St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-02
Mr.. Smyser Fired From the
Committee Investigating
Tanners Successor.
He Is a Large Stakeholder in
Raum's Refrigerator
Scheme.
Senator Sherman Springs a
Plan for Lumber Reciproc-
ity With Canada.
Conferrees on the River and
Harbor Bill Effect a Com
promise.

WASHINGTON, SopL. l.-1HG Special
house committee appointed to investi-
gate the charges made against Commits
sioner of Pensions Raum by Represent
ative Cooper, of Indiana, continued it's
investigation to-day. Mr.. Cooper opened
tO-day's session by charging that the
testimony taken in the previous hear
ings had been doctored. He said that
important parts of it had been stricken
out. and that Commissioner Raum had
been allowed to change parts of it and
other statements he (Raum) had made.
The committee discussed the charge
briefly. and ordered the stenographer to
furnish them the parts that had been
questioned as to the preference
of congressional calls for infOrma-
ton as to the status of pension
cases above that of attorneys and 9th
ers. He informed the committee that
they were given preference and an
SWered as soon as possible, and eX-
planned the practice of the department
in all cases wherein information was
called for. Bradley Tanner, Commits
sioner Raum's private secretary, was
next called. He testified that he was
appointed by Commissioner Tanner to a
$1,000 clerkship, and promoted by Com
HiooloilCI hduHl W SlsOUO pOSl6lOI. LII
was the understanding, however. he
said. between Commissioner Tanner
and himself that he was to have an
S1,S00 clerkship as soon as vacancy oc-
Cured, and this did not occur until
some time after Commissioner Tanner
had retired. In answer to questions by
Mr.. Cooper, he testified to writing let
ters and transacting other business for
the Universal Refrigerator company for
Commissioner Raum, but said that this
was done after Office hours, and that it
had never interfered with his business
in connection with the Office. He
owned no stock in the refrigerator COM
pany and had never been offered any.
He received no compensation for the
services he rendered the company, but
did it as an accommodation to Commits
sioner Raum. He denied positively
that he had received stock in the COM
pany as compensation for his service,
also the charge that he was promoted
for investing in stock of the company.
Representative SmyZer, of Ohio, was
next called. In answer to questions by
MI. Cooper he testified that he was
stakeholder in the refrigerator COM
pany. He had $4,000 shares of stock.
part of which belonged to other gentle
men i'll Ohio. who had instructed him to
IL AL AL bUC StOCh
was purchased in his name, al their re-
quest. The amount paid for the stock
was $4,000, of which he paid $3.50.
After further examination Mr.. Smyzer
left the stand and the committee took
recess for an hour. After recess (pro-
longed by the discussion of the Cooper
resolution in the house, the committee
met and adjourned, subject to the call
of the chairman. The adjournment was
caused by the withdrawal from the COM
mittee of Mr. SmyZer, and the commit
tee will not meet again until the va
cancy caused Dy his withdrawal is filled.
Partner Smyser Lsetires.
WASHINGTON, Sept. lin the house
to-day Mr.. Cooper. of Indiana. offered
resolution discharging Representa-
tive Smyser. of Ohio, from duty OH the
Raum Investigation committee, on the
ground that Mr.. Smyser owns stock in
Raum's refrigerator enterprise, which
plays so prominent part in the investi-
cation. At Mr.. Smyser's request he
was relieved from duty on the commit
tee. The speaker said ne had no knowl-
edge of MIR. Smyser's connection with
the company.