Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-10-24
Washington Letter
From OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. OCT., 9th 1880.

From OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. OCT, 9th 1889.
The appointment of Green B. Raum
to be Commissioner of Pensions Is a
great surprise even to the senator's from
Illinois, who knew no more than the
public of the Presidents intention. 1t
is stated that Representative Cannon
and Secretary Rusk were the principal
movers in the case. Viewed from a
political standpoint the selection is us
good as might have been made. Major
Poole, of New York, was unavailable
and Senator Hiscock should have known
it. He had bitterly opposed Tanners
friends in March and his appointment
would have been distasteful to them.
Besides, there was no reason for b..
lieving that Major Poole was competent
to conduct the business.
One of the candidates Mr.. Merrill, of
Massachusetts,, killed his chance by the
two liberal use of his mouth. 1t seemed
necessary to President Harrison to ap-
point some man who would have the
respect of the Grand Army and the
confidence of the taxpayers. Such a
man is Gen. Raum. He is identified
with the conservative wing of the Grand
Army and is opposed to service pen
sions, or was the last time he spoke
openly on that subject. His long and
honorable record as head of the Inter-
nal Revenue system and his zeal in the
prosecutions of all violations OF law are
the assurances that he will not make a
brass band prize distribution scheme of
the Pension Bureau.
In an interview last light Mr.. Raum
expressed himself as follows: 81 60 in.
to the office untrammeled by any pre-
conceived notions. will find the laws
there and will try to execute them
fairly and satisfactorily alike to the
people and the soldier. The Commits
sioner is an executive, not legislative,
office. My record in the Internal Rev
enue bureau will give the public some
idea of my methods and nay military
record will, I hope give the soldiers
some assurance of my fellowship with
them. As to precise matters of policy,
l prefer to become acquainted with the
duties of the office before announcing
any plan of procedure. In fact have
not had time to look oyer the field for
I had no intimation of my appointment
until Thursday, when cabinet tllcer
told me l might look for it,
Unlike his predecessor, Mr.. Tanner,
Gen. Raum's history is that of consci-
entious hard work. He is not politl-
cal tramp or bugbear. lie was born in
Golconda, Illinois, in 1929 and WIS adj
mitted to the bar in 1868. In 1856 he
removed, with his family, to Kansas,
from which he was driven in less than
a year by the wrath of the pros slavery
faction whose wrath he had reused. He
entered the army from Illinois, as Maj.
or of the Fifty.sixth Illinois Regiment,
and was afterwards made brigadier-
general Of volunteers.
The congressman are beginning to
sneak in town from different directions
to furnish up their houses (sach Of
them us do not exist in boarding
houses) and prepare for busy session.
All are agreed that the Fifty-First Con.
gress will be of tremendous Importance
and will be essentially working Con-
gress. Anything else is impossible
The Republican party has the response
bllity Of I'LL departments Of the govern
ment. being everywhere in power. They
must be held liable for any delay in
necessary legislation, for any excess of
appropriations and for any insuthciency.
The tariff must ut once receive atten.
ton. All the leaders are agreed as to
that. The matters of civil service
law, interstate commerce, trusts, the
educational question, the Australian
ballot or some other election system,
and the vexed subject OF subsidies will
vex the Congressional brain.
additional Locals.