if he leaves no widow, then
20 his minor children, without regard to
whether or not his death was due to any
ca rise incident to the service and line Of
duty.
The commissioner favors granting pen
sions to all soldiers who are disabled He
says: ''As the war period recedes from us
. and age and its attendant inlirmities
ailiict the veteran who served his country
faithfully and we'll quarter of a century
ago, it is very serious question whether
the government doss him justice in limit
ing the application Of the pension laws ia
those disabilities only which were contract.
ed in the service and line Of duty. | ear,
nestly recommend that pension be