Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-01

DoCToREp.
The special House committee investigating
the charges against Commissioner Raum re-
sumed its sessions this morning.
ME- COOPER SAYS THE RECORD HAS BEEN '.Doc-
roREp."
Mr.. Cooper opened the proceedings by COM
planning that the record had been "doctored''
and that unwarranted corrections had been
made BY Commissioner Raum and
that much matter had been
stricken out. An instance, he said,
was in the commissioners testimony relative
view. where the commissioner had interpolated
words to make his testimony conform to that
given by Gen. Boynton. The committee
instructed the stenographer to see that the
record was complete.
COMMISSIONER RAUM WAS RECALLED,
and after testifying that the Pension Bureau
gave preference to applications by Congress-
men for information in q pension case, in
answer to question by Mr.. Sawyer said that
Mr.. Cooper had called for such information in
about 5000 cases and furnished 1t to firm
OF Indiana pension attorneys. That was
some time in 1889, and before he (Raum)
became commissioner. Senator Payne of Ohio
had also asked that information be supplied to
attorneys. In such cases it was the practice to
write the Congressman explaining the effect OF
his action.
Mr.. Cooper asked if witness had not seen a
letter in the correspondence explaining his
action. The witness replied that he had found
a long telegram.
MR. coopER's EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Cooper declared that he had addressed
TIE department. letter explaining that he had
simply filed the calls for information as an act
of courtesy toward the attorneys.
The witness remarked that he had not seen
such letter, whereupon Mr.. Cooper sharply
asked whether he had destroyed the letter.
Mr.. Sawyer resented this question and Mr..
Cooper retorted that it was as fair as his attack
upon him Cooper.
PRIVATE SECRETARY TANNERS TESTIMONY.
Bradley Tanner, private secretary to the
commissioner, was the next witness. He said
that he had been promoted by Commissioner
Raum last February. He had kept the min
utes OF the refrigerator company and had writ
ten letters on the company business from Gen.
Raums dictation. Some of the letters had
been written in the commissioners Office but
almost always after hours. Witness also went
to Virginia in the interest Of the company He
had received no compensation for this work
and had no agreement that he was to be COM
pensated In stock or otherwise.
10 MIR. Sawyer witness said that the time
occupied in his Virginia trips came out of his
annual leave. He had been appointed upon
Commissioner Tanners recommendation. He
wrote the minutes of the refrigerator COM
pany at his home in the evening. He never
had any stock in the company His promotion
had been promised by Commissioner Tanner
before he left Office.
MR.. sMYsER sTocKHoLDER.
Mr.. Smyser, a member of the committee, was
sworn at Mr.. Cooper's request. He said that
he was stakeholder in the refrigerator com.
pany. representing himself and c. W. Kauke
and z. c. Given of Ohio, who had an arrange
ment with j. b. Taylor and G. Is. Herd of
Wooster, Ohio. They held 10000 shares and
had paid $4,000 for them. Witness shares OF
the stock had cost him $3.50 The subscrip.
ton had been made last April
A recess was taken at this point.
ADJOURNMENT SUBJECT TO CALI.
The proceedings in the House resulting in
the resignation of Mr.. Smyser caused the post.
ponement Of the investigation until the va.
cancy is filed, and the committee. without at.
tempting to proceed after the recess adjourned
subject to call.