Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-10
THE RAUM INQUIRY.
Mr.. Cooper Wants to Know About o
Stag Party Up the River.

The special House committee investigating
the charges against Commissioner Raum re-
sumed work today by calling Mr.. Taber. Mr..
Lemons chief clerk, to the stand, who ex-
planned the character of the thirty test slips
| which had been submitted to the com missioner
by Mr.. Lemon as o basis for his request that
the completed-slip system be adopted.
Mr.. Cooper asked the witness if during Com.
missioner Tanners administration witness had
not taken Geo. D. Squlres, Commissioner Tan
ner private secretary and other Pension Office
employees up the river and made "a night Of
The chairman was disposed to rule out the
question as not pertinent to the investigation.
woRDY WAR.
There was sharp conflict of words between
Mr.. Cooper and Judge Wilson, the former in
sisting that Mr.. Lemon had admitted that he
had been disbarred for:forgery. Judge Wilson
and all the republican members denied that
there was such evidence.
Mr.. Cooper-He forged Colfax's name to his
certificate.
The chairman-There was no forgery. Cam
not gentleman refer to Won as o member of
Congress for recommendation?
Judge Wilson to Dir. Cooper-You said a
moment ago that Mr.. Lemon admitted that be
was disbarred for forgery.
Mr.. Cooper did say SO; that IL my recol-
lection OF his testimony. The record will show
Mr.. Wilson (excitedly)-T you ought to
be sent to lunatic asylum for having no
memory.
Mr.. Cooper-Oh, I was an attorney once
myself and know what it is to get worked up.
Mr.. Wilson-You are standing here a. q vol
unteer attorney. Yon must know that Mr..
Lemon never admitted anything Of that kind.
The fact is that you have either been
yourself hunting up the record of Mr..
Lemon for twenty years past. and the life
OF Mr.. Taber, or some officious person, has been
putting it in your mind to lay before the COM
be permitted. As member Of Congress and
as an attorney IN this case you have no right to
indulge in any such thing.
Mr.. Cooper-I acknowledge your right to
express your opinion, but refer to testimony
and ask for the reading OF the record. II there
is objection will leave ont the word forgery"
Chairman Merrill stopped further discussion.
The witness said: IF Mr.. Cooper withdraws
his charge am satisfied There was no wine
supper up the river in boat. We had stag
Johns Bridge and dinner at Great Falls"
Mr.. Cooper-Was it not immediate after
that Squires was found stamping Lemons pre-
pared cases at night2"
Witness-I heard something about that. but
1t had no reference to stag party where each
MIR. Cooper-wel, for that Mr. Tanner dis
charged him, didn't hep
The charman-We cannot 20 into that. The
witness is discharged.
Chairman Morrill, next proceeded to pass
upon the question raised as to the relevancy of
the testimony offered yesterday by Mr. Cooper
relating to the character of the refrigerator
company's stock and ruled it ont
MIR. Lewis, the minority member. entered
his protest against the narrow limitation, hold
ing that the character of tho stock was one OF
the counts Of the Indictment, but by party
vote the chairman's ruling was sustained.
recess was then taken.
AFTER RECESS.
When the committee reassembled the chair
man laid before it telegram from F. e. Smith.
the patentee of the Universal refrigerat or, de-
handing the privilege OF appearing on the
stand to answer the charges made against him.
BY the direction OF the committee the chair
man declined the request. as it had been de-
cided not to SO into that branch Of the testi-
mony.
Assistant Chief Bryant Of the Pension Office
was the next witness and was examined as to
the completed files order.
The 81, 900 cases put on the completed files
by the office, he said, had been selected without
Partially.