St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-16
George E. Lemon Subjected to
Rigid Examination by
Mr.. Cooper.
Senator Sherman Will Draft
a Bill for Financial Re-
lief.
Mckinley Wants to Know
Where U. S. Money Is De-
posted.

fore the Raum investigating committee
to-day. Mr.. Lemon testified that he had
never recommended to Commissioner
Raum the appointment of any person in
his employ. Mr.. Lemon said that in
the record was Mr.. Cooper's declara-
ton that 1.-The consequence of the COM
pleted files order is that it has naturally
operated as private order tor the ben
eft of the man who procured its MAX
ing. Of the thirty test cases submitted
by Mr.. Lemon the evidence shows only
Is per cent of them were completed in
fact" He (Mr. LemOn) wanted to say
that that statement did him great in
jury, and was untrue. Of these cases
only two needed further information to
be supplied 10y the attorney. Thirteen
others were not altogether complete,
but that was because information was
needed which only the pension bureau
could supply. 10 MIR. Cooper witness
said he had never indorsed any note for
Raum except one for $4,000 in the
Bank of the Republic.
Question. Did you indorse paper for him
in the CIizens bank?
Answer. Never.
Q. Did he not get money there at your
procurement?
a. No, sir. He got money there on the
Endorsement of some of the strongest men in
the country.
MIR. Cooper asked further questions
about Gen. Raum's financial relations
with the Citizens bank. Mr.. Lemon
said he was director in the bank. Gen,
Raum had been depositor there for
years, and he did not think he ought to
answer these questions.
Mr.. Goodnight-As an officer of that bank
did you influence the bank officers to get the
money?
Mr. Lemon-Not at all. L think most of the
Endorsements were obtained when | was not
present. | never Influenced the bank officers
in any way.
Mr.. Cooper asked how much of Gen.
Raum'S paper had been discounted.
when and on whose Endorsements. The
questions Mr.. Lemon elhphatically de-,
cllnel to answer, on the ground that it
was none of Mr.. C0Oper's business, or
the business of the committee. LII The
chairman SO ruled he would answer, but
not otherwise. Mr.. Flick thought the
questions improper, and Mr.. Saw yer
said he thought any bank officers would
hesitate to answer such questions. If
there WAS any claim that Mr.. Lemon
had indorSed Gen. Raum'S paper or ir-
tiuenctd the matter as bank director
he thought the questions proper. Mr..
Cooper said one of the important issues
OF the investigation was the financial
relations between Raum and Lemon.
The commissioner had said emphatic
ally he had secured Lemons indorSe-
ment to but one note of S12.0j0, dis
counted by the Bank of the Republic.
Now money might have been secured
Indirectly, which would be
JUST as Satisfactory.
The witness had stated that he had
not Influenced the securing of money by
Gen. Raum, but he (Mr Cooper) insisted
he was not bound to take the ipse dixit
of the witness as proof that this was SO.
MIR. Lemon several times stated that the
bare mention of the names Of the in
dorsers would carry the conviction that
his Influence was not needed. Mr.Good-
night said those names which witness
insisted were so good was what was
wanted. In response to other questions
MIR. Lemon stated emphatically that
Gen. Raum never came to him to get his
influence to secure the diScounting of
any paper. The various questions about
those financial transactions raised
little breeze all around. which finally
subsidized when Mr.. Sawyer suggested
that the lin e of inquiry be postponed
until the full committee could pass upon
the matter. A. S. raber, for twelve
years one of MIR. Lemons principal EN-
ployeS, stated that ii was a rule of Mr..
Lemons that none of the clerks should
be recommended for places in the pen
sion office. Mr.. Lemon had said he
thought 1t improper, and witness had
never done such a thing. Edward
Renaud, former clerk in the pension
office, who was dismissed by Commits
siOner Raum, after the publication of
articles critcising the management of
the pension office in the New York
Tribune, was called to the stand and
asked if he had written or inspired the
publications charging the commissioner
with %e
Kntimidating Clerks
from making adverse comments on the
management of the Office by threats of
dismissal. Witness declined to answer,
on the ground that Gen. Raum had
made scurrilous and libelous statements
affecting witness personal character
and party loyalty, and suit for damages
had been entered. Any answers made
now might prematurely disclose mat
tiers involved in witness libel suit.
Thomas Coker. of Illinois. an employe
in the land office, was questioned with
respect to Il statement alleged TO have
been made by his son that Mr.McGilley,
clerk in the pension Office, had said
he owned refrigerator stock and ex-
pected to get promoted. Witness reco-
lection of the conversation was not very
distinct; but he said the impression his
son left upon him was that there might
have been mistake, and Mr.. McGilley
subsequently said it was real estate and
not refrigerator stock. Witness met
Gen. Raum on the street one day and
mentioned the matter to him. Gen.
Raum said it was absolutely false that
any pension office clerk had refrigerator
stock. Gen. Raum said he had never
said that clerks must make affidavit
that they had no stock. Mr.. Cooper
wanted to know il his son had been an
applicant for place in the pension Of
fee. Witness responded in the affirm
ative, and added that he did not get the
place.