New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-12
GEN. RAUM'S DEFENCE BEGUN
THE PENSION COMMISSIONER CALLING MIR.
COOPER AS HIS FIRST WITNESS.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY BCSSEY PRAlSlNO 1uiG
COMPLETED FILES" SYSTEM AND RAUM-
TO EXAMINE 1873 PENSION OFFICE
OLERKs-MH. COOPER AND Mr.
FLICK AT ODDS
washineton Sept ll-At the beginning OF It's
session this morning the special House "''','S
investigating the charges against COMMISSIONER ~
had the usual daily tilt. Mr.. Lewis u'e De"o''a"
nember, rising TO personal question: sal" ''"' "
teen crcdiby Informed that while ne was e'sSecu ~
3apversaton with Mr.. Smyser. who was on 'he s'd'u
tho oh.r dav the chairman had said that his cwiss)
connnc, xas not gentiemanly, and he wanted
retraction. ,,.,o,
Cha,rman Morrill, said that he had no recollection
~ having n,ado such a remark, and Mr. sawyer also
d.n,ed that it had been made. taking occasion also
IN denounce the ofclous outsiders VINO were scc"'o
10 make bad feeling in the coin'nittec
Butler Fitch was then called to the stahd' anu
testified that Bradley Tanner had spoken 10 hiih
about the refrigerator company, and OF MS prospects
IN general way Witness inferred from the converSa-
ton that Tanner going into 1t as business
and repeated the story. To General Eanm "''lese
said that Tanner told him that ne i'dd s'ooh III
the company, or had put any money IN II. witness
had never told anybody that Tanner had snd tiat
ne had stock but told them that he inferred that
Tanner was interested. Tanner did not Try 10 III
duoe witness to invest money In the company. ~ NJ
C>oper witness Bald that lie believed that tanner uscu
the word eve " In speaking OF the company ho
not tell Mr. Cooper that Tanners testimony about 'he
Time consumed in his Virginia trips made his check
turn PALE; said he was "a little surprised but
could not now recall anything Tanner had sac 10
Justify tho assumption that the latter han u'eo Tie
time OF the Government In his trips. Tanner hau
since then told witness to tell the committee all t'"'
he knew.
Mr. Coopcr said that he had no more witnesses; ana
Commissioner Raum beginning his Defence asked that
Mr. Cooper be sworn.
In answer TO the Commissioners questions. Mr..
Cooper said that his attention had first been called to
the refrigerator company by the newspaper aruccs'
and afterward by George +. Fleming. liad 'ahen
with u half dozen other persons confdeniiy out ou
not care 10 give their names Mr'F eminS hah s''u
that tho preceding witness I;er Fitchl nae tOiu MN
that seven Pension Office employees had bought re
friee-ator stock That was where tie charge orig
mated which seemed to be cOrroborated by the news
paper articles. ,,,
The Commissioner said that Fleming was himself
the author Of the defamatory articles.
Mr. Cooper said that the Commissioner had gwen
ont an article himself saying that lie had not gwen
his note to Lemon.
The Commissioner replied that he Nan ochicu ''''
he had gwen note for S:j,o"O.
Mr. Cooper remarked that he had set mp case ana
tLen answered it.
Tho Commissioner said that he had taken the case
Which he found III tho newspapers.
Mr. Cooper replied that he had been conhrmea IN MS
belief in the charge by the Commits rcinsa! L"
ror ~ Question Prt the charge rested upon
Jennings and Fi,ch's testimony. Htey "eie Eh'' ~"
cut, all right; ,,. ,o, ,,
Enocbcd themselves down.
NJ Cooper was not that If the books were pro
ducec the names Of Pension Office employees would not
D,-,dln
NOTED for his services to the company.
The Commissioner again pressed Mr.. Cooper FOR thc
names Of his inioDants, saying want 10 se' a' 'o
men who have posOred your mind
Mr. Cooper thought the remark was Gran'o"S' ou'
excused the Commissioner because he had some feel
ing ALI
Commissioner Raum-I should think had small
ror,t os fcobpc when man /, trying to destroy my
credit on false charges,
Mr. Coopcr-Ion have admitted part oi 'heh'
COMM. >ioncr Raum--No. sir, have MOI.
continuing. Mr. Cooper said Mr.. Mcf"lman, rpre
.ontiry refrigerator stock had spoken OF the BOOKS III
way that led witness to suppose they showed crooAe"
Moss The Investigation along quietly AGAIN l"r
quarter OF an hour and then there va, anotier out
break. Va
Mr. C,ooncr was still on the stand. and had said ne
had never seen the looks Of the company "hc" MI
Flick sharply queriel =" foi Know you arc "' oa,'
don't you7- Yau have sworn moment az" tha'
o, ,r,a take those books and sustain these charges
A. Cooucr--I said ] believed it, That Suggestion
of yours was unscntlemanIy. cowardly and mean
Mr. rIick-And ] submit that you are oit'y oo1'
Chairman Morrill, cidcavoicd TO restrain the heni'
bers, but Nr Flick added: lie had 10 r'sh'-no
ANY other mal-to make that remark
Mr. Lewis Joined in 10 help ont MI cooper saying
Mr. Flick had right t" ask that question ABOUT
his being under oath. 1t carries an impilcatioh'
Mr. Flick denied any such intention.
Order having been restored, Mr.. FLICK c0nciudcd
the examination
me witness Fitch was recalled. and positively de-
sbcd that he had told Fleming any OF the thhes ua'
Mr. Coopcr had spoken o. In the course OF 'ic eA
animation Commits s!oner Raum remarked; " Inc wi1oie
thing is a femcnt Of George r. Fleming discharged
empoye OF the Pension OMce, who has used Mr. Cooper
Il don't say corruptJy.'
Tho chairman again intervcned
Nr CDopef remarked that he was uscd 70 ulat t'
which Mr. Flick responded iou will learn I" De gen
tlemanly in your dcmeanor.'
Il am not afraid Of you" retor'ed Mt Cooper &c
family.
The chairman persisted until he got order. and the'
tho Commissioner offered 10 prove by the l3o Ichso'
Office employees who had been proiiOch that they ia>
not bought been sought TO buy refrigerator s'ocA
mt ,he committee decided that it was unnecessary U
take this mass of testimony TO prove negative am
that il would be satisfied Win ahidaNs tnaI ''
testimony was "all poppy as Tue Chairman" "rnie
IT, to the great Indignation OF Mr. sawyer WHO "ah'e'
It to be admitted ...
recess was taken at TINS point ana u.o non'oo :.
rho had bruised each others feelings, taking the az
,,ce N the other members patched up their differences
Mr. Flick admitted that lie had misunderstood MI
(ooper's statement relative TO the books Mr. Coope
,v,hdrew' his remarks which Lad offended Mr.. FLICK
Mr. Flick In turn withdrew his unpleasant cbarac'erIs
ton OF Mr. Cooper and good feeling was restored -
After recess Assistant secretary Bussey was Gallo
.s . witness and testified relative TO tie complete
files. order saying in effect that he had approved In
order. believing that 1t was the best means OF di'
pesne of the pension which were complete
could easily be completed. ard which iaa c"Inoerc
tho files for years. lie thought that II was o' gre"
S...a. % the othce and TO the claimants, and tina
fayorttasm under twas not practicable The bushes
., ...u,,.4cd ton lie had been much please