St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-22
Model Pension Commissioner
Raum's Method Of Booming
a Private Speculation.
He Borrows Honey from an
Agent Whose Cases Are
Advanced.
Land Grants Made to Rail-
roads Still Uneompleted
to Be Forfeited.
Quay Temporarily Abandons
His Efforts to Shelve the
Force Bill.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 21.-The Raum
investigation was resumed this morn
ing. Mr.. Cooper. who made the charges,
made a brief explanation of his posi-
tioE. after which Mr.. Raum took the
stand. The witness denied that any
empl0ye of the pension Office save HIM
self ever owned any stock in the re-
frigerator company, and consequently
the charge that employees had been pro-
NOTED because of such ownership was
false. Mr.. Cooper then demanded to
see the books of the company, but Mr..
Raum refused to produce them. He was
willing that the members of the COM
mittee should inspect the stock book of
the company, but not that it should go
into the records. Mr.. Raum said that
Mr.. Cooper gave to the press every
thing he got hold of. and had made pub
lie documents entrusted to him for the
inspection of the committee Oh rules.
Mr.. Cooper insisted on seeing the books
himself, and on the commissioner re-
fusing him this privilege gathered up
his books and papers and left the room.
The committee then resumed the in
veStigati0n on its own hook. Commits
sioner Raum said that he had borrowed
$4,000 upon the Endorsement of George
E. Lemon and renewed the notes from
time to time. The note was held by the
National Bank of the Republic; Mr.
Lemon held witness collateral for
twice that amount. The refrigerator
company was organized last January,
and was composed of men of high
standing. Never gave priority to any
claims for Lemon or any other attorney.
Attorneys had never secured priority at
all; members of congress some
times did. Mr.. Lemon was anxious
to have his cases before the
pension Office pushed along. He pre-
sented number Of slips, each relating
to a case which was reported to be
ready for action. Witness promised to
look into the matter, and asked Mr..
Lemon to make up twenty-five or thirty
cases and present his views. This was
done. Witness presented Mr. Lemons
letter to the committee, and it was read.
1t inclosed thirty complete pension
cases, was dated Nov. 16 last, and ex-
pressed the hope that the bureau would
now adopt the practice of considering
such complete cases at once. The let
ter was referred to the deputy commits
sioner for report, and he reported
against the plan. Therefore witness
Hldu6 HO OIu0I, WIlttctl VI fcIUdi. lOI
the taking up of Mr.. Lemons cases in
advance of the regular order. Raum
said that after further examination and
consideration of the matter he on Dec.
23issued the order concerning completed
files on which were put cases that
seemed to be most complete and ready
for adjudication. This had the effect of
greatly expediting the work of the
Office Capt Lemon had had nothing
to do, he asserted, with the preparation
of this or subsequent order. In reply
to questions by Mr.. Smyser. the COM
missioner emphatically declared that
he had not advanced any of Lemons
cases over those of others on the COM
pleted files. He had instructed the
chiefs of divisions in the Office to show
no favoritism in the consideration of
cases. Representative Cooper was so
instructed by the committee to return
and resume his connection with the
case. which he did, and the committee
adjourned till tomor row.