The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-06-19
CAPITAL GOSSIP.

y ry&nI"t,p3 !u!3 n"}H ","., IN the !
HUn-. .Irl,;i4> i.:o lo3ruHJIrc un
Lnvan,. Lru>,.,'t- ~ I"uCHV IN,1 |
charges that have ueru nted tn TIA" !,
President relative to the conduct OF
the Pension Bureau. The charges
against the commissioner are scan
dalouS, almost beyond belief to those
unacQuainted with the process 10y
which pensions are obtained. For
one gifted with ordinary Intelligence
there is no necessity for any lawyer,
or mediator, in the prosecution Of Il
pension claim. The blanks, showing
the evidence required, are furnished
direct, on application, from the de-
partment. There is no occasion for
lawyer unless the applicant is unable
to write. The idea of having an attor-
ney here to look after the clients in
terests is IL mistake that brings large
returns to the pockets of the SO called
pension attorneys, but there clients
derive no benefit for the expense.
To employ an attorney here is simply
an additional expense to an applicant
for pension, who pays all the law
allows for the simple sake of letting
the correspondence with the depart
ment pass 50 through his attorneys
hands. Then it is usually necessary
to apply to some Justice of the Peace
or poor local lawyer, to have the
aftidavits of witnesses drawn, who
charges specially for each occasion
what he could do for nothing, if the
Washington lawyer didn't hold the
case. The advantage of the Washing
ton attorney is not to be seen, and he
is regarded in his true light by those
| acquainted with mis- methods. That
is rs a confidence man who preys upon
the ignorance of the soldiers. He is
thoroughly despised by reputable
lawyers, but like the quack doctors,
he has learned u scheme to make
money and tlourishes. Tanner dropped
on to the trick while he conducted
the Pension Bureau land since his ex-
pulsiOn has been practiclng the tricks
he learned there. In an interview
this week in one of the Washington
papers, in ebullitiOn Of joy, he an
nOunced that he had made $780, 900 in
the last year as pension attorney and
expected bis yearly income to soon
reach the figures 100000. This
Uppolt, nifty might be q great tcmpta-
ton to whom it be presented, but the
poor ignoramuses that pay for it
ought to open Their eyes. Since his
exposure people begin to wonder why
the President ever appointed Gen.
Raum to the office. AT the time he
was practically at the head Of the firm
of Green H, RaH42 = Co., pension
attorneys. The other members of the
drm, were lis IONS, John and Green
B. Jr. Ur,n the Installment of his
aa3sas office Green B., was ap-
eff OF the Appointment
he Bureau, land John was
le1L "a. &c of the Office where he
has continued to do fOurshing bus
mess for the firm. He has been
| furnished in advance with decisions
from the department, which he con-
veyed to his patrons in solicitation OF
their claims. He has had his cases
made special and called out of the
regular order at pleasure, with nc
reason to offer but the inherent
prerOgatiye Of the firm.
|
But worse is the tact that Gen
Raum engaged in selling stock Of &
company of which he is president, il
worthless patent refrigerator,t to hiE
. su bordinates. The Bureau wa!
flooded with circulars advertising the
stock, signed by the commissioner al
president. Employees who purchased
were promoted without further
solicitation on their part.
One Turner, who subscribed to the
extent of $3.50 was promoted within {
week afterward from a position Of
5000 to 81 400; and seven other clerks
of like experience, have had theiI
names left on record with the Presi
dent. Again the great pension
octOphus, Geo. E. Lemon, has beer
for weeks working up plan to have
special consideration for lot of hi!
old cases that lacked some detail il
evidence. The Commissioner helc
out against this scheme for some
time, but finally acceded to it anC
thereby put 100000 in Mr.. Lemon'i
pocket. Three days afterwards thu
Commissioner gave his note fol
S25, 900 bearing Mr.. Lemons indorse
nent to a Washington bank, and drew
the money on it. Then the President
finally called hal: and it remains tt
be seen what the democratic minority
of the committee having charge Of
the investigation will do in the
!