New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-14
GEN. RAUM'S STRANGE ZEAL.
ALLEGED TO HAVE PRESSED A PENSION
CLERK TO PAY A DEBT DUE TO A USURER
rur w.v DISMISSED on HIS INABILITY TO DIS
CHARGE THE DEBT-THE LOAN BROKERS.
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.
my ryIEGRLPn To TIE TRTBUNEl

cuARGE THE pEBT-THE LOAN BROKERS"
AND THE DEPARTMENTS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrBUSkl
washington. Nov 13.-The Government Departments
NJ washington offer rich field for the operations Of
number of harpIes who, so to speak, out slylock
s,vloc, himself and bleed the unfortunate clerks to
the time OF TO- IS, and 90 per cent per month
for the use OF money lent to them Most Of these
harpes keep In the background. and do business through
other persons very much after the fashion OF Fascina
ton FIedgeby in "Our Mutual Fricnd.' Some OF the
men who thus feed the necessities Of other men
are themselves Government clerks, Of avaSicious
turn. who are happy to obtain income of $50 to
s75 Dor month in the form of interest and bonuses
on loans amounting 10 $780, So disreputable and
depable is the business regarded by all decent people
that II can usually be conducted only by stealth: for
nearly every Government official would not only lend
no assistance collection Of snch debts but would
promptly punish with dismissal any subordinate whom
he found to be engaged in 1t. Only few days ago
great commotIon was created In the Patent Office BY
the arrest Of messenger for doing business loan
broker without having first obtained license. This
messenger probably only the I" Riah Of some
"Tcn percenter' either lin outside OF the Interior
Department and desperate efforts have been made TO
keep the case ont of court. He promptly offered to
pay the license fee for two yearsSoOOf released, and
q number Of clerks and minor officials eagerly interceded
ported by two expensive attorneys and the case was
dismissed on techncaity.
1t is seldom indeed that officer OF any rank in
the Government service, either knowingly or unwit
tngly does anything to promote the business Of these
Shylocks: but recently brought to the ndtice
OF The Tribune correspondent indicates that 1t Is some
times done. This also occurred in the Interior
Departmental the Pension Bureau-and the outcome
of 1t the dismissal Of clerk who through business
rpvp in del and fall
the clutches Of usurers, of whom according to his
statement, Is also clerk in the Pension Bureau. From
his statement 1t also appears that Commissioner Raum
and his son, Green +. Raum jr-who sometimes ap-
ponds Assistant Chief Clerk to his official commun
cations, and sometimes appends the title Of appoint
ment Clerk" and who appointed to the place which
he holds, with salary Of 81 900 per year, it is
asserted after he had failed to pass Civil Service
examination for 81 200 clcrkship-both applied the
official thumbscrews TO him in behalf OF his shylock
creditor. His inability promptly to pay his debts
despite his willingness and anxiety 10 do so, resulted
in his dismissal october 90 and that OF course has
crippled his ability to do what Commissioner Raum
and his hopeful urgent that he should do
The name of the dismissed clerk is A. r. Hayward
He was brave and faithful Union soldier. took part
in some thirty battles and sldrndshes and lost his
right arm at the shoulder while fighting In the battle
of Cold arbor eleven days after the expiration Of his
term of enlistment. lie Is man Of excellent habits,
and his efficiency clerk has been hishy praised
by his immediate superiors in the Pension Bureau
The Tribune correspondent has good reason to believe
that there was nothing in the causes OF Mr. Haywards
pecunary difficulties which reflected upon his integrity
and is convinced that he has been and is anxious to
nav his inst debts layward's creditor in the Pension
Rureau is a clerk named Il. A. Raglan. respecting his
transaction with whom Mr.. Hayward says:
a. W. La Tourette Informed me that a man by the
name Of Raglan, clerk In the Pension Bureau nau
placed in his hands about $3.50 to lend ana II l
would make out note and have it Endorsed by Ragan
and bring IL to him he would be authorized 10 give
me the money. 1 was not acquainted with hasan'
Init heard from La Tourette his place In the Bureai
and went to see him, as advised. told him now
hammered to know OF him and the purpose OF my CALL
He asked me how much money wished ana the iehg'h
Of time ! wanted it, told him needed about S2oo
and would want it for three months at least lie
said Il guess You are all right, and can have IT,.
7 asked him what interest was required lie rephed'
Won make your arrangements with La Tourette.'
saw Mr. La Tourette the same day. and tc instructed
me TO have the note drawn In his pane, signed Dy
myself and Endorsed by Ragan did as lhstructeo'
and ON presenting him the note to get the money ne
handed me only S1eO, whereas the face OF the note
read 5000.
Under the circumstances expected to receive NOT
,.ss than s1s5 and when protested against his de-
ducting so exorhitan he replied that he couidh
afford to do better he had to divide the interest WIN
Ragan / saw Kagan later. and told nm whau
Thought about it, and he said: 'Well make your
own ARRANGEMENTS with him; don't know anything
about that and evidently wished to avoid saying any
thing about it, When the time arrived FOR the note
a., he maid was not In condition financially to pay the
till enm and so stated to La Tourette and also TO
Ragan and as going to make Part pay menu .iey
both said the could be renewed Tor announcer Iheo
months About December 4, 1852, aiter Drawing NY
pension paid La Tourette $780, TO be appeu Dis Pa'
chi IN asfn
tba. much and thereby correspondlnsy lessen the
interest.
~ tool, no receipt for the $50 thus paid, but trusted
70 him n credit me on the note with that sum- Some
time thereafter learned that he never gave me o'eo'
for Il on that note, did he credit me win .ne
amount IN any man sn On tSs note As agreed il was
lime 10 order halt all along the line uh'n I nau
due credit for the $50 that haa lrnS PAM either ~
them moro tribute till the full sum had actually paiu
was placed 10 credit on The NOTE tey .e fro me
through assistance from the department Ihey
thought to intimdate me- but they mage RavS rnn
Their efforts at cxtorting failed put IN discussing e
from the department through thelr u az
is evidence that they are favoaoy recos@eu os 'ne
Mr. La Tourette is said to be broker who pays
frequent visits to the Pension Bureau, wherc Ill the
op,nIon OF some Of the clerks he seems 10 nave
nretty strong "pull7 several of the subordinate
better that Clerk Reagan should play the part OF prnc
nal and one result Of his Intervention appears In the
.t ~, ~ letter from Commissioners Raum to nay
ward nnder date of August 20, 1890. In this letter.
which also relates to another claim against Hayward
H. instice Of which he disputes, General Ratn wrote
II also have received a communication from Mr. r. A
Raglan Of this Office in Which II IS staea tna you are
toward satisfying him. now respectfully regueS, thai
Ion at once arrange for the payment OF these claims
a.,ro on Immediate response TO this communication
looking the setteme1 q these matt rnscer,,v
r.orr' and n will be Observed that the writer as
snmed the claim be Just on the mere statement Of
unt annear singular from attorney for a claimant
int Il may be open TO criticism when addressed by
smhordi ates-especialy from the head OF bureau
who within few months had borrowed SO Large ,,
cot income from the prosecution OF claims before said
Surean. Hayward was unable to- satisfy the Ragan
,a,u and unwilling to do until he received credit
for $50 which he had paid. On October 10 he re-
ceyed threatening letter from Ragan and ten days
,ter he received his dismissal from the Pension Bureau
II NAV be pertinent to add that the dark ard devious
WAYS of the Washington shylocks are so well under
n