Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-15

Wueu tno special House committee lnvestl-
eating the charges against Commissioner Raum
met this morning Mr.. Sawyer recalled Mr.
Cooper and asked him number of question sre-
spectinR his Judgment Of the propriety and eff
| feet Of general orders made BY the commits
sioner of pensions to expedite the adjudication
Of completed cases. Mr.. Cooper declared that
the questions were unfair, and when he was
pressed to return an absolute Eyes" or no."
he refused to allow Mr.. Sawyer to dictate what
his answers should De, and proceeded TO reply
that the orders were not proper when they had
tie effect, as shown in this case. to benefit
claimants with attorneys at the expense Of
claimants without attorneys and when made
for an improper consideration.
Inc commissioner asked to have number OF
chiefs Of divisions called to show whether or
not there had been any favoritism shown.
Judge Wilson also seconded the request, say
ing that he wanted to close Mr.. Cooper's mouth
and by the weight Of evidence to prevent him
on the floor Of the House. whore he had the
right to say almost anything.
Mr. Cooper said that he could not be misnn-
derstood. He had not charged that fayoritism
had been shown as the result OF misconduct OF
ofhciais, but as the result OF the completed
files order.
After further argument the committee de-
cided to hear the testimony.
THE REFRIGERArIN6 COMPANY AGAIN.
Mr.. Cooper asked the committee whether
there was sub..company Of the Universal Re-
frigerator Company in this District
The commissioner objected to going into the
matter, but at the request of the chairman pro-
ceeded to answer Mr.. Cooper to the effect that
steps had been taken looking to the formation
scribed; that Bradley Tanner, who sat at his
desk, was secretary of the company; that Tan
ner had subscribed for one share Of stock. SO
as to be able to act as an incorporation, but that
no money had been paid in; that the organize
ton was, in fact, inchoate as yet
Tanner was absolutely the only pension
Office employe interested in the company. The
parent company and witness (who owned nine
tenths of the District right were to receive
payment for the franchise in S500. 900 of stock,
but the arrangement had not vet been ratified
by the parent company. The Interpolation of
Mr.. Cooper's resolution had stopped the nego-
tiations; witness has withdrawn from the field
and stopped selling state rights until he could,
By the erection OF a practical working plant,
show the value Of the patent.
THE MERITS OF THE INVENTION.
Mr. Cooper said that if the commissioner
proposed to exploit the value of the invention,
he wanted to prove that it was q fraud He en-
deavored to prove that suit had been brought
against the patentee in Tennessee for SWIM.
ding, but the commissioner denied any knowl.
edge OF that and the committee declined to 60
into that matter.
The commissioner further stated that Mr..
Tanner was not expected to pay for his share,
and that the same was true of the other gentle
men who had organized the sub-company. A
few shares OF stock had been given them to
enlist the use OF their names, as was customary
to the organization of such companies.
At this point Mr.. Cooper again endeavored
to read letter from II. b. Chaplin relative to
the prosecution of the patentee. Smith, for
recovery OF money fraudulently obtained.
The commissioner strongly objected to this
and said that Mr.. Cooper's obvious intention
was not to enlighten the comu1ttee, but to
injure him (Mr. Raum) and Mr.. Smith. He
should be a more decent man than to do it,
and II he persisted the committee should stop
him.
The chairman called for order and said that
the testimony was clearly irrelevant. as 1t was
not connected with Commissioner Raum.
MIR. Cooper replied that he produced the
letter as a basis for subpGnaing Mr.. Chaplin;
but the committee refused to 60 into the tes-
timony.
NO FAvoRIrIsM SHOWN.
Chief Clerk Fisher of the Pension Office was
next called to the stand, and testified that no
favoritism had been shown to any attorneys In
selecting cases for the completed files.
F. H. Allen, chief Of the southern division,
testified that no favoritism had been shown 70
any attorney, and he would not have
obeyed an order to show favoritism. As
far as his division was concerned he
had for years pursued tho course
OF acting first upon completed cases aud had
practically in operation system OF completed
lilies which worked we'll.
Warner White, chief of the eastern division,
gave substantially similar testimony.
L. A. Durham, chief OF the western division,
was recalled by Mr.. Cooper and questioned
relative to the interview between them at the
Pension Office last winter, and corroborated
what Mr.. Cooper had said about the congress
sional calls he mad put III.
MR.. LEWIS OFFERS A RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Lewis next introduced the following
resolution: Whereas Gen. Raum has this day
admitted before this committee that Bradley
Tanner is the owner of stock in the Columbia
Refrigerator Company, for the purpose of intro
ducing and establishing in the District of
Columbia the patent OF the Universal Refrig-
orator Company, which is Synonymous with
the Columbia Refrigerator Company; and
whereas the said Bradley Tanner has been
promoted in the Pension Office by the said
Gen. Raum; therefore be it
Resolved, That is proper and competent for
this committee to hear such testimony as will
tend to prove the character OF this enterprise
and the value of the stock thereof.
by party vote the committee refused to
adopt this resolution.
SPICE IN THE SENATE