The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-10
MAKING 1T HOT FOR RAUM.
Representative Cooper Keeps the
Committee Stirred Up.

Committee Stirred Up.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9,-In the Raum
investigation one of the witnesses placed on
the stand o-day to testify in regard to
Commissioner Raum's refrigerator com
pany was 81. Rossbache, a citizen of
Washington and mechanical engineer who
had exhauStively investigated the biect
Of the mechanical refrigerator. The pro-
duction Of cold by mixture of salts and
liquids was not a new discovery, but had
been known for forty years. While erect
ing an ice plant in Memphis several years
ago he had met Frank A. Smith, whom he
had since met here and been told was the
patentee Of the Universal refrigerator.
RAuM OBJECTS.
AT this point the commissioner objected
to the line of inquiry. Mr.. Cooper said
that he would prove by witness that at
Memphis he first met the patantee of this
scheme. He was working upon the citizens
Of Memphis; that an effort was made there
to create a corporation just as had been done
here; that the citizens of Memphis had inves-
tee in it, and the patentee had decamped,
just as he had done in California after
ward; that he next came to the pension
office as the best place to work--a place
dedicated to the soldiers of the country
and organized the scheme with the aid of
the head of the bureau, and the scheme was
a fraud.
THROWING DOWN A GAUNTLET.
Said he: "Can you dare, gentlemen sup
press that testimonya
"Mr. Sawyer.-H it depends upon my
vote, l shall.
Mr.. Cooper-n you do suppress that
testimony and close this case l will carry
the question to the House of Representa-
tives and the people of the United States,
and it will not be settled by this little cotorie
here.
MIR. Sawyer-I think it is unbecoming
to officers acting as a court to tell them
what they dare do and what they dare not
Ii Is not work of courage or brain for a
man to say If somebody don't act In ac-
cordance with his Judgment he will carry
it somewhere else.
Mr.. Cooper-I have just as much respect
for your opinion as it deserves.
THE ROW INTERRUPTED.
At. this point the commissioner inter-
rupted to say that some weeks ago he had
protested against going into his private
business relations and discrediting him.
Mr.. Cooper had charged that he had prosti-
tuted his office.
Mr.. Cooper breaking in-Yes, made it a
huckster stand for patent rights.
Commissioner Raum continued to protest
against what he called dragging In his pri-
vate affairs, that had no connection with the
charges under investigation.
MIR. Lewis argued for a full and fair in
vestigation without recourse to legal prac-
tices and limitations. If the invention was
impracticable and worthless the country
ought to know it, because he believed an
officer of the United States charged with
duties such as Commissioner Raum was,
should not use his official position to boost
any worthless enterprise.
GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF A DOUBT.
In answer to Mr.. Flick, Mr.. Cooper said
that be did not know that he could prove
that Commissioner Raum knew the inventor
was a fraud. He could prove that he
ought to know.
Mr.. Flick could not see how that would
do any good except to aid some corporation
in discrediting that patent.
After further discussion the matter went
over for settlement afterward. and Mr..
Smyser was recalled.
MIR. Cooper asked il he had not told Mr..
Lewis, member of the committee, that he
had no money interest in the stock.
sMYsER DENIES IT.
Mr.. Smyser replied he did not tell him
anything of the Kind. He told Mr.. Lewis
that while stock was entered in his (Smy-
ser's) name, he did not own all of it, but
represented gentlemen connected with him
In Ohio.
Mr.. Lewis. disputed the correctness Of this
statement, and the two gentlemen became
so heated In their colloquy that the COM
mittee intervened, and, after listening to an
explanation by Mr.. Smyser, Mr.. Lewis
admitted that he might have misunderstood
himor have gotten wrong impression.