Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-16
THE RAUM INQUIRY.
Mr. Cooper Asks More Searching ouei-
tions About the Refrigerator.
lBy telegraph to the Dispatch.I

WAsuNGTov. September l5.--When the
special House committee investigating the
CHARGES against Commissioner Rsum met
This morning Mr. Sawyer recalled Mr..
| Cooper and asked him number OF ques-
tons respecting his Judgment OF the pro-
prietv and effect Of the general orders
| made by the Commissioner OF Pensions
| to expedite the adjudication of com
| pleted caees Mr.. Cooper declared that
! the questions were unfair, and when ne
was pressed 10 return an absolute yes
| or mo" he refused 20 allow MIR. Sawyer
| 10 dictate what his answers shOuld be, and
proceeded 10 reply that the orders were
| not proper when they had the effect as
| shown in this case, 20 beneht claimants
with attorneys at the expense OF claimants
| without attorneys. ana when mace lor an
| improper consideration.
| The Commissioner asked to have num-
| be of chiefs of divisions called 10 snow
whether or not there had been any favor
| itism shown.
THE RrFRIGERATING COMPANY, AGAIN.
Mr.. Cooper asked the committee whether
| there was a sub-cOmpany OF the UNIVERSAL
| Refrigerating Company IN this District.
| The Commissioner objected TO gong
| into the matter. but at the request OF the
! Chairman proceeded to.answer Mr. Cooper
to the effect that steps had been taken look
|
that stock had been subscribed: that
| Bradley Tanner. who sat at his desk, was
secretary OF the company; that Tanner
| had subscribed for one share OF stock 50
| as to be able to act as corpOrator,
but that no money had been paid in; that
the organization was in fact lnchoate sS
yet.
Tanner was absolutely the only Pension
| Office emplOye interested in the company.
/ witness
| owned nine tenths of the District rignt)
were to receive payment for the franchise
in $500 600 Of stock, but the arrangement
had not vet been ratified by the parent
! company. The interpostion OF Mr..
Cooper's resolution had stopped the nego-
tlatious: witness has withdrawn from the
field and stopped selling state rights until
he could, by the erection OF practlcal
working plant, show the value Oh the
patent.
TIE MERITS or TWP INVENTION.
Mr.. Cooper said that # the Commissioner
proposed 10 exploit the value OF the IN
/ ycution, he wanted TO prove that 1t was a
fraud. He endeavored 10 prove that SUIT
had been brought against the patentee IN
/ Tennessee for swindling, but the Com
missioner denied any knowledge OF that
and the committee declined 10 90 into
that matter.
Tho Commissioner further stated that
Mr. Tanner was not expected to pay tor
his share. and that the same was true OF
the other gentlemen who had organized
the sub-company. 4 few shares OF stock
have been given them TO enlist the use OF
their homes, as was customary IN the or
paniZation Of such companies.
AZ tins point Mr.. Cooper again endeayor
cd 10 read letter from II. Is. Chaplin rela
tive to the prosecution of the patentee
Smith for recovery OF money fraudulent
~ obtained.
NO TAyORIIIssf SHOWN.
After number of division chiefs anc
chief clerks in the Pension Office mad ties
tilted that no fayorItism existed in then
departments. Mr.. Lewis introduced the
following resolution;
lR. LEWIS oTFERs A RESOLUTION,
Whereas General Raum has this day al
United before this committee that Bradley
Tanner is the owner of stock IN the Co
lumbia Refrigerator Company. for the pur
nose of introducing and establishing II
the District of Columbia the patent of thu
Universal Refrigerator Company, which i
svnouvmous with the Columbia Retriger
atOr Company; and whereas the salC
Bradley Tanner has been promoted IN th'
Pension Office by the SAID General haun
therefore be IL
, Pesoired. That it is proper and competen
for this committee 10 hear such testlinoh,
as will tend TO prove the character or TN
enterprise and the value OF the stocl
thereof.
Bv n party vote the committee refused
TO adopt this resolution.