River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-24
NEW PENSION COMMISSIONER.

General Green Il. Raum. of Illinois,
Named by President Harrison for This
Important Position Sworn Into Onice.
WAsIIINGToN, Oct. 21.--The President
on Saturday settled the controversy over
the appointment of a Commissioner of
Pensions to succeed James Tanner, re-
signed, by the appointment of Green b.
Raum, of Illinois, ex-member of Con-
gress and ex-Commissioner of Internal
Revenue. The impression prevailed two
days ago that Mr. Poole, of New York,
would be appointed. This was
based on the hNpeful express
sions of Senator Hiscock, who is Mr..
Poole's principal supporter, and who
felt confident of his appointment. In
none of the speculations about the sue
eessor to Commissioner Tanner has the
name of Mr.. Raum figured prominently
until last night, and then the possibil-
ity of his appointment was discussed by
few.
1t was at one time suggested that Mr..
Mason, the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, might be transferred TO the
head of the Pension Office and Mr.. Raum
succeed him as Commissioner of internal
Revenue. Mr.. Raum's appointment as
Commissioner of Pensions. announced
early this morning, came as a genuine
surprise to most of those interested
General Raum's administration of
the affairs of the Internal Rev
enue Office earned for him high en-
eoniums. He took charge of it Just
after the exposure of the whisky ring
when the office was in a disorganized
condition and brought order out of chaos
before he left it.
General Raum took the oath of Office
as Commissioner of Pensions before
Chief Clerk Dawson, Of the Interior
Department, at IL o'clock. He was then
officially introduced by Secretary Noble
to the officials in the department. After
some time spent in receiving the con-
yratulations of friends General Raum
proceeded to the Pension Office,
accompanied by Assistant Secretary
Bussey. He was introduced TO the
chiefs of division by General Bussey
and Assistant Commissioner Smith.
General Raum will assume charge Mon
lay. Secretary Noble, speaking of the
selection of General Raum, said he was
chosen from a number of excellent men,
and ho thought would make a Commits
sioner satisfactory to the country. He
felt much relieved now that a Commits
sioner of Pensions had been selected
by the President. Assistant Sec
rotary Bussey, who has immediate
charge over pension matters, is well
pleased with the selection of General
Raum, and says he IS certain he viii SO
conduct the work of the Pension Office
as TO give general satisfaction to all.
Among Interior Department officials tAe
selection is well received, the only crit
cism made being that General Raum
has not in recent years been in active
political life.
Der 5, 1923. He was admitted to the bar in 1853.
In 1856 he removed with his family to Kansas,
where he made himself obnoxious TO the pro
slavery faction. The following year he returned
70 Illinois and settled at Harrisburg. He en-
tered the army as Major OF the Fifty-sixth I'LL
1ois Regiment. He was made Brigadier- Cen
aral of Volunteers on February Is. 1868, which
commission he resigned May g. In 1868 he Oh
tanned a charter for the Cairo & Vim
eennes Railroad Company, OF which he was
the first President. He served in Congress
from March 4 1867 till March g, 1869. In 1876
he was president of the Illinois Republican
convention, and in the same year a delegate to
the National convention Of the Republican party
At Cincinnati. He was appointed Commissi Oner
of Internal Revenue August 2, 1876, and re
tanned the Office till May 81 1893. During this
period he collected SSJ0O00,OO0 and disbursed
100000 without loss. on his retirement
from the Internal Revenue Office General Raum
began the practice Of law in the District of
Columbia which he has continued until the
present davl