Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-16
LEMON UNDER FIRE.
The Pension Attorney Enters a Gen.
eral Denial to Charges
ABOUT HIS RELATIONS WITH RAUN
But Admits Indorsing the Commissioners
Note for $4,000.
COOPER IN A QUESTIONING MOOD

WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-George F. |
Lemon, the Pension Attorney, was before
the Raum investigating committee to-day. |
Mr.. Lemon testified that he had never rec
commended to Commissioner Raum the ap-
pointment of any person in his employ. lie
did not recall in his whole career ever haV-
ing recommended any person to any Com
missioner of Pensions, save Mr.. Whelpley,
whom he recommended to Commissioner
Tanner, but Whelpley was not appointed.
He had never spoken to Commlssloner
Raum about the appointment or promotion
of any person, and had meyer directly or In
directly requested any other person to secure
an appointment from the Pension Office.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Cooper, Mr..
Lemon said Whelpley had been in the Pen
sion Office before coming into his employ.
Witness recommended him because he was
competent Witness objected to Mr.. Coop
er's question of salary he paid Whelpley,
but when Mr.. Sawyer, the acting chairman,
said he saw no harm IN it, witness answered
81, 500 and some compensation for extra
work.
Denying Statement of Cooper's.
Mr.. Lemon said that in the record was Mr..
Cooper's declaration that "the consequence
OF the completed files order is that it has
naturally operated as a private order for the
benefit of the man who procured its making.
OF the 80 test cases submitted by MIR. Lemon,
the evidence shows only Is per cent OF them
were completed in fact" He (Mr. Lemon)
wanted to say that that statement did him a
great injury and was untrue. Of these
cases. only two needed further Information
to be supplied by the attorneys. Thirteen
others were not altogether complete, but
that was because information was needed,
which only the Pension Bureau could sup
ply. .-.-
To Mr.. Cooper, witness said he had never
Endorsed any note for Raum, except one Tor
S12, 900 in the Bank of the Republic.
Question-"Did you indorse paper for
him in the Citizens Bank?"
Never"
"Did he not get money there at your pro-
curement?"
"No sir, he got money there on the in
dorsement of some of the strongest men In
the country"
A Question of Financial Influence.
Mr.. Cooper asked further questions about
Gen. Raum's financial relations with the
Citizens Bank.
Mr.. Lemon said he was director in the
| bank. Gen. Raum had been a depositor
there for years and he did not think he
ought to answer these questions.
Mr.. Goodnight-As an officer of that
bank did you influence the bank officers to
get the money?
Mr.. Lemon-Not at all. I think most
of the Endorsements were obtained when
| was not present. l never Influenced the
| bank officers in anv way.
| Mr.. Cooper asked how much of General
Raum's paper had been discounted, when,
and on whose Endorsements. The questions
| Mr.. Lemon emphatically declined to answer,
on the ground that it was none of Mr.. Coop
er's business, or the business of the coIamit-
tee. If the Chairman so ruled, he would
| answer, but not otherwise.
Mr.. Flick thought the questions improper,
and-Mr. Sawyer said he thought any bank
officer would hesitate to answer such ques-
| tions. If there was any claim that MIR.
Lemon had Endorsed General Raum's paper,
or in fluenced the matter as bank director,
he thought The questions proper.
Relations Between Raum and Lemon.
Mr.. Cooper said one Of the important
issues of the investigation was the financial
| relations between Raum and Lemon. The
Commissioner had said emphatieally he had
secured Lemons Endorsement to but one
note Of $12, 900, discounted by the Bank of
the Republic. Now, money might have
been secured indirectly, which would be
Just as satisfactory. The witness had stated
that he had not Influenced the securing of
money by General Raum, but he Mr..
Cooper insisted he was not bound to take
the ipse dixit of the witness as proof that
this was so.
Mr.. Lemon several times stated that the
bare mention of the names of the indorsers
would carry the conviction that his infp-
ence was not needed.
+ Mr.. Goodnight said those names which
witness insisted were SO good were what was
wanted. In response to further questions
Mr. Lemon stated emphatically that Gen
eral Raum never came to him to get his in
huence to secure the discounting of any
paper. The various questions about those
financial transactions raised little breeze
all around, which finally subsided when
Mr.. Sawyer suggested that the line of in
quiry be postponed until the whole commit
tee could pass ON the matter.
Testimony of Former Clerks.
A. s. Taber, for II years one of Mr..
Lemons principal employees, stated that it
was rule of Mr.. Lemons that no clerk
Pension Office. Mr.. Lemon had said he
thought it improper, and witness had never
done such thing.
Edward Renaud, former clerk in the
Pension Office, who was dismissed by Com
missioner Raum, after the publication of
articles criticizing the management of the
Pension Office in the New York Tribune
was called to the stand and asked if he had
written or inspired publications charging
the Commissioner with intimidating clerks
from making adverse comments on the man.
agement of the Office by threats of dismissal.
Witness declined to answer on the
ground that General Raum had made sour
rilous and libelous statements affecting
witness personal character and party
loyalty, and suit for damages had been en-
tered. ANY answers made now might
prematurely disclose matters involved in
witness libel suit.
Light on McGilley's Statement.
Thomas Cocker. OF Illinois, an employe
in the Land Office, was questioned with re-
spect to statement alleged to have been
made by his son that McGilley, clerk in
the Pension Office, had said he owned re.
frigerator stock and expected to get pro-