Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-12
SOME ONE PREVARICATED
How Cooper Procured His
Charges Against Raum.
FOUNDED ON THIRD HAND RUMOR

Witness Flick Calls Representative Cooper
"a DIRTY Dog and other Interesting
Incidents Combine to Make the Inves-
tIgation Lively.
WASHINGTON, Sept l2-The special house
committee investigating the charges
against Commissioner Of Pensions Raum
continued their investigation. Mr.. Lewis
opened the proceedings by stating that he
had been informed on the day that he and
Mr.. Smyser had a dispute the chairman
had characterized his conduct as ungentle-
manly. Mr. Lewis insisted that his con-
duct on the occasion referred towas gentle
manly, and il the statement had been made
t5 the chairman he demanded that he re-
tract it. Mr. Morrill, (the chairman) said
that he did not remember making such a
statement. Mr.. Flick said that II Mr. Nor
rill was a man OF good nerve he would not
retraot IL.
what Clerk Fitch Knew.
Mr. Fitch, clerk in the war department.
was called He testified TO knowing Mr..
Tanner AIR Raum's private secretary and
conversing with him about the refrigerator
company. From conversation with Mr..
Tanner he said that he had gotten the i'm
preston that he (Tanner) would leave the
pension Office and go with the refrigerator
company. He denied that Tanner had ever
told him that he or his mother owned any
stock in the refrigerator company. He de
MED that he had ever been offered stock in
the company
Where Cooper Got His Information.
Mr.. Raum called Mr., Cooper and had
him sworn. Mr.. Raum questioned him as
to whom had given him the information
upon which he based his charges Mr..
Cooper replied that the matter had first
come to his notice through the newspapers,
but admitted that George b. Flemming
and others whose names he refused TO give
had also told him about the matter, and
upon this and newspaper information he
based his charges. Mr. Flemming, he
said, had received his information from
Mr.. Fitch. Mr. Raum then demanded that
Mr.. Fitch be recalled.
A Roundabout Method.
In answer to a question by Mr.. Sawyer
Mr.. Cooper said Flemming had told him
/ that Tanner had stock in the company
and that he had promised to give the
names OF seven other employees OF the pen
sion ofiice who had stock in the company
/ He said that he did not know the CORE
/ spOndents who wrote the charges Mr.
Flick began to question Mr.. Cooper.
Fighting Words Uttered.
/ Beginning. he asked Mr. Cooper II he
was aware that ho was on his OATH Mr.
Cooper replied that he was and thought
himself as good ~ Mr. Flick and consid
cred the question ungentlemanly and COW
ardly.
Mr. Flick replied, 'Isubmit that you an
a dirty dog" The chairman here calle,
both gentlemen TO order aud the investi
CATION was resumed. Mr. Fitch took tn
stand again and positively denied that b.
had made the statements said to have beel
made by him by Mr. Flemming The com
mittee here took a recess, during whicl
Mr.. Lewis succeeded in patching up thl
difference between Messrs. Flick an,
Cooper.
Gen. Bussey Testiiies.
Gen. Bussey, assistant secretary Of thi
interior department, was called by Com
missioner Raum, who stated that he calle,
Gen Bussey particularly TO give a state
/
the Office and the issuance of orders, espe
cially the ones complained Of in the charg
of Mr.. Cooper. Gen. Bussey said that
large number Of cases scattered through
the files were believed to be complete an,
it was the opinion of Mr. Raum and tn
other officials that this class Of case
should be taken from the files for adjudi
cation, and il they wer0 incomplete tn
| ovid for q L..
should be asked for, as otherwise the
would be on the files a great while
Mr.. Raum's order $50 much complains
OF by Mr.. Cooper was intended 10 do thi
and was approved by him before issued b.
Mr.. Raum. The order, he said, had proven
benefit to the claimants and had facilitates
the business Of the Office, and he though
tu.s there was no chance for favortisu
under it rs charged. Mr.. Raum's admin
istration, he said, had greatly pleased hin
aud the Office had greatly improved un
der it,
Mr.. Cooper asked IL the charge that MI
Lemon had gene upon Mr.. Raum's not
had been brought to his notice, and if h
considered It worthy of notice.
Gen. Bussey replied that Mr.. Raum'
explanation of the matter had been salts
factory to him and he saw nothing wrong
in it.
To Examine 13S Clerks.
At the request Of Mr. Raum the com
mittee decided to examine the l3S clerk
who were promoted by Commissions
Raum and charged TO be promoted in con
sequence of their holding stock in tn
Universal Refrigerator company. Sevel
of them were present and each in turi
/ 4 - 4 Al.
referred TO and knew OF no one who did.
The Trial of 'Cal" Wood.
| NJ y